You’ve finished your play, polished the script, and submitted it to a theater. Now comes the hardest part: waiting.
If you’re a new playwright, it’s natural to wonder whether you’ll hear back in a week, a month, or six months. The truth is that response times vary widely depending on the theater, the type of submission, and the number of plays under consideration.
What Is the Typical Response Timeline?
While every theater is different, here’s a general guide to what you might expect:
- 1–4 weeks: Some smaller theaters or independent companies may respond relatively quickly, particularly if they have a straightforward submission process.
- 1–3 months: This is a reasonable waiting period for many theaters, competitions, and play development programs.
- 3–6 months or longer: Larger theaters and organizations with multiple review stages may take several months to make decisions.
These are general estimates, not guarantees. Always check the theater’s submission guidelines for its expected response time.
What If You Never Hear Back?
Unfortunately, some theaters never respond to every submission. They may receive hundreds of scripts, have limited staff, or contact only writers whose work they want to consider further.
If a theater says it responds within three months, give it that time before following up. If its guidelines specify that only successful applicants will be contacted, silence may be the expected outcome.
When no timeline is provided, consider sending a brief, polite inquiry after a reasonable waiting period, such as eight to twelve weeks. Check the theater’s policies first, since some organizations discourage follow-ups.
Most importantly, don't automatically interpret silence as a judgment of your writing. A play can be a poor fit for one theater and exactly what another company is looking for.
What Should You Do While Waiting?
The best strategy is to keep moving.
1. Submit your play elsewhere. Unless a theater requires exclusive consideration, there’s little reason to put your submission plans on hold while waiting for one response. Check exclusivity rules before submitting the same play to multiple organizations.
2. Track your submissions. Record the theater's name, submission date, expected response time, and any follow-up deadline. A simple spreadsheet can prevent missed opportunities and unnecessary emails.
3. Keep finding new opportunities. Resources such as Play Submissions Helper can help playwrights discover theaters accepting submissions, review submission guidelines, and find opportunities suited to particular types of plays.
The Bottom Line
Hearing back after submitting a play can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, and sometimes no response arrives at all.
Be patient, follow each theater’s guidelines, and keep submitting your work. Your writing career shouldn't depend on a single inbox notification. The more thoughtfully you pursue suitable opportunities, the more chances you give your play to find its audience.