City Theatre Seeks 10-Minute Plays and Musicals

The Susan J. Westfall National Contest for Short Playwriting

Submissions now open.

City Theatre invites submissions of short plays and musicals for the Susan J. Westfall National Contest for Short Playwriting. This nationally recognized competition celebrates excellence in dramatic writing and seeks bold, imaginative work that reflects the range, complexity, and vitality of contemporary storytelling.

We welcome submissions from playwrights across the country whose work embodies the qualities we value most: theatricality, innovation, emotional resonance, and a distinct voice. City Theatre encourages submissions from playwrights of all backgrounds, experiences, and career levels.

City Theatre seeks:

• 10-minute plays or musicals, no more than 10 script pages (counting begins when the play begins)
• Works that are lively, timely, provocative, humorous, poignant, or surprising
• Scripts that span a wide range of styles, genres, and subjects
• Bilingual plays and musicals
• Plays with characters of any age range

Send us your best work. A team of readers spends months with every script we receive, and the plays that advance are the ones that are ready and that follow the guidelines below. Please read them carefully before you submit, and send a finished draft rather than a work in progress.

Finalist scripts will be reviewed for potential production in City Theatre’s year-round programming, including:

• Summer Shorts: City Theatre’s annual flagship festival, established in 1996, featuring a repertory of eight short plays.
• Short Cuts: A touring program for young audiences, performed in Miami-Dade County middle schools.
• City Reads: A series of free public readings at neighborhood venues across Miami-Dade County.

Submission Guidelines

• Submissions open November 2, 2026 via Submittable.
• Only one submission per playwright will be accepted.
• Previously submitted works will not be considered.
• Full-length plays, longer one-acts, or musicals exceeding the 10-minute format will not be accepted or returned.
• City Theatre will consider previously produced short plays if a production history is included.
• Scripts that exceed the page limit or do not follow the format above will not be read.
• The submission window will remain open until 600 scripts have been received.
• Due to the volume of submissions, City Theatre is unable to offer feedback.
• Only playwrights whose work is under consideration will be contacted by email or phone, no later than August 1, 2027.

Questions?  Please email: info@citytheatre.com

Thank you for your interest in City Theatre. We look forward to reading your work.

To learn more about City Theatre and our programs, visit www.citytheatre.com.