Black Box Submission Guidelines 2026
Gallery Players is seeking plays for its 29th Annual Black Box New Play Festival to be held in January 2026. Each play selected will be given a black box production with non-Equity actors. Playwrights must be available, if not in person, via Zoom or some other virtual venue for some rehearsals and use this as an opportunity to continue work on their play.
NOTE the post-marked date. Mail your submissions accordingly.
Submission guidelines:
- Plays must be un-produced (readings are OK); must be the play’s world premiere.
- Length of play: 30-60 minutes. Plays must have at least four (4) or more characters. No monologues. No period costume pieces.
- Format: pages must be numbered; a cover page with title of the play and playwright’s contact information is required, along with a page that gives a plot synopsis of the play and a character breakdown.
- You may submit no more than two (2) plays
- Playwrights cannot direct their own work
Gallery Players
Black Box New Play Festival
199 14th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
We will only contact you if your play has been accepted into the festival. If you want confirmation that your mailing was received, please include a self-addressed stamped return postcard.
We do not accept email submissions.
We do not return scripts. Any scripts not chosen for the festival will be destroyed to protect the copyright.
All questions related to the Black Box New Play Festival should be sent to blackbox@galleryplayers.com
“Words can’t express what I feel right now. What a special two nights I just had. Sitting with friends and strangers and watching 2 hours of my work in a theater full of love and support for my writing. This whole process has been not only fun but important because I learned so much from seeing OCEAN PLANET staged and realized. What a special memory. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in me and producing this weekend of my plays.” – Brett Epstein, playwright