Launched in 1985, SCR's Collaboration Laboratory—known as Colab—is an integrated play-development program that employs diverse strategies to aid playwrights in creating new work including:
Playwright Commissions
Commissions are SCR's most effective means of supporting and developing long-term relationships with writers. Three Days of Rain by Richard Greenberg, Brooklyn Boy by Donald Margulies, Golden Child by David Henry Hwang, The Beard of Avon by Amy Freed and A Doll's House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath were all successful products of SCR commissions.
NewSCRipts
NewSCRipts is a staged reading series that allows playwrights the chance to hear their developing plays read and to receive audience feedback. Playwright participation is by invitation only for projects submitted according to the procedures outlined below. Read more about NewSCRipts.
The Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF)
PPF annually presents seven new plays—readings, workshops and productions—during a three-day period. Audiences consist of local playgoers and representatives from theatres nationwide. Participation is by invitation only for projects submitted according to the procedures outlined below. The 22nd annual Pacific Playwrights Festival will take place April 26-28, 2019. Read more about PPF.
Submission Procedures
SCR’s literary department is going paperless! As of July 2018, all script samples may be submitted via email. (If you have already sent in a hard copy submission, never fear: we will continue to accept paper submissions through the end of 2018.)
Playwrights without representation may send a cover letter, brief synopsis, complete list of characters and 10-page excerpt to scripts@scr.org. Materials may be sent as either PDFs or Word documents. After review, we will contact you if we wish to read the entire script. Unsolicited full-length scripts will not be reviewed. Note that scripts@scr.org is for script submissions only; please use SCR’s contact page for any submission-related questions.
Playwrights with professional representation may have their agents send full manuscripts at any time. Please note that—for this purpose—lawyers and law firms do not qualify as "professional representation."
SCR accepts submissions for full-length plays, musicals, translations and adaptations and works for young audiences (approximately fourth-grade level). Unproduced plays are considered for possible inclusion in the NewSCRipts reading series, the Pacific Playwrights Festival and for production on SCR stages. Submissions are accepted year-round; there is no submission deadline for any opportunity.