Script Submission Guidelines

The Detroit Repertory Theatre welcomes new plays for production at our 194 seat, proscenium stage theatre. Our New Playwrights' Program is not a competition, festival, workshop or staged reading program. We consider plays writers feel are ready for production, not development.

We are interested in issue oriented plays (a comedic approach is fine); 5 to 7 characters; no double casting, and we avoid plays that require children. No One Acts, please. We are not accepting musicals at this time.

Each season we produce, at least, one original work. All plays submitted should be:

• Bound in a folder
• Cast list provided
• Typewritten in proper manuscript form with pages numbered
• Include a SASE for return of the manuscript

Choosing

The choice of plays is the single most important decision to be made in any season. All other decisions, all other programs; all the dreams, all the management, all the marketing, all the funding, all the bills, all the outreach, all the hiring; everything, the purpose, the audience, the budget, the visions, are embodied in one thing, the plays we choose to make. Each choice each year is a risk. The outcome and the income are never guaranteed. The Artistic Director makes the final decision on the choice of plays and, in that sense, the destiny of the theatre is in his/her hands. But the decision is never unilateral.

The Literary Manager and an in-house team of directors reads and recommends scripts throughout the year to be considered for production. The Artistic Director reads the recommended scripts. The worthiness, importance, taste, artistry, capability, costs, talent available, and position in the season’s lineup of each recommended script is discussed and defended by members of the team and the Artistic Director at a special session. Then, the Artistic Director makes the final determination.

Learn about other Outreach Services and New Playwrights