The Groundwork Reading Series at Anaconda Ensemble Theatre is taking submissions for their 2026 - 2027 Season. Headed into their 5th Season, Anaconda Ensemble Theatre is a professional, non-profit theatre located in Anaconda, MT. Submissions open January 19th!
ABOUT THE Groundwork Reading Series (GRS)
Formerly titled the Community Reading Series, the Groundwork Reading Series is a professional but community-based project, with affordable tickets and the shows will be performed in locations where "theatre typically isn't" such as coffee shops, hotels, bed and breakfasts, bars/breweries, shops, restaurants, cafes, and more! Past series were held at the Hickory House Inn, Coffee Corral, the Washoe Theater Lobby, the Copper Village Museum and Art Center gallery space, The Bighorn Bottle Shop and Wine Bar, Sweet Pea Bridal, Gunslinger Gulch, Copperhead Lodge, Forgotten Times Barbershop, Discover Anaconda Visitors Center, Anaconda Yoga, Pintler’s Portal Hostel and The Revolver Bar (upcoming), all located in Anaconda, MT.
We aim at actually or thematically fitting all he plays into the locations they are playing and are interested in plays that are at a place in their journey that requires a financial investment for forward movement of the piece. AET pays all of their collaborators, so we are seeking pieces that are ready for that step; fully formed ideas that can benefit from a workshop experience.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for NEW plays that have never had a fully staged production, but they can have had table reads or staged readings.
The plays will hopefully, but don't necessarily have to, fit into our location or categories listed here:
1) The Montana Hotel (Anaconda Restoration Association to perform June 2026) the location is an old hotel that was owned by Marcus Daly at the center of town. We have one play already for this location, written by a Butte writer, but other possible themes/types of theatre include, but are not limited to: the past, Montana history, Montana hotels, local engagement/local development, investing in your community etc. Note: One play has already been selected for this location because of previous collaborations. We are only looking for ONE piece for this location.
2) The Metcalf Senior Center (to perform August/September 2026): this location is our LOCAL Senior Center.Possible themes/types of theatre include, but are not limited to: community service, volunteering, senior centers, looking back at the past, thriving at a certain age, etc.
3) Everett Cook Law (to perform November 2026): this location is a locally owned and operated law firm. Possible themes include: lawyers, lawmaking, trials, legal mishaps, etc.
4) The Northern Hall Taproom (to perform between January - February or April 2026): this location is a locally owned and operated bar. Possible themes/types of theatre include, but are not limited to: a night at the bar, first dates, chance meetings, etc. Note: One play has already been selected for this location because of previous collaborations. We are only looking for ONE piece for this location.
WHO CAN SUBMIT
We are looking for plays written by writers from the following states: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Oregon, Washington and Colorado. We also accept submissions from artists who have worked with AET OR artists who are recommended to submit by a former AET collaborator. Last year we did open up to Nationally the last week - and got some great plays. However, as always, strongest consideration given to writers from Montana and the Mountain West.
ABOUT YOUR PIECE
- Plays that are complete or in process (we are NOT taking outlines or partially written pieces. Plays can be first draft and ready to edit, however.)
- Plays that are between 20 mins and 90 mins in length
- Plays must only engage 1 to 4 actors plus an actor to read stage directors (doubling of characters is encouraged!!)
- Actors can be anywhere from ages 7 and up - but we will not accept any full youth shows or children's theatre pieces.
- Plays that are looking for feedback to get to the next step in their theatrical journey
- Note: While we are wanting pieces that are open to adjustment and workshopping, we can no take plays that aim to get significantly longer during the process. We select pieces based on the length presented.
WHAT WE OFFER
$100 for the rights for one performance plus a $50 travel/food stipend if you choose to come to the performance. At this time we cannot guarantee Lodging in Anaconda for writers.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW
Application Deadline by March 2nd, 2026
Selections made by and offered by March 30th, 2026 - you will have 1 week to make a decision
TO APPLY
Fill out the application here starting on January 19th: https://forms.gle/x2z2BVQkWqpXKNqW8
Jan 19, 2026 -
Mar 1, 2026
$100 for the rights for one performance plus a $50 travel/food stipend if you choose to come to the performance. At this time we cannot guarantee Lodging in Anaconda for writers.
