The Newark Playwrights Festival is a one-day festival of short plays that celebrates the talents of young playwrights from Newark area high schools and universities. The NJIT Theatre and Technology Program has been producing this festival since 2015.
The Newark Playwrights Festival supports new playwrights by providing them with mentorship for developing their plays and writer’s voice, while walking them through the process of what to expect from a play reading. Over the course of six weeks, students will refine their scripts, interact with a director and actors in the rehearsal room, and learn first-hand about the process of staging a new work. This culminates with the invaluable experience of hearing an audience react to their words being performed. Playwrights will be provided with photos and videos from the process for their portfolios.
The festival accepts 3-6 page scripts in the fall from students currently enrolled in Newark area high schools and universities, with a deadline of December 7th, 2026. Playwrights that are chosen for the festival will work with a mentor during the month of January to refine their scripts, and then actively take part in a rehearsal and performance on Wednesday, February 10th on the Jim Wise Stage in Kupfrian Hall.
The performance is free and open to the public.
Actors are needed for the one-day rehearsal/reading and will be solicited at the beginning of the spring semester.
If you wish to submit your script, further submission guidelines and information can be found here. There are no fees associated with this festival. The deadline for the 2027 festival is Monday, December 7th, 11:59pm.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Festival Coordinator, Emily Edwards, at emily.edwards@njit.edu.
