2026-2027 NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT SERIES
WHO WE ARE
For over 37 seasons, Tennessee Stage Company has supported playwrights through hundreds of script readings, workshops, and 41 world premiere productions. This season continues TSC’s ongoing commitment to playwrights from East Tennessee, offering a robust development process for four new plays that culminates in a two-week rehearsal intensive and public readings at the TSC New Play Festival in January 2027.
Submissions open January 18, 2026 and close June 30, 2026.
Questions? Contact David Ratliff: david@tennesseestage.com
Submissions opened January 18, 2026 and closed June 30, 2026.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We seek plays that explore the cultural, political, emotional, and imaginative terrain of the Southern experience in bold, unexpected ways. All genres and styles are welcome; we want work that excites us and demands to be seen.
We like to say we’re looking for plays where “the ink is still wet,”— whether that means something that is currently being developed or a script that you are ready to look at with fresh eyes.
We are only accepting submissions from East Tennessee playwrights—writers who currently reside in or have deep roots in the region.
WHAT WE OFFER
Selected playwrights will be paired with a dramaturg and facilitator. Dramaturgs serve as creative partners, editors, and sounding boards throughout the process. Facilitators, who act in place of traditional directors, guide actors and support the playwright’s vision without adding interpretive layers. Facilitators also lead all feedback sessions using the Critical Response Process.
Development Includes:
- One week of fall workshop rehearsals, culminating in a Saturday afternoon public table reading at the Knox County Public Library. Time slots are as follows:
- Week 1: October 5 – 10
- Week 2: October 19 – 24
- Week 3: November 2 – 7
- Week 4: November 9 – 14
- One week of festival rehearsals (January 3 – 8, 2027), culminating in the first public staged reading during the first weekend of the TSC New Play Festival (January 8 – 10, 2027)
Staged readings may vary from actors on stools to light staging, but these are not full productions. Script revisions are encouraged throughout the process, but scripts must be locked 48 hours before each public reading.
Eight finalists will be selected. Four finalists will be chosen for the development series. The other four finalists will receive a one-night-only table reading during the festival. Final decisions will be announced by August 14, 2026.
TSC does not retain any rights to the plays. All participants (including playwrights, actors, stage managers, dramaturgs, and facilitators) receive a modest stipend.
FAQ HIGHLIGHTS
How many plays are selected?
Eight finalists will be chosen. Four finalists will enter the full development series; four finalists will receive table readings during the festival.
Who selects the plays?
Program directors H. Caitlin Corbitt and David Ratliff read every submission. TSC Executive Artistic Director Tom Parkhill serves as tie-breaker if needed.
When will I be notified?
Final selections will be announced by August 14, 2026..
Can I submit multiple plays?
Yes, but please prioritize the play you’re most passionate about and submit each script separately.
What programming have you done in the past?
Check out our New Play Festival Premieres post detailing the premiere productions we have produced between 1989 and now. A lot has changed since we began; this list does not include the table/staged readings prior to 2020. You can also check out the content from recent years’ past:
Can I submit…
- A musical? → Not at this time (plays with minimal music OK).
- An adaptation? → Yes, if you have rights or it’s in the public domain.
- A one-person play? → Yes, as long as you understand you won’t perform or direct it yourself.
- A previously submitted script? → Yes, if you still want to develop it.
- If I’m not from or currently reside in East Tennessee? → Not at this time.
Still unsure? Reach out to Co-Program Director David Ratliff with questions at David@Tennesseestage.com.