From Page to Stage: Join the Walnut Street Theatre Playwriting Contest

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Philadelphia’s Walnut Street Theatre (WST), America’s oldest theatre and the Official State Theatre of Pennsylvania, has announced an exciting opportunity for playwrights nationwide: the 2025–26 Walnut Outreach Playwriting Competition. This initiative invites writers to create original works designed to inspire and engage young audiences in grades K–6.

A Legacy of Theatre for Young Audiences

For more than 40 years, WST’s Touring Outreach program has brought professional theatre directly into schools and community spaces across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Each year, these productions reach over 60,000 students, introducing them to the magic of live performance while supporting classroom learning and social-emotional development.

The competition continues this tradition by seeking fresh, imaginative plays and musicals that reflect the diversity and creativity of today’s students. Suggested themes include:

  • Bullying and character development
  • Literacy and storytelling
  • Black history and cultural celebration
  • Reimagined fairy tales and classic literature

Playwrights are encouraged to craft works for a multicultural cast of four actors (two men, two women), ensuring productions remain accessible, dynamic, and inclusive.

What’s at Stake

The competition offers meaningful opportunities for both emerging and established voices:

  • Grand Prize Winner: $1,500 cash advance against royalty, plus a guaranteed professional production in WST’s 2026–27 Outreach Season. The winner will also be invited to participate in rehearsals, either in Philadelphia or virtually.
  • Developmental Honorable Mentions: Complimentary staged readings at Walnut Street Theatre, complete with professional feedback from the artistic team.

As TJ Sokso, WST’s Director of Education, explains: “Our Touring Outreach program has been inspiring students for generations, and this competition is an opportunity to discover the next great story that will travel into classrooms and communities across the region.”

Key Dates

  • Submission Deadline: Friday, December 12, 2025
  • Winner Announced: Friday, January 9, 2026

Submission Guidelines

  • Works must be original, unpublished, and unproduced.
  • Maximum length: 50 minutes.
  • Co-authorships, adaptations, and translations are welcome.
  • Scripts must be written in English and formatted as a standard playscript.
  • No entry fee required.

Full guidelines and the online entry form are available at WalnutStreetTheatre.org/about/literary.php. Questions can be directed to walnutoutreach@gmail.com.

About Walnut Street Theatre

Founded in 1808, Walnut Street Theatre is not only the oldest theatre in America but also Philadelphia’s most popular theatre company. With five Mainstage productions each season, a beloved Theatre for Kids Series, and outreach programs that reach over 150,000 students, teachers, and families annually, WST continues to be a cornerstone of accessible, diverse, and inspiring live theatre.