Carolina New Works Play Festival

Cultivating fertile ground for North and South Carolina Playwrights

UNC Charlotte’s Department of Theatre, in partnership with Three Bone Theatre, announces the launch of the Carolina New Works Play Festival! Through readings, workshops, and in-depth collaborations, the Carolina New Works Play Festival (CNWPF) will showcase the creative process of developing new plays.

Three plays by North and/or South Carolina playwrights will be selected through a comprehensive review, after a three-month solicitation phase. In the summer of 2026, CNWPF will present up to three staged readings of each new work over the course of two festival weekends (times and locations TBD). After each reading playwrights and artists will host post-show discussions with the audience. Audiences will witness the creative process, and their feedback will actively be a part of the plays’ future life.

Three Bone Theatre is a leader in professional theatre in Charlotte. Over the last 13 years, the company has curated a trusted network of theatre makers and audiences. The Department of Theatre and Three Bone Theatre will collaborate to evaluate submissions and to hire directors, dramaturgs, and performers to work with the selected playwrights. The CNWPF will contribute to the region’s cultural landscape, strengthen our theatre community, enrich the artform, and foster representation by celebrating new stories and perspectives. 

Our guidelines are simple:

• The playwright must be from the Carolinas (South or North). If you believe you are a Carolina voice but no longer live in the region, please share how you are connected to the Carolinas in your submission application.
• We consider plays (and musicals) with a cast of at least two actors and no more than six actors. (doubling is acceptable if the playwright provides a doubling list). 
• We are not accepting one-person shows. 
• We are happy to read plays and musicals at any stage of development but are not considering new drafts of previously submitted or produced work. 

What you can expect when you submit: 

We appreciate your patience as we read every submission and give each one ample attention. You will hear from us within four months. If you are still waiting to hear from us within four months, please know that we will contact every playwright with our decision and are still in our selection process. 

CNPF provides 20 hours of rehearsal with a dramaturg, director and actors. This series presents a staged reading production with three performances of your play with audience feedback sessions.

Submissions opened August 25. The following is required on the submission form: 

1. Proposal & history of script.

2. Statement of artistic purpose.

3. Status of the play.

4. A bio and resume.

Click here for Script Submissions

The Carolina New Works Play Festival is a shared initiative between UNC Charlotte’s Department of Theatre and Three Bone Theatre.