Due to the large volume of material we receive,
Arena Stage only accepts scripts directly from
bona fide agents, theatrical representation, or
writers with said professional contacts. With
this change in policy, we will no longer be
accepting unrequested scripts or any form of
query. Scripts which fit our guidelines can be
mailed to:
Mark Bly
Literary Manager
Arena Stage
1101 Sixth Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
What kind of play is
Arena Stage interested in reviewing for
development or production?
The current mission of Arena Stage is “to
produce huge plays of all that is
passionate, exuberant, profound, deep and
dangerous in the American spirit.” We are
interested in plays of the Americas—North
and South—with a special emphasis on living
writers. On occasion we may dip into the
European canon or other bodies of work for
contrast, but for now we are primarily
interested in plays associated with American
themes, history, culture, and literary
traditions. Consequently, we are not
accepting scripts for review outside these
guidelines.
What kind of plays does
Arena Stage produce?
Please refer to the
Arena History >
portion of the Arena Stage website. Note the
various productions beginning with the
1998-99 season; these reflect the current
mission of the theater and the aims of its
leadership.
General categories: dramas, comedies,
musicals (depending on size). (Incidentally,
the opportunity to develop or produce
one-act plays at Arena Stage is slim, if at
all.)
What opportunities for
writers does Arena Stage offer?
The Downstairs New Play Series, currently
located in the 14th And T Arena Stage
theater, is Arena Stage’s artistic
initiative dedicated to the development of
new American plays. This program typically
includes readings, workshops, and studio
productions of new work. Please refer to the
Downstairs page on Arena Stage’s website for
further information. The same submission
guidelines apply to the Downstairs program
as for Arena Stage in general.
How long will it take
for my play to be reviewed by the Arena’s
literary staff?
It usually takes us a minimum of 2-3
months to respond to play submissions,
sometimes longer depending on backlog and
time of year.
What is the acceptable
format for a play manuscript?
Plays should be neatly typed, printed on
standard white 8 ˝ x 11 paper, and bound in
a flexible binder (this is preferable to
clips, rivets, pins, or notebooks). The
title page should include the author’s name,
contact and representation information. The
following page of the manuscript should
include a list of characters with brief
descriptions if necessary, and any crucial
information about production requirements.
If the play features numerous characters
(e.g. over 8 separate roles), it is helpful
to indicate how the roles can be doubled.
Also, please note that your submission will
not be acknowledged unless you supply a
postcard with correct postage. The script
will not be returned unless you include a
self-addressed, stamped envelope of the
appropriate size with the correct postage.
For additional information on script
submissions, formatting, and page set up, please
consult the excellent publication, THE
DRAMATISTS’S SOURCEBOOK, published by Theatre
Communications Group, a service organization for
the not-for-profit professional theater, and
available through your local bookstore, on line
through vendors such as Amazon.com, or directly
from TCG Publications at
tcg.org.
