Submissions of Plays
Write Act Repertory respects the written word as a basis of our mission and operating mandate. We will do all we can to facilitate a positive experience when submitting to our organization. We can make this happen by defining the way we receive materials and respond to your submissions. Thank you for considering Write Act Rep as one of your theatre companies promoting your artistry.
 
There will be times that certain genres and playwright series festivals submission calls made be closed. We asked that you please respect those closed deadlines as we focus on the certain reading needs to fulfill our production protocols. Some of the submission policies vary, read each one carefully before submitting.

Thank You.
John Lant – Producing Artistic Director
 
Currently, one of Write Act Rep's outlets provides members the opportunity to produce and create original scripts developed exclusively for the resident professional artists in the membership. We encourage the artists through the continued engagement and immersion in an environment of artistic safety, to forward the company’s mission as well as their own personal goals in the entertainment field. By providing an atmosphere of mutual respect for every discipline and area of live theatrical presentation, we have become one of the most diverse theatre companies.
 
Write Act Repertory submissions can be made by members and non-members of the company. Although anyone may submit a play, dues-paying artists receive priority consideration and feedback. Please keep in mind that Write Act Rep operates, with permission, under a 50-seat Equity Waiver Agreement in LA. We are a professional organization but also face the financial realities of having our own home. We will do our absolute best to follow the guidelines of a typical Dramatist Guild format, but we reserve the right to exercise what is best for our fiscal health and responsibilities to our membership. With this said plays that have exceptionally large casts, children, animals, mature roles for people over 65, are prop/food heavy and exhibit the need for complicated lighting/sfx and/or extravagant set requirements, are very rarely produced. We recognize that your play might be the next Pulitzer, but we may not be equipped to handle your play or the cost of the play, and do not want to waste your time. In addition to the housekeeping notes below, please take note of the requirements in each of the submission guideline areas of each submission exhibit. Please be aware that we only have the ability to pay a very small amount for any royalty and we are not in a position to pay ANY royalty that exceeds that of the actor or creative team members under the 50-seat Equity Waiver Agreement in LA, or agreements set forth in our other production arrangements.
 
All submissions shall be free from copyright restrictions and the author will need to sign an agreement that shall hold Write Act Repertory Company, its officers, and directors free and harmless from all copyright claims. If a submission includes any material that is copyrighted, the author shall provide proof of permission to include the copyrighted material in the submission, when requested.

The General Review Process
 All are plays are read by the members of Write Act Repertory or its Guest Artists, these people include playwrights, actors, directors, designers, producers, and technical personnel. After an initial reading, each member fills out an in-house evaluation form. After 5 members of the Readers Committee have given their coverage, the first step of consideration will have occurred. If the script has warranted 4 positive evaluations, it moves to another group of 3 readers and evaluations. If 6 evaluations are positive in this second step, it will be read by the Lead of the Literary Committee. Another avenue that the play may take would be a “Golden Choice” by a majority the Readers Committee to give an out-loud reading for Write Act Rep members only. This selection is usually based solely on a need basis to fulfill our production schedule. Again, after a discernment of most positive responses it will be passed on to the Head of the Literary Committee. When it receives a positive rating from the Literary Manager it will be given to the Artistic Team for final evaluation. At that time, it will be read by 3 members of the Artistic Team, including the designated Dramaturg. It may be advanced next by unanimous decision for future consideration by the Producing Artistic Director. Once that has happened, all playwrights at this level will be contacted directly by the Producing Artistic Director for the last step of the submission process, which is an interview, before each play contract is negotiated with each author.

*TO BE INCLUDED WITH EVERY SUBMISSION: The Submission Form, cover letter, synopsis of the play, a full character breakdown, full scene list, author's history, genesis of the play and a maximum 200-word biography of the playwright. Please make sure that your phone and e-mail contact information is on the cover letter, too.
 
Some Playwright Housekeeping Notes
 Use a standard play format. All scripts must have page numbers as well as title of the play in the header or footer.

All scripts must be prepared in a Microsoft Word.doc or .PDF format copy of the play to continue our internal steps of the selection process.

No changes or revisions accepted after submission.

Submission of an entry will authorize Write Act Rep to reproduce and perform your entry with no royalties, unless noted in the Writer’s Agreement, for the purpose of furthering our mission or to substantiate our existence as a not-for-profit entity as we internally review submissions.

Write Act Rep does not send evaluations of scripts. There are other services that dramaturgy can be arranged at a substantial charge.
 
Write Act Rep does not accept scripts sent registered or certified mail. We do not have a signatory agent at the theatres.
 
If mailing your submission, send 2 copies of the scripts bound in a cover or 3-hole punch with brads, unless noted in the submission guideline areas of each submission exhibit. No double-sided pages. If you would like confirmation of receipt, please enclose a self addressed stamped envelope with the correct postage.

Write Act Rep does not return scripts, unless otherwise notated in the guideline section of each specific submission as noted above.

 Even though all scripts will be handled with care, Write Act Rep will not assume responsibility for lost or damaged scripts. PLEASE RETAIN A COPY OF YOUR SCRIPT.   

Moving Forward
Once your material is submitted it will take anywhere from 1 to 3 months to evaluate. It may take an additionally 1 to 3 months for us to fully process your script. We ask that you please do not call or email our offices in the interim to inquire on the status of your play.
 
If we are interested in your play, we will contact you by phone or e-mail only.

In all cases, the author will be fully notated and credited.
 
All ownership rights will be retained by the author.
 
All Playwrights agree to allow Write Act Rep a videotape of their work for archival purposes only, with the theatre providing a copy to the playwright. There will be no commercial release of this work and Write Act Rep has the right to use this taping for promotional purposes only, not more than 3 minutes at any given time of each play would be used for broadcast or streaming or social media outlets.

No transportation/housing expenses will be provided, though our hope is that the playwright of the selected play can participate and can be involved in the rehearsal process in Los Angeles or New York.
 
Helpful Hints If We Post General Submissions
Write Act Repertory has a high standard of excellence. We prefer well-constructed and beautifully written material which celebrates your passion of live theatre. These submissions should inspire to bring out the best of the human heart in terms of emotional response. We want to bring out the flavor of your work for the best possible live theatrical experience that will bring back the exceptionally diverse community to our home time after time.
 
Take the opportunity to do your own table read to stay within time limits. This is a huge script killer.
 
Submit different styles. 
 
Playwrights may suggest directors, if locally located, and they submit to an interview with the Artistic Team. All Director assignments are subject to the approval of the Artistic Team.
 
Do not submit Movie Scripts, Political Plays & Plays of Self Interest or just Talking Heads, unless otherwise notated in the guideline section.   
 
Do not submit plays with specific music or anything for which we must obtain rights. The rights issue is on the playwright.