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PRESS RELEASE

May 1, 2026

AACT Opens Script Submissions for NewPlayFest 2028

The American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) is now accepting script submissions for AACT NewPlayFest 2028, a national program designed to support the development and production of new plays in community theatres across the United States.

NewPlayFest provides playwrights with a unique opportunity to see their original work move from page to stage. Selected plays are paired with producing community theatres, where they are workshopped in collaboration with the playwright, director, cast, and an AACT-selected dramaturg.

Winning plays are fully produced as world premieres and published in an anthology by Dramatic Publishing Company, with licensing available following publication.

Script submissions open May 1, 2026, and will be accepted through June 30, 2026, or until the submission limit of 350 scripts is reached.

AACT NewPlayFest is open to full-length, non-musical plays that are unpublished and have not received a full production. Submissions are reviewed through a three-tier blind adjudication process conducted by a national panel of reviewers to ensure objectivity and fairness.

Semi-finalists will be notified in October 2026, finalists in February 2027, and selected plays will be announced in April 2027. Winning scripts will be produced by American community theatres between June 2027 and December 2028.

“This program creates meaningful connections between playwrights and community theatres while introducing audiences to new stories and voices,” said AACT Executive Director Quiana Clark-Roland. “NewPlayFest continues to be an exciting pathway for new work to be developed, produced, and shared across the country.”

There is no submission fee for AACT member playwrights. A $10 processing fee applies to non-members. Each playwright may submit one script.

For complete guidelines and submission details, visit:
aact.org/newplayfest-call-scripts 

About the American Association of Community Theatre
The American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) is a nonprofit organization that supports and connects community theatres across the United States. AACT provides resources, networking opportunities, and national programs that strengthen community theatre and promote the value of the arts in local communities.