15 Playwriting Competitions for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 40 minutes ago
- 12 min read
Engaging in playwriting competitions for high school students offers you a unique opportunity to refine your creative voice while building a robust academic profile. These programs help you develop essential problem-solving skills and deep subject-matter expertise as you navigate the complexities of character arcs and dramatic structure. By participating, you gain valuable recognition that can significantly strengthen your college applications and distinguish you from other applicants.
Why should I participate in a playwriting competition in high school?
Participating in a playwriting competition can serve as a high-impact indicator of your dedication, self-discipline, and ability to handle long-form creative projects. Admissions officers often look for students who demonstrate excellence in niche fields, and winning or placing in a recognized competition proves you possess a high-level mastery of narrative communication. Beyond the application, these competitions offer you professional feedback from industry experts, which is vital for your growth as a writer. You also gain access to a network of peers and mentors who are like-minded, fostering a sense of community within the performing arts.
In this blog, we’ve narrowed down a list of 15 playwriting competitions for high school students.
If you’re looking for international online competitions, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These competitions span professionally staged productions, script-in-hand readings, national festivals, and regional contests, so students at different stages of their playwriting development can find a suitable platform.
Most competitions are free to enter, including Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, The Blank Theatre, Princeton University 10-Minute Play Contest, and Mosaic Theater Company, while a few, such as Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and The Theater Project, charge a modest entry fee with waivers available.
Several competitions provide a full professional production rather than just a staged reading, most notably The Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival, which stages winning scripts in a Hollywood theatre with professional actors.
Many competitions are geographically restricted to specific states or metro areas, including Mosaic Theater Company (Washington, DC area), The Theater Project (New Jersey), Circle Theatre (DFW Metroplex), and Young Playwrights in Process (Indiana), so students should check eligibility carefully before applying.
Location: Waterford, CT
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance size/cohort size: 5 Featured Playwrights and approximately 15-20 Guest Playwrights
Dates: May 15 – 17
Application Deadline: January 15 – 29
Eligibility: Students aged 12-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school who reside in the United States
The Young Playwrights Festival utilizes the prestigious O’Neill process to help you transform an original ten- to fifteen-page script into a professional stage production. If you are selected as a Featured Playwright, you will spend an intensive weekend at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center collaborating with a dedicated creative team that includes a director, dramaturg, and professional actors. Guest Playwrights also participate by attending specialized writing workshops and observing the rehearsal process to see how professional artists interpret new scripts. The program culminates in a script-in-hand public reading, allowing you to experience your creative vision brought to life before a live audience. This experience is designed to sharpen your understanding of dramatic form and structure while providing you with high-level mentorship from industry experts.
Location: Hollywood, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance size/cohort size: 12 winning plays
Dates: July
Application Deadline: January 5 – March 15
Eligibility: Playwrights aged 19 or younger as of March 15 who reside or attend school in the United States
The Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival distinguishes itself by providing you with a fully professional production of your winning script rather than just a staged reading. You work directly with a mentor and a professional director to prepare your play for a weekend-long run in a Hollywood theatre. The cast often features established actors from the film and television industry, giving you a legitimate professional stage debut. Because the program treats you as an equal collaborator rather than a student, you experience every facet of the production process from the first rehearsal to the final curtain call. Winning this competition places you among a prestigious group of alumni who have successfully transitioned into high-profile careers in the arts.
Location: Regional locations vary; National Ceremony in New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: $10 per individual entry; $30 per portfolio (Fee waivers available)
Acceptance size/cohort size: Thousands of regional recipients; select National Medalists
Dates: National Awards Week: June 9 – June 11
Application Deadline: Varies by region; December 1 – January 6
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up) residing in the United States or Canada
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards serve as the longest-running recognition program for creative teens in the United States. You can submit original work across 29 different categories, including specific sections for dramatic scripts, screenplays, and various forms of speculative fiction. Submissions are first adjudicated at the regional level, where high-achieving entries receive Gold Keys and advance to national consideration by a panel of industry luminaries. National Medalists become eligible for significant scholarships of up to $12,500 and may have their work featured in exhibitions or prestigious publications. This program emphasizes original voice and technical skill, providing you with a high-visibility platform to showcase your literary talent to university admissions offices and the broader arts community.
Location: Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance size/cohort size: First, second, and third place winners
Dates: Winners announced in the spring
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: 11th-grade students residing in the United States
The Princeton University 10-Minute Play Contest is a highly selective competition managed by the Lewis Center for the Arts. You must submit a short, original play that has not been previously published or produced professionally to be considered for recognition. A distinguished panel of Princeton University theater faculty members judges each script based on its narrative strength and dramatic potential. Winners receive a cash prize for their work, and the top-ranked scripts gain significant visibility among one of the most prestigious creative writing departments in the country. This contest is an excellent way for you to demonstrate high-level writing skills to elite institutions while participating in a tradition of academic excellence.
Location: Washington, DC
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance size/cohort size: First, second, and third place winners
Dates: Rehearsals March 14; Public Reading March 15
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: 9th –12th-grade students in the Washington, DC metro area, including Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Northern Virginia
The Mosaic Theater Company High School Playwriting Contest invites you to submit an original ten- to twenty-minute script that explores personal or community themes. If your work is selected as one of the three winning entries, you will receive a cash prize and undergo a rigorous development process involving multiple drafts and professional mentorship. You work alongside working directors from the Washington, DC area to refine your dialogue and narrative structure in preparation for a staged reading. These scripts are then performed by professional actors at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, providing you with a high-profile platform for your creative voice.
Location: Union, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $10 entry fee (Waivers available)
Acceptance size/cohort size: First, second, and third prize winners plus honorable mentions
Dates: Awards ceremony in March
Application Deadline: October 15 – January 25
Eligibility: High school students attending a New Jersey school or home-schooled residents aged 13-18
The Theater Project Young Playwrights Competition provides a high-impact platform for New Jersey residents to receive professional recognition for their original scripts. If you win one of the top three prizes, you receive a cash gift and the opportunity to see your work staged during a public awards ceremony. Beyond the primary contest, the organization offers every entrant a virtual meeting with an adult playwright to receive detailed feedback on their narrative technique. This program emphasizes developing critical-thinking skills and strictly prohibits the use of generative AI to ensure the authenticity of your creative voice. By participating, you join a community dedicated to honoring the next generation of theater practitioners through mentorship and live performance.
Location: New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free ($500 Honorarium provided)
Acceptance size/cohort size: Up to 7 Fellows from each NYC borough and District 75/79
Dates: January 26 – March 30
Application Deadline: Submissions generally close in late autumn
Eligibility: Diverse New York City public high school students
The Lucille Lortel Theatre’s NYC Public High School Playwriting Fellowship provides a professional-grade development platform for aspiring young writers across the five boroughs. If you are selected for this fellowship, you will engage in a series of intensive workshops and receive direct mentorship from seasoned theater professionals to refine your original script. The program offers a high-utility experience by combining creative instruction with unique cultural perks, including dinner and Broadway tickets to expand your theatrical horizons. Your journey concludes with a final presentation of your play and the formal publication of your work, ensuring your creative voice reaches a broader audience. This fellowship is a significant opportunity for you to build a professional network while exploring playwriting as a viable long-term career path.
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free; winners receive a scholarship or stipend
Acceptance size/cohort size: 20 scripts selected for round two; 4 finalists and 4 semi-finalists announced
Dates: Finalist Reading Series on May 3
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: High school students in the DFW Metroplex
The Circle Theatre High School Playwriting Project offers you a professional-grade platform to showcase your original ten-minute scripts. Your work undergoes a rigorous two-round evaluation process, which includes a primary review by a panel of expert theater-makers and a final assessment by a university-level playwriting class. If your script is selected as a finalist, you will see your creative vision brought to life by professional actors during a staged reading at the Finalist Reading Series. Beyond the performance, recognized writers earn valuable rewards such as trophies, complimentary theater tickets, and academic scholarships. The program also provides high-utility resources for teachers to integrate playwriting directly into their semester planning, ensuring they have the necessary guidance to produce a successful script.
Location: Washington, DC
Cost/Stipend: Free; the first-place winner receives $2,500, and the second-place winner receives $1,000
Acceptance size/cohort size: One national recipient and one second-place recipient
Dates: Occurs during the KCACTF National Festival in the spring
Application Deadline: Submissions generally follow the KCACTF regional schedule
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in college programs
The National Student Playwriting Award serves as a high-impact platform for college writers to develop their original work through professional-level production stages. If your script is selected, you receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Kennedy Center to showcase a selection of your play during the KCACTF National Festival. Winners gain access to unique professional-development opportunities and active membership in the Dramatists Guild to support their long-term career growth. The program also facilitates potential publication contracts through Samuel French, Inc., providing you with a direct pathway to global royalties and recognition. This competition emphasizes a deep respect for the written word by ensuring that your artistic vision remains intact throughout the collaborative rehearsal and performance process.
Location: Burlington, VT
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance size/cohort size: Four original pieces per event
Dates: February 16, March 16, April 20, May 18, and June 15
Application Deadline: Rolling; contact via email for participation
Eligibility: Open to all Vermont playwrights and creators
The Playmakers series serves as an open forum for local creators to develop new scripts and narrative experiments before a live audience. You have complete discretion over how to utilize your fifteen-minute time slot, whether you choose a traditional cold reading or a rehearsed work with rudimentary staging. The program emphasizes a community-based "test kitchen" atmosphere where you can connect with new collaborators and sound out ideas without the pressure of a juried selection process. Because there is no technical support or scheduled rehearsal time, you are responsible for casting your own readers and providing printed scripts for the performance. This monthly event provides a low-stakes environment to share your work in progress with a supportive public audience.
Location: Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: Free; winners receive a scholarship for after-school classes
Acceptance size/cohort size: Four winning playwrights
Dates: Festival and staged readings on April 27
Application Deadline: Varies each year; typically in early April
Eligibility: Open to student writers
The Write Here! Write Now! student playwriting competition provides you with a professional forum to showcase your creative writing through a blind evaluation process. If your script is selected as one of the four winners, you earn the opportunity to see your work live on stage during a staged reading performed by community members. Every student who enters the contest receives constructive written feedback from a panel of Trinity Rep staff and local artists to help improve their craft. In addition to the performance, you receive a scholarship for a theater arts class and free tickets for a student matinee to share with your school peers.
Location: New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance size/cohort size: Varies annually
Dates: June 3 – 7
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Playwrights who have participated in a Writopia workshop in the recent two-year period or are currently enrolled
Writopia Lab’s Worldwide Plays Festival encourages you to produce original ten-minute scripts centered around an annual creative theme. For the current cycle, you must incorporate at least one physical mask into your narrative to explore the global tradition of masked storytelling. The competition requires scripts to feature a limited cast of up to four actors while focusing on characters with meaningful personal histories. If your work is selected, it will be showcased during a multi-day festival in a professional New York City setting.
Location: New Hope, PA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance size/cohort size: The first 50 submissions receive a critique, and six winning plays are selected for performance
Dates: February 28
Application Deadline: Submissions generally close in late autumn
Eligibility: Students aged 12–18 attending school within a 75-mile radius of New Hope, PA
The Phillips’ Mill “Play With Words” Student Playwriting Challenge provides you with a unique opportunity to have your original script evaluated by a professional jury. If your work is selected as a winner, you will see your play performed by the Phillips’ Mill Players on a historic stage in front of a live audience. The program emphasizes developing your creative voice by offering direct critiques to the first 50 students who submit their work. Following the staged readings, you participate in an interactive Q&A session to engage with the audience and receive immediate feedback on your narrative.
Location: National (United States and Canada)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance size/cohort size: One national winner and one runner-up per category
Dates: Festival date to be determined
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 through 12
The Playwrights for Change competition invites you to craft an original ten-minute play that explores the current theme of widening your circle of compassion. You must submit a script featuring no more than six characters and written entirely by a single author. Every student who enters through a host organization receives professional-level feedback from a theater artist to help refine their creative work. National winners and runners-up gain the unique opportunity to have their plays presented at the official festival. This program provides a high-impact platform for you to engage with social themes while developing your voice within the professional theater community.
Location: Online with an in-person celebration in Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance size/cohort size: Six finalists are selected, with two ultimate winners
Dates: Semi-Finals: February 9 | Finalist Weekend: March 20 – 21 | Celebration: April 25
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Indiana students in grades 6–12 who are enrolled full-time in middle school, high school, or homeschool
The Young Playwrights in Process scholarship writing competition encourages you to create original short plays that reflect your perspective on the world. As a participant, you receive professional feedback from theatre experts and have the chance to attend workshops designed to refine your technical skills. In the final stages, you participate in a dedicated weekend where professional actors perform your work, and you work closely with directors. This program concludes with a live event at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, showcasing staged readings and a lunch with industry professionals. Winning this contest provides you with a significant cash prize and recognition that can enhance your future academic and professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
What playwriting competitions are available for high school students?
Options include nationally recognized programs, such as Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Young Playwrights Festival, The Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival, and Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, university-affiliated contests, such as Princeton University's 10-Minute Play Contest, regional competitions, such as Mosaic Theater Company and Circle Theatre High School Playwriting Project, and thematic contests, such as Playwrights for Change and Writopia Lab's Worldwide Plays Festival.
Which playwriting competitions result in a full professional production rather than just a reading?
The Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival is distinct in offering a full professional production with a weekend-long run in a Hollywood theatre, often featuring actors from film and television. Most other competitions, including Eugene O'Neill, Mosaic Theater Company, and Circle Theatre, offer script-in-hand or staged readings rather than fully mounted productions.
Are there free playwriting competitions for high school students?
Yes, most competitions on this list are free, including Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, The Blank Theatre, Princeton University's 10-Minute Play Contest, Mosaic Theater Company, Lucille Lortel Theatre Fellowship, Circle Theatre, Writopia Lab, and Playwrights for Change. Scholastic Art and Writing Awards charges $10 to $30 per entry, and The Theater Project charges a $10 entry fee, both with fee waivers available.
Which playwriting competitions are open to students outside their home region or state?
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is open nationally to students in the United States and Canada, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center and The Blank Theatre accept entries from students residing anywhere in the United States, and Playwrights for Change is open nationally across the United States and Canada. Several other competitions, including Mosaic Theater Company, The Theater Project, and Circle Theatre, are restricted to specific states or metro areas.
When should I apply to playwriting competitions for high school students?
Early deadlines include Eugene O'Neill Theater Center (January 15 to 29), Young Playwrights in Process (January 12), and Mosaic Theater Company (January 16). Spring deadlines include Princeton University's 10-Minute Play Contest (March 31), Circle Theatre (March 16), Writopia Lab (March 13), and Playwrights for Change (March 2). The Blank Theatre's window runs from January through mid-March.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.