Playwrights’ Festival 2024-10-16T20:58:00+00:00
35th Bryan Harnetiaux PLAYWRIGHTS’ FORUM FESTIVAL

Spokane Civic Theatre is proud to present its celebrated Bryan Harnetiaux Playwrights’ Forum Festival. Established in 1983, the festival has showcased new short plays and now limits its focus to serving Northwest playwrights.

The submissions window is now open through January 15. The Festival includes a Youth Division, serving playwrights under 21 years old. Selected plays will be produced at this season’s Festival in June 2025.

2025 Submission Deadline
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Festival Purpose

The Festival is designed to promote the art of playwriting and to serve the playwrights selected to be showcased in the Festival.

Festival Deadline

Entries for the 2025 Festival must be submitted online, using the application and consent form below. All submissions must be received on/before January 15, 2025.

Submitting Your Play

  • Playwrights residing in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, British Columbia, and Alberta are eligible to submit for the festival.
  • A playwright may submit no more than two (2) plays to the Festival.
  • Submission restrictions:
    • Plays must have a running time of 30 minutes or less.
    • Submissions must be in standard play format.
    • There are no restrictions on content, except no musicals.
    • Plays must be submitted “blind,” with no name on the script nor any identifying information within the script.
    • Submissions must not have been previously professionally produced
    • Please do not re-submit scripts that have been previously submitted, unless substantially revised.
  • The script should include a character breakdown.
  • Any questions should be directed to playwrights@spokanecivictheatre.com.

Nature of Festival Production

The Festival provides each play selected a fully-rehearsed production, with the opportunity for the playwrights to participate in the rehearsal process and revise the script up until the festival production deadline (usually about 10 days before opening). Revisions after this date are only allowed if the director determines in their discretion further revisions will not jeopardize the quality of the performance. (Playwrights are strongly encouraged to attend as much of the rehearsal process and Festival as possible, and to participate in the moderated post-performance talkbacks with the audience).

We ask that playwrights keep in mind that festival productions are “bare-bones” in nature, with elemental light and sound capabilities along with limited costumes and props. A standard number of set pieces will be made available to directors such as chairs, tables, sofas/couch, door/doorframe, and the like. To the extent necessary, the play program will provide additional information to assist the audience in understanding the setting. The Festival Committee reserves the right to take into consideration in the selection process script production requirements of a more demanding nature. Also, if a play is selected that requires unique costumes or props, the director may request the playwright provide these items in a timely manner.

2025 Submissions open

Festival Timeline

Play Submissions Open:
September 2025

Play Submissions Due:
January 2025

Plays Selected:
February 2025

Director Submissions:
March 2025

Festival Auditions:
April 2025

Playwrights’ Forum Festival:
June 19 – 22, 2025

view festival play archive here