Deadline: 8 September 2024

Registration is now open for the Yale Drama Series 2025 Playwriting Competition . The Yale Drama Series is an annual international competition for emerging playwrights, funded by the generous support of the David Charles Horn Foundation.

The winners are chosen by the most prominent playwrights of our time. Edward Albee served as the inaugural judge for the series (2007-2008), followed by Sir David Hare (2009-2010), John Guare (2011-2012), Marsha Norman (2013-2014), Nicholas Wright (2015-2017), Ayad Akhtar (2018-2019), Paula Vogel (2021-2022).

Prize

• The winner of this annual competition will receive the David Charles Horn Prize of US$ 10,000, the publication of their manuscript by Yale University Press and a commemorative event. 

Eligibility

• This competition is restricted to pieces written in English. Submissions from all over the world are accepted.
• Entries must be original, unpublished pieces of at least 65 pages. Plays shorter than 65 pages will not be considered. Translations, musicals and children's plays are not accepted.
• The Yale Drama Series aims to support emerging playwrights. Playwrights can win the competition only once.
• Playwrights may submit only one manuscript per year. Only manuscripts authored by one playwright are eligible.
• Plays that have been professionally produced or published are not eligible. Plays that have been workshopped, read, produced non-professionally or published in an actor's edition will be considered.
• The pieces must not be under option, commissioned or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission.
• Parts must be typed/processed in text and numbered on the pages.
• Yale Drama Series reserves the right to reject any manuscript for any reason.
• The Yale Drama Series reserves the right of the judge not to select a winner for any year of the competition and reserves the right to determine the ineligibility of a winner, in keeping with the spirit of the competition and based on the author's accomplishments.

Application

Electronic Submissions

The Yale Drama Competition strongly recommends electronic submission. By submitting your script electronically, you will receive immediate confirmation of your successful submission and the ability to check the status of your entry.

If you are submitting your play electronically, omit your name and contact information from the manuscript and from the submission file name. The manuscript should begin with a title page that shows the title of the play, a 2-3 sentence main description of the play, a list of characters and a list of acts and scenes. Enter the title of your play, your name and contact information (including address, telephone number and e-mail address) and a brief biography when indicated on the electronic submission form.

Submit the electronic form here

Hard copy despatches

The Yale Drama Competition strongly encourages applicants to submit their scripts electronically, but if this is impossible, they will accept hard copies.

If you are submitting a printed copy of your play, the manuscript should begin with a title page that shows the title of the play and your name, address, phone number, email address (if any) and page count; and, a second title page that lists only the title of the play, a 2-3 sentence main description of the play, a list of characters and a list of acts and scenes. Include a brief biography at the end of the manuscript, on a separate page.

Do not bind or staple your manuscript. Do not send the only copy of your work. Manuscripts cannot be returned after the competition. If you wish your manuscript to be acknowledged, include an e-mail address on the title page or a stamped, self-addressed postcard.

Send manuscript to Yale Drama Series, PO Box 209040, New Haven, CT 06520-9040.