Spotlight New Works Fest is designed for playwrights writing for the secondary market, including high schools, colleges, and community theatres. We’re especially interested in work created with educational and community stages in mind—plays that balance strong craft with wide production potential.

Spotlight New Works Fest is a curated, readings-only festival devoted exclusively to new plays written for the secondary market. Unlike many festivals, there are no submission fees and no participation fees, and selections are based on full-script review and committee scoring—not excerpts or volume-based programming.

The festival exists to elevate high-quality new work for educational and community stages and to create a focused, intentional platform for plays that are often overlooked by traditional professional festivals.

Selected writers receive personalized mentoring in self-producing.

Playwrights submit through the Spotlight New Works Fest online form during the open submission window. Submissions must include a complete script and any required supporting materials listed on the submission page.

All submissions are reviewed by a committee of readers using a shared scoring framework. There are no submission fees, and all materials are evaluated according to the festival’s published criteria.

Detailed submission instructions and deadlines are available on the Submissions page.

Strong submissions typically feature flexible casting, support larger casts, and address themes that resonate across educational and community theatre settings.

Please visit our submissions page for complete information.

We are not currently seeking Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) scripts. This festival focuses on work intended for educational and community theatre settings, rather than plays specifically written for adult actors performing for very young audiences.

Yes. Scripts must follow standard play formatting, consistent with the guidelines of the Dramatists Guild. Clear, professional formatting helps ensure a fair and efficient review process.

A link to recommended formatting standards is provided on the submission guidelines page.

No. This is a curated festival, not a competition. Scripts are selected based on artistic merit and suitability for educational and community production, not ranked against one another.

Each script is carefully reviewed by our adjudication panel. We consider dramatic structure, character development, dialogue, theatricality, and overall craft, with particular attention to how a piece functions on educational and community stages. Scripts must use a standard format.

No. Plays that are already published and licensed by another company are not eligible for submission.

However, previously unpublished plays—even those that have had readings, workshops, or developmental presentations—are eligible. If you have other unpublished works written for the secondary market, you are welcome to submit those.

There is no submission fee.

Yes. Playwrights may submit more than one work. Each script is reviewed independently.

Due to the volume of submissions, we’re unable to provide individual feedback. Selection decisions are final.

No. Being selected for Spotlight means your piece will be developed and read in front of publishers, producers, directors, other industry professionals, and a New York audience. Gitelman & Good Publishers attends every performance and considers each festival show for its catalogue, but a publishing offer is at their discretion.

That said, the festival is a real pathway. Of the 13 new plays and musicals in our 2026 festival, three shows joined the Gitelman & Good catalogue, and a fourth is in continued development.

Playwrights retain all rights to their work. Selection does not transfer ownership, publication rights, or licensing control.

Applicants will be notified on or about March 15, 2026.

Spotlight New Works Fest is a scripted reading festival, not a full production. The festival provides the venue, scheduling, and overall festival infrastructure. Playwrights are responsible for assembling their reading team (director and actors) and any minimal props or costume pieces they choose to use. There are no sets, and no on-site storage is available.

We will share guidance on best practices for readings, along with a sample budget and optional mentoring for playwrights who would like support navigating the process. You are also welcome to collaborate with a producer or director of your choosing. Our team remains available throughout the process to answer questions and offer support.

Absolutely. Many playwrights selected for Spotlight New Works Fest are producing a reading for the first time.

The festival will provide clear guidance, sample timelines, and optional mentoring to help you prepare a successful reading. Our goal is to make the process approachable and manageable, even if this is your first experience.

No. Playwrights from anywhere are welcome to submit.

If selected, your reading will take place in New York City, and you (or a representative of your team) will need to coordinate locally for rehearsals and performance logistics. We aim to be transparent about these expectations so you can plan accordingly.

No. You may work with performers from anywhere. However, playwrights are responsible for any travel or housing arrangements for their collaborators.

Because the festival takes place in New York City, many playwrights choose to work with NYC-based performers, which can simplify logistics and support local outreach—but this is entirely optional.

Spotlight New Works Fest promotes the festival as a whole through its website, communications, and outreach. Individual readings are the responsibility of the playwright and their team to promote.

We encourage selected playwrights to actively share their participation with their networks and audiences.

There are no participation fees.

There are no fees to submit or to participate in Spotlight. However, every festival show is self-produced, which means each production team covers the costs of its own presentation. That typically includes actors, a director and other creative staff, rehearsal space, and any props, costumes, or set pieces you choose to bring.

Spotlight provides the performance venue, technical support, front-of-house staff, marketing, etc., so your budget goes directly into the work itself.

Tickets to attend the Spotlight New Works fest are free.

Yes. An online festival program will be available to audience members via QR code. Participants are also welcome to create and use their own printed or digital programs for individual presentations.

Yes. If you do not have pre-recorded tracks for your musical, we will provide a weighted 88-key keyboard, which will be set on stage for your use.

Because the theatre seats approximately 65 audience members, microphones will not be used. However, speakers will be available in the theatre for sound cues or music playback.