SoHo Playhouse presents The 5th Annual Lighthouse Series:
This spring we are turning on the beacon to let artists across New York City know to COME THIS WAY!
SoHo Playhouse presents The 5th Annual Lighthouse Series:
This spring, we are turning on the beacon to let artists across New York City know to COME THIS WAY!
What is The Lighthouse Series?: A competitive celebration of the best 12 plays currently in development. We’re looking for works in progress to develop into a full off-Broadway production here at SoHo Playhouse.
Applicants will submit a 20-25 minute version of their piece, and if selected, will have the opportunity to perform it this spring. The audience’s favorites will move on to a second round during the summer, where the artists will expand their works to 30-40 minutes. One winner will have the opportunity to perform their full 55-75 minute production sometime in SoHo Playhouse’s next season.
For over 20 years, SoHo Playhouse has worked tirelessly in pursuit of our mission: to create and showcase groundbreaking new theatre from diverse voices and artists from across the Globe.
We noticed a dearth of opportunities for up-and-coming artists to produce their new works in New York City, which is why the Lighthouse Series was devised 5 years ago.
Submission Guidelines
To be considered, please submit the following:
Title
Genre
Number of cast members
Submission script (20-25 minutes max)
1 page of text/copy: Information about you, the production history, and a brief outline of the full-length piece (so we can get a sense of where your excerpt is going)
$25 application fee
What additional, optional materials can I submit?
Full Length Script (if available)
1 page of images (from previous productions, or just a moodboard so we can understand tone).
A video of a previous staging/production (15 mins max, we will not be accepting full length tapings).
*Please be aware that we are dedicated to reading every submission’s 20-25 minute version of their show. You are more than welcome to submit these supporting materials, but we are only obligated to read the submission script for every show.*
Who can apply? Any and all emerging artists based in the New York City area who will be here this spring. There is no age limit.
When can you apply? Applications for the 2026 Lighthouse Series open at 12:01am on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
When is the deadline? The deadline for applications for the 2026 Lighthouse Series is 11:59pm on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Anyone who has paid the application fee by then will have until 11:59pm on Monday the 16th to submit their form.
Responsibilities if selected:
We will not provide actors or production personnel for your individual project, so this is a self-produced, bring-your-own-production festival where the artist submitting will be responsible for all elements of the production.
Development status:
Though we accept pieces in all stages of development, know that we are looking for works to take to the next level. If your work is “finished” at the 20-minute version, it’s more difficult for us to consider it for the final selection. Additionally, if the piece has been on the circuit for 10 or more years, maybe it’s not the right fit for this new-works festival.
In selecting a final winner, the judges should be able to clearly see the production trajectory for your show.
Questions, Comments, and Enquiries? Email us at lighthouse@sohoplayhouse.com.
SUBMISSIONS HAVE CLOSED: If you paid your submission fee before the deadline, you will not get an autoreply, but will receive the Google form Monday at noon. You will have until 11:59pm on Monday the 16th to complete your Google form. Thank you to all who applied!
past winners
FAQ
What kind of pieces are submitted? We will accept just about anything: short plays, long monologues, a series of monologues, a longer scene from a full-length play, your own one-act—anything! We are creatives here, not referees! The only catch is the time limit: the submission (when performed) cannot exceed 25 minutes. And of course, it isn’t you that has to perform—maybe you have a short play you’ve written, and have incredible actor friends who will perform the piece for the series. You create—we showcase. Simple as that.
When will the competition take place? Round 1 performances will be held at SoHo Playhouse over two separate weekends: the weekend of May 1st & the weekend of May 15th.
Who decides the winner? You! And us! Each selected piece will have three nights to perform over your respective weekend as part of a 3-show group. The audience votes on one winner per group. If we feel like there was one show we just simply can’t let go of…we might add it as a staff pick to move onto round 2. The final winner will be selected by a committee including SoHo Playhouse staff, along with theatre professionals who have produced with SoHo Playhouse in the past.
What will you get? Other than an off-Broadway credit, three performances of your piece, and the chance of extending? The Lighthouse Series will be an incredible, power-packed few nights of theatre. We want to bring talented young artists together: not only for our benefit to scout talent and be immersed in new work, but to bring you all together.
Why are we doing this?... You! We want to know who the next culture-shifting, cutting-edge, brave young artists are in New York City right now. We know how hard it is to get started in this industry, and we believe in throwing your fears to the wind and workshopping your creations. We want to be a home for you to explore your voices, not just now—but always. The Lighthouse Series is just the beginning.
What does the Lighthouse Series provide?
We provide free space for a 75-minute tech and 3 performances in our 178-seat house. Any additional tech time in the space or non-tech rehearsals will be available at a discounted rate. We will also provide the use of any props/set pieces in our inventory, an experienced technical director who will serve as a tech mentor to any designers you bring on board, a board op during performances, and an in-house publicist to promote the series. Each group in the first round will be given the chance to have an Instagram takeover on Soho Playhouse’s social media channels to promote their pieces.
How do ticket sales work?
For the first round of the Lighthouse Series, artists will not receive any proceeds from the box office. For those who are invited back for a second round, there will be a box office split of the proceeds.
How many works are in each round?
12 shows will be selected for the first round, and 4-6 of those works will advance to the second round. There will be one final winner selected for a run at some point during the 2027-2028 season, either during our International Fringe Encore Series or for a solo run.
What is the competition-based element of the Series, and how does it work?
The Lighthouse Series is divided into two rounds, resulting in one final winner for a multi-week run during the 2027-2028 season.
ROUND 1: Audience voting
The audience will have the opportunity to vote ranked-choice on the pieces they saw that evening. Each piece will be given an equal number of performances to ensure fairness in being exposed to a pool of different audiences. Based on the results of the votes in the first round, your piece may or may not be voted back for a second round.
ROUND 2: Expanded Runtimes
Works in the second round are expected to expand to 30-40 minutes. For the second round, members of SoHo Playhouse staff and other invited industry professionals will select the winner!
If my piece has already been performed at another venue, am I eligible to apply?
Yes. We accept works that have been previously produced, as long as the works are not licensed by a publishing house that requires royalties.
How long are our works allowed to be?
During the first round, all pieces performed will need to be no longer than 25 minutes, with preference given to works 20 minutes or under.
I have a completed script running over 25+ minutes. Should I send the whole script, or just an excerpt?
You must send the excerpt that you think best showcases what your performance for Round One will be. We will not hold you to performing the exact 20-25 minute version in Round One, if accepted, but do encourage performing that version. You can also share the full script, but be aware that we are only dedicated to reading the 20-25 minute versions of the show.
What are you looking for in terms of content?
We are looking for original works of all kinds – in the past, we’ve presented small cast comedies and dramas, genre pieces (suspense/thrillers/horror/sci fi), autobiographical works, satire/parody/transformative works, and musicals.
If we submit, when should we accept to hear back?
All applicants will be notified of their status by March 31, 2026.
Why is there an application fee?
We believe in reducing the barriers to entry to theatre: not only to this festival, but to the arts in general. However, there is a tremendous amount of admin required to produce this festival. Last year, there were close to 200 submissions! The $25 application fee ensures that we are paying the staff who read your work, so that your piece gets the attention it deserves.
Any additional questions can be forwarded to lighthouse@sohoplayhouse.com.