Play Script Submissions

The mission of Missed the Boat Theater is to foster, vibrant, Catholic community by producing quality, artistic creations on the stage. Playwrights do not necessarily need to be Catholic or write about religious topics; however, submissions that draw conclusions of defiance or hostility towards the teachings of the Catholic Church will not be considered. We are open to works that grapple with the challenging realities of human existence, but works should ultimately present a Catholic worldview in their totality. If you have questions about this, feel free to reach out to newworks@missedtheboattheatre.com.

Submitted as a single PDF—one file only (with the exception of musicals, which can be uploaded in two files: one for the book and one for the score). No hard copies accepted. 

Submissions must be blinded: any script (or score) that contains personal information about the playwright, including their name, will not be considered.

Page 1 MUST include: a brief summary of the play’s plot (200-word maximum), the setting, and a cast list that includes each character’s name, along with a brief description.

Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges who will evaluate them for “readiness” (i.e. no songs or scenes are missing, no major plot holes, etc.), then score them based on artistic merit and mission alignment. 

• Note: Submissions are open to all, but some preference may be given to our local community, in the interest of supporting Minnesota artists and fostering the local creative community.

Directors, dramaturgs, assistant directors, and music directors will be hired by the theater (playwright requests will be considered but not guaranteed). 

Because this is a first-time festival and we are a small community theater, we are unable to provide payment or reimbursement for travel. We can likely arrange for housing with a host family if mutually agreed upon; private accommodations are not provided. 

Rehearsal workshops will be scheduled based on creative team availability, aiming for 20-24 hours of rehearsal time. (This can be expanded to up to 3 weeks or consolidated to a one-week intensive including the weekend, particularly if the playwright travels from out-of-town.)

The New Works Festival exists first and foremost to assist playwrights in the development of their plays and hopefully prepare them for eventual full production. As such, it is strongly recommended that playwrights attend their rehearsal workshop and the staged reading of their play in person. However, because we know that travel costs may be prohibitive for some, we are open to considering virtual attendance to some portion of the rehearsals. Playwright should still be heavily available during the Festival time frame for regular check-ins with the director and/or virtual attendance at portions of rehearsals. 

High-quality video recordings of the staged reading will be made available to all presented playwrights.

• Submission period: April 1 - April 30

• Review Phase by Panel: May 1-31

• Winners notified & Festival date announced: On or before June 1, 2025

• Pairing of directors and playwrights and scheduling conversations: Throughout June

• Deadline for Playwright to confirm attendance at Workshop & Festival: July 3, 2025

• Actor Auditions: late July/early August 2025

• New Works Festival: September 2025

  • Exact festival dates will be finalized based on conflicts provided at the time of script submission, to support selected playwrights’ in-person attendance as much as possible

Have a script that fits Missed the Boat’s mission but has previously been produced and is therefore ineligible for the Festival? We’d still be happy to get to know your work! Script submissions are permitted year-round for potential consideration in our upcoming season(s). Learn more below.