In response to a recent email that talked about auditing a theater's physical and financial constraints before submitting, a subscriber who is an AD wrote in with something I had to pass along. Their insightful note added a crucial second layer to that "audit" idea.
Yes, study what a theater *can* stage: their cast sizes, their stage, their budget. But also study what they *like* to stage. Their style. Their sensibility. The kinds of stories and voices they keep coming back to.
Then...say so in your cover letter!
According to this artistic director, a line like one of these can be genuinely useful to the person reading:
"This play is in the style of your previous productions of [X] and [Y]." "My work is similar to [a playwright you've produced] in that it's very [quality]."
A statement like this proves you've done your homework; that you know this theater and are submitting to them for a specific reason.
It also makes your reader's job easier and, if you do it right, will help predispose them to being more open to your work.
There's just one non-negotiable catch: Your play had better actually be in that style. (But you already knew that.)
Of course, none of this research is possible until you know which theaters are worth researching in the first place.
That's where we come in. Our curated, up-to-date list of theaters, contests, and festivals actively seeking scripts will help make sure you spend your time studying the right theaters (instead of hunting for them).
When you're ready to get started submitting, go here to browse our list of opportunities: https://playsubmissionshelper.com/blog/