I want to submit my play!

Submissions are closed for 2025

What does RFP mean?

Request For Proposals.

When is the last date to submit?

The last day to submit is Monday, April 21, 2025. 

What is a pitch session?

A pitch session is your opportunity to present your project in person to the Annex Company. 

Who should be at my pitch session?

You, definitely. You may also invite your producing partners: director, playwright, composer, dramaturg, and actors (for scene excerpts). Read our tips on how to make sure your a pitch session is perfect.

When do I get to schedule my pitch?

You are not guaranteed a pitch session after you propose. Once you fill out the form, the company will review your proposal. If we think your show would be a good fit for our stage, we will communicate with you to schedule your pitch session. We try to meet with everyone, but that is not always possible. Company members are guaranteed a pitch session.

Do I have to see a show at Annex to pitch?

No, but it's preferred so that you can understand . Read more about what it's like to produce at Annex.

Define 'elevator pitch'?

A short description of your project that takes 30 seconds or less.

Define 'workshop'?

A workshop is part of the play development process. It can be a private or public reading, staged or done at a table. Workshops are typically followed by a talkback session to help the playwright develop the play further. They are not a guaranteed part of the production process and completely driven by you, the artist.

Define 'WIP'?

WIP or Work In Progress can be a reading, an iterative staging between shows, or anything that would benefit from stage time and experimenting in a low-stakes environment. Imagine if you had a whole theater to yourself - how would you approach interacting with the space or televising your creative process to the masses? There are no wrong choices when you dream big!

What do you mean by "something else"?

We are interested in open-ended submissions for opportunities that utilize our stage and generate new partnerships. This could look like a showcase or festival, or even a recurring event. Curious if we'll select it? Pitch it, and let's find out!

Where do I find the Flinch/Punch RFP?

Go here.

How do you define Pacific Northwest and world premiere?

We define PNW premiere as a play has been fully produced somewhere else in the world, but never before in the Puget Sound/Portland/Vancouver region. A world premiere is a brand-new play that has never been fully produced before! If it has had a university production with students or workshops/staged readings, it is still qualified to be a fully produced Annex show.

What do I do if my play isn't chosen?

If your play is not chosen for this season, it could be chosen in the future so you may be encouraged to re-submit with that play or a different one. Some proposers for pitch many years running before a project of theirs is chosen! Or we may suggest you to consider doing a project like Mind the Set or produce elsewhere in Seattle.

My play is unfinished/not written yet/needs a lot of work. Help!

That is more than okay. Although we rarely choose unfinished plays for our Live+ hybrid option, we are encourage you to look at our WIP category! We occasionally choose plays that evolve over time, so if you start writing a play about one thing, it ends up being about another. Even if your play isn't complete yet, we still want you to submit!

Does my play have to be new?

Annex trucks in bold, new work. This means we LOVE new plays. We love thinking about them, working on them, breathing on them, and producing them. It's just like, what we do. BUT if you have a super cool idea of how to re-interpret something REALLY old like say, Hamlet, then we might be interested. Go ahead and submit, and let's talk.

I'm not a local playwright. 

Will you still produce my play?

We have directors and company members who are interested in working with us and do not have a play to pitch. If you are not local, you may still pitch–we will do a video call for the pitch session–but someone local, like the director, will need to be in Seattle to do the play! You do not have to be local, but we like for someone accountable to the project to be local for matters related to production. If you pitch this show as a playwright and you're not local, we hope that your director is. The director is ultimately responsible for the success of the project.

I don't have a director. 

Is that ok?

Yes! We get excited about the people AND the work. If you don't have a director, we can assure you that we have plenty of company members who are potentially interested and local connections to help you find the perfect creative team. 

How does a co-production work?

Annex fully produces mainstage plays. However, we are open to co-producing (i.e. you get a cut of the box office and some production, marketing, or dramaturgical support from Annex) to bring in new audiences. If you think you have a good idea, let's talk.

What if my play would be a better rental?

Let's talk! We aim to curate our rental season to align with our values as a producing organization, as well as provide much-needed space to self-producing artists. If we think your pitch is better as a rental, we'll talk about that with you. 

Do selected proposers receive stipends?

Yes. Annex is an all-volunteer theatre company and we offer a small stipend to artists to cover any potential costs you may incur while creating your art (i.e. a parking ticket). We know that the stipends we offer ($150 for mainstage, $20 for WIP) are well below what is considered normal and viable in our town, but to stipend every artist what they're worth would break us. Annex survives and thrives on volunteer labor.

When and how do you choose the season?

We hold several sessions in mid-June to choose our plays as a Company. Annex Company members are encouraged to attend as many pitch sessions as they can and read all of the project proposals. We then gather to talk about every submission and whether or not it will be a good fit for our stage. Following debate, discussion, and deliberation, we choose a season by consensus. (Yes, consensus! By the end of the selection process, the Company backs each of the shows in the season.) 

I am a Company member. Can I participate in the season selection process and pitch?

One of the perks of being an Annex Company member is that you get to participate in the season selection process! We invite Company members who pitch to also read the other plays, attend the other pitch sessions (get some tips!), and be present at the season selection day. 

Not sure if you're a company member? Turns out if you think you are, you are. Look at the Facebook group and Company email list for updates.

Do you accept Equity proposals?

No. We are unable to pay Equity wages nor acquire an equity waiver. If your pitch intends to work with any equity actors, we cannot produce your project at Annex.

What is a stipend?

A small amount paid to artists who volunteer their time to producing a mainstage show at Annex Theatre.

What is your streaming setup?

Annex has two (3) studio cameras that live in the space, offering angles beyond the one center shot. We have 8 wireless lavalier mics that connect to the mixer, so audio is direct to stream. Our streaming software is Wirecast, which links directly to the Annex Youtube account.

How do you define 'bold new work'?

Although defined differently by the individual artists and audience members who pass through our doors, bold new work is what Annex produces on its stage. We produce forward-thinking plays never seen before. 

Your RFP doesn't fit my aesthetic. 

Where else can I submit?

We always recommend looking at playsubmissionshelper.com/blog for upcoming opportunities.

If you're in Seattle:

• We Need New Plays is an annual local short play festival.

• Parley Productions takes applications for prospective members.

• S.O.A.P. has openings for self-producing and festivals.

• Theatre Off Jackson takes proposals for co- and self-producing.