New Play Festival
23rd Annual New Play Festival
Centre Stage is excited to announce the 23rd Annual New Play Festival!
- Submissions are open to any playwright whether from South Carolina, the region, country, or from around the world!
- Only one entry per playwright/playwright’s representative is permitted.
- NO entries may be previously published.
- Likewise, NO entries may have previously fully realized, regionally produced performances through the dates of the Centre Stage New Play Festival 2025 (previous readings and workshops are acceptable).
- Entries may have NO more than seven (7) actors required.
- All entries must be no more than 120 pages, but one-act and full-length plays are welcome.
- Scripts must be in the Traditional or Modern format for plays as defined by the Dramatists Guild.
- Screenplays, musicals, and 10-minute plays will NOT be accepted, plays with music may be submitted.
- Playwrights are encouraged to submit a cover letter along with their script that includes a brief summary of the play and a suggestion of the unique perspective or experience provided by the playwright’s body of work
Festival Dates are Nov 20-22, 2025 at 7:30 pm Free Admission-No ticket required
Centre Stage is committed to developing new work and is excited to carry on the tradition of the New Play Festival. Submissions for the 23rd Annual New Play Festival are now open from March 10th- June 30th. Of these submissions, 10 semi-finalists will be selected and 3 finalists will be given readings the week of the festival, one script will be chosen as the winner of the 23rd Annual New Play Festival! The winner will receive a cash prize and the opportunity to be considered for production as part of our 2026-2027 Season. During the festival, each reading will be followed by a talkback led by Centre Stage Managing Artistic Director, Laura Nicholas.
If you have any questions please email [email protected]
22nd Annual New Play Festival Finalists
Petrified
Playwright:
Paula Fell
Synopsis:
Brian has been failing at his two main goals in life: finding love and proving there are ghosts. One evening afer a humiliating break up, a drunk and dejected Brian finds himself alone at a cliff overlooking the ocean. He then has what seems to be a paranormal experience. This experience sets him on a quest to solve the mysteries of the haunted lookout point and love. However, finding the answers may cost him his life.
- Winner
How it feels to fall from the sky
Playwright:
Dominic Finocchiaro
Synopsis:
A poignant and darkly humorous exploration of grief, connection, and the invisible threads that link us. Five strangers are drawn together after witnessing a harrowing event—a woman falling from the sky. As they navigate their shared trauma, their stories weave into a powerful meditation on humanity, loss, and the enduring need to be seen.
Fat Feminists
Playwright:
Ami Trowell
Synopsis:
A hilarious, heartfelt exploration of friendship, body image, and what it means to live authentically. On a celebratory hike gone awry, two 50-year-old best friends confront everything from lost trails to lost dreams. With wit, warmth, and raw honesty, this play reminds us that sometimes, you have to climb a mountain to see your life from a new perspective. Don’t miss this sharp, funny, and oh-so-relatable story about the weight we carry — and how we learn to put it down.
Front and Centre:
A New Work Initiative
Who Are We?
Centre Stage is a professional theatre in the heart of Downtown Greenville, SC. We have been in Greenville for 40 years and in our current location for 25 years. Our goal as an organization is to captivate, cultivate, and inspire. Our new work program is an important component of our mission as we cultivate playwrights who are striving to create new stories that will captivate and inspire audiences for years to come.
What Do We Do?
Centre Stage produces professional theatre, providing opportunities for young professional artists to work along side seasoned professionals. New work has been a crucial component to what Centre Stage does. We allow Greenville audiences to engage with new work from the southern region, playwrights to hear their work allowed, and continue to develop new work in preparation for production—both at Centre Stage and in theatres around the country.
What Is Centre Stage’s Commitment To New Work?
Centre Stage has produced their Annual New Play Festival for 20 years. Doug McCoy believed in the importance of new work and the festival was a key way Doug displayed that commitment. Today, Centre Stage is still just as committed to developing new work as the day Doug started the festival.
Can I Send Centre Stage My Play?
Yes! Please send us your play! We want your play! However, due to the rigorous production schedule that Centre Stage there are certain ways to send us your play that will be more beneficial than others. Centre Stage will continue to hold our Annual New Play Festival, when submissions open, please submit your play through submittable.
What is the New Play Festival?
The New Play Festival is an opportunity for playwrights to submit their plays for production. We open submissions in the Spring and have a panel of judges read them over the summer. Then, Semi-Finalists are chosen and from that point, the Centre Stage staff reads the plays and determines a Final 3. This final 3 is determined by the quality of text, set needs,
What Other Things Does Centre Stage Do With New Work?
We are always looking for plays for our Fringe Series, as well as other development opportunities. We also will help a playwright develop a text by coordinating and providing feedback through a private workshop. Most recently, playwright Mario Suarez received a reading of his new musical La Zafra. This is an important step in the development process and Centre Stage is committed to helping playwrights hear their work aloud as they prepare for further revisions.