Plays/Musicals - Total Prizes $8,000 - First Prize $3,500 - Full Lengths - One Acts - Shorts – Solos

NYTheater Festival Spring/Summer 2025

Theater Festival & Competition
Total Prizes: $8,000
First Prize: $3,500
Full-Lengths | One Acts | Shorts | Solos

NY Theater Festival Spring/Summer 2025
26th Continuous Season
The New York Theater Festival Competition for Plays and Musicals

Prizes Total: $8,000
First Prize: $3,500
Full-Lengths | One Acts | Shorts | Solos

No Submission Fee | No Participation Fee
Producing your play or musical is one of the best ways to review and develop your work. There is no charge for submitting, and every submission receives a response within 5 days.

Prizes & Categories

The Festival offers up to $8,000 in prizes, with $3,500 awarded for the best play or musical. Our winners are selected by the Festival's team/judges, so it’s not a "popularity contest" based on audience size. Sometimes, smaller productions with limited budgets win first prize simply because they were excellent. We value sincere, heartfelt performances and authentic writing.

Prize categories include:

• Best Production: $3,500
• Best Play/Musical or Short: $500
• Most Creative Play/Musical: $500
• Best Director: $500
• Best Actor (2 awards): $500 each
• Best Actress (2 awards): $500 each
• Best Singer: $500
• Best Musical Score: $300
• Best Choreography: $300

Video Recordings Available

After your production, you can receive a 4K video recording of your show. The Festival uses four cameras to capture your performance from multiple angles, giving you a variety of shots to edit into a cohesive video. Central camera, Central zoomins, Right and Left. You’ll have access to raw footage which can be used without editing. This footage can serve as valuable marketing material and reel content for industry professionals. Plus, your friends and family can purchase Zoom tickets to watch your show from anywhere in the world!

Why Stage Your Work at NYTheater Festival?

This is a unique opportunity to have industry professionals see your production in person. Many industry insiders receive thousands of scripts each month and are far more likely to attend a live show than read an unsolicited script. By staging your work, you show that you’re serious about your production's potential to succeed.

We’re with you every step of the way:

• From tech rehearsals through closing performance
• We provide support to help you choose from over 85 set pieces and props
• Our user-friendly audio, lighting, and video systems come with a quick 3-minute tutorial
• Our team is always available to answer questions and offer guidance throughout your run

A Full Range of Festival Support

• Prime Performance Slots: We ensure you have a prime time slot for your performance, with ample setup timebefore each show.
• Long Tech Rehearsals:
  • Full-Length (60-90 minutes): 4 hours
  • One-Act (30-45 minutes): 2 hours
  • Short (5-20 minutes): 1 hour
    This generous tech/dress rehersal time ensures your production will shine.
• Set & Props: We offer 85 set pieces free of charge, with plenty of backstage storage.
• Lighting & Sound: Use a full lighting plot with 65 lights and a 16x12’ projector. Our system is designed to be easy for anyone to use, even with no prior tech experience.

How We Advertise Your Show

We don’t just post a thumbnail and brief description. We create detailed posts with large posters and descriptions to showcase your show. You can easily share this with your network. In addition, all cast and crew receive free tickets to attend other productions in the Festival.

A Quality Venue

The Festival provides a professional venue with:

• 99 seats
• 30’x18’ stage, large backstage area, and a spacious dressing room
• Storage for all your props and costumes

Tech & Rehearsals

• Ample Tech Time: We understand how vital tech rehearsals are to a production’s success. Our tech rehearsals are longer than most festivals, so you’ll have ample time to prepare.
• Lighting & Sound: You’ll have access to a 65-light plot and LED lights, plus a 16x12' projector.

Award Ceremony

At the end of the Festival, we host an Award Ceremony to celebrate your achievements, similar to the Oscars, in front of your artistic peers. This is an unforgettable moment to honor your talent and success.

Submit Your Production Now!

To submit to the Festival, visit NY Theater Festival Submissions. We only accept submissions from playwrights and composers who live within 30 miles of Manhattan.

In 13 years and 22 seasons, the NY Theater Festival has successfully hosted 1,400 plays and 300 musicals, awarding cash prizes to over 300 artists. Yours could be next!