08/21/2026
Submissions extended to September 15th!
Moonbox Productions invites Massachusetts-area playwrights to submit one un-produced play for consideration for the 2027 Boston New Works Festival, which will take place at Arrow Street Arts in Harvard Square September 16-19, 2027. Moonbox Productions will be collaborating with New Opera and Musical Theatre Initiative this year and will NOT be accepting Musical submissions for production in the 2027 Festival but may consider them for a reading/concert version. Selected playwrights must be available to attend some rehearsals throughout the process.
Alongside open submissions, Moonbox is actively seeking plays that can be experienced and enjoyed universally, by those of all ages and backgrounds, including:
Plays written as Theater for Young Audiences (TYA);
Plays written to celebrate, uplift, and center the experiences of those living with differences and disabilities;
Plays written to incorporate inclusive practices/ inclusive storytelling.
For the 2027 New Works Festival, Moonbox will only be accepting the first 50 plays that are submitted. The Deadline for Submissions is September 1, 2026 or until we reach 50 plays.
The 2027 New Works Festival will produce 1 production and 4 readings. Workshop productions will receive 4-5wks of rehearsal, design support and will culminate in 3 performances. Readings will receive 20hrs of rehearsal, lights up/down with NO additional design elements. The performances will be with music stands and no additional staging. The process will culminate in 2 performances.
Eligible plays must be un-produced and may have NO more than ONE other development process prior to participating in the Boston New Works Festival. Eligible plays must NOT have any productions of the proposed project upcoming or pre-planned.
Moonbox encourages writers at all stages of their careers and projects at all stages of “readiness” to apply.
Script Selection
The Reading Committee composed of a diverse group of theater makers, educators, advocates and administrators will blind-read all submissions. There will be three adjudication rounds. Selections will be announced in early March 2027. All submissions will be responded to and Moonbox will update the writers with regards to the status of their submission along the way. Projects that make it into Round 3 will have an opportunity to submit an updated version of their proposal/submission.
If you are interested please email your materials – including a blind copy of both your statement and your script, sample pages, or outline to [email protected].
Proposal Submission
Writers MUST submit both a BLIND copy of their materials (NO IDENTIFYING INFORMATION) and full copy of their materials with their information included. The director of New Play Development will be the only person that will have access to identifying information. That information will only be shared with the staff of Moonbox once selections have been made. Plays that are submitted without the inclusion of a Blind copy for both script and supporting material will NOT be accepted.
Writers interested in participating in Moonbox’s 2027 New Works Festival MUST submit a statement outlining the writers’ goals for the project/play, what they hope to get out of the process and what their vision for the project is. The statement should also include details regarding the play’s creation and development: Was it a commission? Is there a committed or probable production of the script? Are there any local or regional planned or past participation in another development process? Writers are also encouraged to write about how they believe this project serves Moonbox and contributes to the Mission, Vision and Values of the organization. Submissions without an attached statement answering these questions will NOT be accepted.
The Statement should also identify whether they are submitting for a workshop production or reading. In addition, writers should attach either a current draft of the play, a 10 page sample of dialogue or a detailed outline that clearly articulates the scope of the project, the story that will be told (non-traditional storytelling is as encouraged as traditional narrative structure) and any other supporting materials that will help the adjudication team understand the proposed project. Writers only submitting sample pages or an outline must also submit a full draft of another play.
Only 50 submissions will be accepted.
