The  Playwriting Contest

1) The deadline for submitting a play is October 1, 2026 at 5:00 pm MST.

2) This is a contest of ten-minute plays. Eligible entries must have a performance length of ten minutes. A good rule of thumb is 1 page = 1 minute, although, depending on the amount of stage directions, monologue, and dialogue, this can vary. Ten-minute play scripts commonly average 8-12 pages long.

3) Eligible play entries cannot exceed three characters.

4) Eligible scripts cannot have the author's name (first or last) on any part of the script. Please ensure the title page of your play submission contains only the title of the play. This is an anonymously judged contest.

5) Eligible scripts should include a 1-2 sentence summary of the play in addition to brief character descriptions.

6) Eligible entries should follow dramatic script formatting conventions. Helpful resources on script formatting can be found HERE and HERE.

7) Font size should be 12-point. Margins should be 1-1.5 inch on sides, top and bottom. Plays must be submitted as .pdf or .docx documents.

8) Submissions must be original, unpublished, and not currently under option or scheduled for a full production. No artificial intelligence (AI) generated plays! If the play has previously won a 10-minute play contest, please let someone else have a chance to win this one, or better yet, submit a new play!

9) Seven plays will be selected for the Showcase of dramatic readings in Flagstaff in November. Details on the Showcase can be found HERE.

10) It is at the discretion of the director to include the author of a selected play in the production process -- for questions or feedback, for example.

11) Selected works may be recorded for digital use by the Northern Arizona Playwriting Showcase or the Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, with notice and in alignment with artist agreements.

1) Writers may submit up to 3 plays, although no more than one play per author will be selected for production. Each play submission requires both a completed form AND a $25 submission fee. 

2) BEFORE ENTERING YOUR SUBMISSION, YOU MUST COMPLETE PAYMENT OF THE $25 (PER PLAY) SUBMISSION FEE. Our stellar community partner, the Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, has created a payment portal for your entry fee HERE. Donations above and beyond $25 are welcome but will not affect selection decisions. The judges will not see the donation amount. The payment portal accepts cards and electronic checks (ACH). 

Note:  If the cost of the fee would prohibit you from entering this contest, we have a limited number of scholarships available. If you would like a scholarship, please email mare.insights@gmail.com with the subject line, "NAPS Submission Scholarship."

2) Submission Form. After submitting your submission fee, complete the submission form below and be sure to attach your script as a .pdf or .docx file. Scripts submitted via Google Docs or any other format will not be considered. Instructions for converting a Google document to a .pdf are HERE. Once the play is submitted, no changes are allowed.

3) Winners of the 2026 contest will be announced via email and on this website the first part of November.

The 2026 contest will be judged by a panel of experienced Flagstaff directors who will also be directing the winning plays for the Showcase in November. We are proud to partner with the following directors:

Susan Chastain

Dani Commanda 

Chris Gunn

Lisa Heydenreich

John Propster

Matthew Windham

Robert Yowell