The nationally recognized Susan J Westfall Short Playwriting Contest is open. Please submit below. 

City Theatre Seeks 10-Minute Plays and Musicals

The Susan J. Westfall National Award for Short Playwriting

Submissions open August 1, 2025

City Theatre invites submissions of short plays and musicals for the Susan J. Westfall National Award for Short Playwriting. This nationally recognized competition celebrates excellence in dramatic writing and seeks bold, imaginative work that reflects the diversity, 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 and career levels. We welcome work from artists who self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), women, and LGBTQ+.

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

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 Public Schools.
• City Reads: A series of public readings in partnership with Books & Books, connecting plays to broader civic and cultural conversations.

Submission Guidelines

• Submissions open August 1, 2025 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.
• The submission window will remain open until 500 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, 2026.

Questions?

Please email: info@citytheatre.com

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