Invitation

Moonbox Productions invites Massachusetts based playwrights to submit one un-produced play or proposed project for consideration for the 2026 Boston New Works Festival.

Alongside open submissions, Moonbox is actively seeking plays/ projects that can be experienced and enjoyed universally, by those of all ages and backgrounds, including:

• Plays/ projects written as Theater for Young Audiences (TYA);
• Plays/ projects written to celebrate, uplift, and center the experiences of those living with differences and disabilities;
• Plays/ projects written to incorporate inclusive practices/ inclusive storytelling.

For the 2026 New Works Festival, Moonbox will only be accepting the first 50 plays that are submitted. The Deadline for Submissions is April 1, 2025 or until we reach 50 plays.

If you are interested please email your materials – including a blind copy of both your statement and your script, sample pages, or outline to bridgetkathleenoleary@gmail.com.

Script Criteria

MOONBOX STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND GOALS FOR THE NWF

• The 2026 New Works Festival will produce 3 workshop productions and 4 Readings.
  • Workshop productions will receive 4-5wks of rehearsal, design support and will culminate in 4 performances.
  • Readings will receive 3wks of rehearsal, lights up/down with NO additional design elements. The performances will be with music stands and no additional staging. The processes will culminate in 2 performances.
• Scripts will be evaluated based on the goals for the project, the clarity of vision, and the alignment of the proposed project with Moonbox’s mission and values.
• 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.

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 2024 New Works Festival should 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. 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.
• 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?
• The Statement MUST 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.
• The Deadline of submissions for the 2026 New Works Festival is April 1, 2025.

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 September 2025.

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 and updated version of their proposal/submission.

Reading Process

Each reader in either round may be asked to read up to 8 submissions. Each submission will have a minimum of five readers per round who will give them a number score and offer a brief (up to 150 words) descriptive justification of that score.

Playwrights’ names and collaborators will be unknown to the readers. The Reading Committee will rank the plays to select a slate of finalists, from which the New Works Festival plays will be selected by a small committee which will contain members of the local theater community, staff members and stake holders of Moonbox Productions.

When scoring the play readers are encouraged NOT to take into consideration “produce-ability.” Moonbox is specifically looking for strong, compelling voices and interesting, relevant stories regardless of cast size, locations, set requirements or “magic”.

Readers are encouraged to think about the following elements when evaluating Showcase submissions:

• Did you find this proposal compelling?

• What are the moments of storytelling that you felt pulled in to?
• What do you think this play or project is about?
• Do you think this proposal aligns with the goals and mission of Moonbox Productions?
• Is this project in a place with regards to development that you feel that Moonbox can support over the course of the 9 months?
• Do you have reservations about this project with regards to authenticity of voice, clarity of vision or scope of project?

If you are also interested in participating in the reading process, please contact Bridget O’Leary, Director of New Play Development, at bridgetkathleenoleary@gmail.com.