General Guidelines 

• Only PCSF members are eligible for a slot in our reading series. Plays will not be read if membership is not current at the time of submission and the time of the reading. Join PCSF here! Or contact membership@playwrightscentersf.org to confirm your membership status.
• Please understand that if accepted for a reading of their play, one of the playwright's main responsibilities is to market the play's Zoom presentation of the play to potential audience members.  Building a large audience ensures an effective and valuable feedback session after the play's presentation on Zoom
• No musicals, operas, etc. If the play contains incidental song(s) or music, the playwright must own the rights. have express written permission to the rights, or the song(s) must be in the public domain. This policy does not allow for "fair use."
• Plays that were previously not accepted for a PCSF developmental reading, or that had a previous developmental reading with PCSF, can be submitted again, as long as they have been substantially changed. If so, be sure to fill out the question about what you've changed.  If your play has received a staged reading with PCSF, it is no longer eligible for our Reading Series Program.

Reading Series Guidelines

• A PCSF member may submit ONE play to be considered for this Reading Series -- do not submit more than one play.
• Plays must be at least 35 pages in length, and no more than 130 pages in length, properly formatted, with a maximum run time of 2.5 hours. Submissions over 130 pages will not be considered.   
• We reserve the right to stop reading plays that are obviously longer than 2.5 hours.  Plays of 130 pages in length that are monologue-heavy would easily run over 2.5 hours.
• Plays must have a minimum of 35 pages with a minimum run time of 30 minutes. 
• Plays must be either a one-act, or a full-length.  A collection of short plays that are clearly and obviously inter-related, with recurring themes and/or recurring characters will be considered.  In addition to thematic cohesion, any collection of short plays must also be designed to be a single work, with an overarching dramatic structure that applies to the work as a whole.   The Reading Series producer reserves the right to reject any collection of plays that is judged to lack sufficient thematic connection or overall dramatic unity.
• Plays must be in standard script format -- you can use either Modern or Traditional format as designated by the Dramatists' Guild. (examples of these templates can be found here). Plays with improper margins, font or formatting may be disqualified. 
• Include a list of characters at the beginning of your play -- character name, and any necessary demographics (age, gender, ethnicity)
• We prefer plays to be formatted in Courier or Courier New font, 12 point.  Times New Roman 12 will be accepted, but it often proves more difficult for actors to read and also does not "time" as accurately when estimating run-length of your play.
• General margins: top margin between 0.75" and 1.0" and bottom margin: between 1.0" and 1.5"
• Dialogue Margins: left margin 1.5" - 2.0" and right margin: 1.0". Each character's dialogue should be followed by one blank line (12 point).
• Character names (tags) should be on a unique line. Also, character names should be in ALL CAPS.
• All submissions must be electronic in MS Word (.doc/.docx), or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format only. PDF format is preferred.
• Plays must include a character list, tag line, and short summary at the beginning of the document.   IF YOUR PLAY HAS MORE THAN 6 CHARACTERS, you must also provide a doubling casting plan that allows your play to be read by 6 actors or less.   (NOTE:   if stage directions must be read aloud during your play, you do NOT need include an actor for this -- your play's producer will ensure that necessary stage directions are read)
• Make sure to name the file as follows:  {play title}_blind.doc (or) .docx (or) .pdf.
• Attach One (1) blind copy of the play with no playwright identifying information. 

Tip: To ensure your file really is blind, in the File menu, choose Properties, then delete your name that Word automatically puts in there. Save the file, open it and check again that it's blank. 

Note: You will receive an automated acknowledgement of the submission. If there are any problems with the submission you will be contacted by one of the Reading Series producers.

Selection of Plays

• The PCSF reading committee will evaluate all plays submitted.   From those plays deemed ready for a reading, up to SIX plays will be chosen.  These chosen plays will have an online "Zoom" reading in March/April timeframe.   The selected plays will have one online rehearsal and one online performance/talk back session.   The playwright must attend both online sessions.
• Playwrights will be notified of the final selections in February -- following the announcement of the selected plays, all playwrights will receive brief feedback on their play from our Literary Committee, whether the play was selected or not.

Fine Print

• All readings in 2027 will be developmental readings and will take place on Zoom. 
• Plays selected for readings will have an assigned producer but no director.    
• Developmental readings will have no or minimal "costumes" and plain backgrounds.

        Updated 9/24/26  rm