Plays we want

Geva Theatre Center accepts submissions for full-length plays, translations and adaptations. New plays are considered for possible inclusion in all our play development programs, as well as for production on our stages. Unfortunately, we cannot accept submissions of musicals for development at this time. We are looking for bold, theatrical voices, and are passionate about supporting the craft of both emerging and established writers in service of our commitment to developing new work for the American theatre.

The purpose and power of the theatrical event has always been to come together in the theatre and discover a new understanding of ourselves. By developing and producing work that explores and celebrates the human experience, we engage in a dialogue about what it means to be human, what it means to be an American, and what it means to be a global citizen, in the 21st century.

We try to stay open to a diversity of aesthetic, topic and approach, but plays that we are interested in frequently share some of the following characteristics:

• Strength and depth of writing which would indicate that this is not the first draft of the play
• Strong, interesting characters that offer actors something to explore, and rich relationships between the characters onstage
• A compelling narrative which presents a new story, or a new take on a familiar tale
• Smart, compelling use of language
• Action which befits a story told onstage, rather than on film or in print.

Before submitting your work to use, please read our full vision and mission for new play development here.

How to submit a play

Playwrights with professional representation may have their agents send full manuscripts at any time. Please note that lawyers and law firms do not qualify as "professional representation.”

To best accommodate our schedule of new play activities, we are instituting an Inquiry Window, during which playwrights who are not working with an agent may send a submission inquiry. The current window will close on March 15, 2012. In future years, playwrights who are not working with agents may send a submission inquiry from November 1 to January 31. Inquiries submitted in any other time period cannot be processed. Before submitting a play for consideration, please look at our production history and at the list of new plays we have commissioned or produced, as an indication of the kind of work we are likely to produce.

Please do not send us the first draft of a play. Due to the amount of scripts we receive, we can only read any play one time, so make sure you are sending us your best work. Plays for consideration in our play development series must not have had more than one production at another theatre.

To have your play considered, submit the following (please note: electronic inquiries cannot be responded to):

• A cover letter introducing yourself, with your full contact information
• Your creative resume and a development or production history of this play. If the play has had other developmental readings or productions, they must be included here.
• A description of this play, no more than ½ page. This need not be a summary of the plot – we welcome a description of the play’s world, characters and conflict, and your reasons for writing it.
• A complete list of characters
• A ten-page dialogue sample. Pages do not need to come from the beginning of your text but must be sequential.
• Please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you would like materials to be returned.

Direct your inquiry to:

Jean Ryon

New Plays Coordinator
Geva Theatre Center
75 Woodbury Blvd.
Rochester, NY 14607

After reviewing your query, we will let you know whether or not we wish to read the entire script. Playwrights submitting Inquiries can anticipate hearing from us by June 30. Agents submitting plays should expect a response within 6-12 months. Please note: Due to the amount of inquiries we receive, we cannot respond to materials submitted electronically.

Regional writers only!

If you are a writer from the six-county area of Greater Rochester (Monroe, Wayne, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, and Genesee counties), you are encouraged to submit scripts for the following programs.

What's Next: Regional Writers Showcase

April 30 and May 7, 2012
Submission WIndow: January 23 – February 7, 2012

In collaboration with Writers & Books
Writers of all levels of writing experience are invited to submit plays for this event, featuring script-in-hand readings with professional actors and directors at Geva Theatre Center’s Nextstage. Check out the guidelines below.

Submit scripts (during the submission dates) to:

Regional Writers Showcase
Writers & Books
740 University Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607-1259

General guidelines are as follows:

• Submissions must include clear contact information: name, address, phone number and email (if available).
• Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of your manuscript.
• Musicals will not be accepted.
• Script must be submitted in its entirety.
• All plays should be typed with each page numbered.
• Writers may submit up to two plays for consideration.
• Plays that have been submitted for consideration in previous years may be submitted, if there has been significant work done on the script since the last submission.
• There are no restrictions on length or content.

For more information, please call Jean Gordon Ryon, Geva Theatre Center’s New Plays Coordinator (585) 232-1366 ext 3034.

What's Next: 2 Pages/2 Voices

January 31, 2012 at Writers & Books
Submission Deadline: January 10, 2012

In collaboration with Writers & Books
Writers of all levels of writing experience are invited to submit a short play to this competition. Each play should be limited to no more than 2 pages, and involve no more than two characters. Each play must contain the number/word “30” (“thirty”) in honor of Writers & Books 30th Anniversary! Writers may submit more than one play. Name, address, phone number and e-mail should be included for contact. Font size should be at least 11 points.

Submissions cannot be returned.

Submit scripts to:
2 Pages/2 Voices
Writers & Books
740 University Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607-1259

What's Next: Young Writers Showcase

May 5, 2012 at 2pm in the Nextstage
Submission Deadline: February 13, 2012

We want YOU to write a play for us!

Geva Theatre Center invites aspiring playwrights from the Greater Rochester area, ages 13-18, to submit short plays for consideration for the Young Writers Showcase. We recommend submitting plays of no more than 10 pages and having no more than eight characters.

Script-in-hand performances will take place Saturday, May 5 at 2pm in Geva’s Nextstage. Writers will be invited to the rehearsals of their work. The performance is free and open to the public.

Submission requirements:
Scripts may be submitted by mail or by hand delivery to Young Writers Showcase at Geva Theatre Center, 75 Woodbury Blvd., Rochester, NY 14607 or electronically to youngwriters@gevatheatre.org.

Please include clear contact information on the script, including name, address and phone number. Please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for return of the script if submitted in hard copy.

For more information, contact Jean Gordon Ryon at youngwriters@gevatheatre.org or (585) 232-1366, ext. 3034.