The Sarasota Players 
Contact: Amanda Heisey, Marketing Director, amandah@theplayers.org 
941.365.2494 | theplayers.org 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3/18/2026 

The Sarasota Players Announces 2026  
New Play Festival & Call for Submissions 
Celebrating over two decades of bold, original storytelling from 
 Gulf Coast playwrights 

Sarasota, FL – March 18, 2026 – The Sarasota Players is proud to announce the return of its beloved New Play Festival (NPF), continuing a more than 20-year tradition of uplifting local playwrights and bringing fresh, original works to the stage. 

Taking place August 10–14, 2026, the festival invites audiences to experience five never-before-heard plays, presented in an engaging reader’s theatre format. Each selected work will be directed by a local director and performed by talented actors from the Gulf Coast community, offering a rare and exciting glimpse into new theatrical voices. 

The New Play Festival provides an invaluable platform for playwrights who have spent months—or even years—developing their scripts, offering them the opportunity to hear their work performed live and connect with an audience for the first time. One standout piece will be awarded “Best of Series” and will receive a workshop-style production, with the potential for full production during The Sarasota Players’ Summer 2027 season, pending space availability. 

Call for Submissions Now Open 

The Sarasota Players is currently accepting script submissions through Friday, April 3, 2026, from playwrights across the Gulf Coast region, defined as Tampa/Clearwater to Fort Myers. 

Submission Guidelines: 

• Playwrights must be 18 years or older and residents of the Gulf Coast area 

• Full-length plays preferred, though one-acts will be considered 

• Cast size must not exceed 10 performers (doubling encouraged where applicable) 

• Scripts must be unproduced and unpublished (prior workshops without paying audiences are acceptable) 

• Only one submission per playwright (or collaborator) per year 

• Previously submitted works are eligible only if substantially revised 

• Musicals are not accepted 

• Submissions must be sent as a single PDF (12-point font) including a playwright biography to: amandah@theplayers.org 

• Scripts not adhering to guidelines will be disqualified 

• Due to volume, no feedback will be provided on unselected entries 

Festival Details: 

Five selected plays will receive rehearsed readings during the festival. Each production will be assigned to a director, with input from the playwright when possible. Selected pieces will have a limited rehearsal process, including two rehearsals plus a final rehearsal prior to performance. Playwrights are responsible for providing updated scripts to their creative teams. 

Learn more: https://theplayers.org/shows/npf-submit-a-play/