Young Minnesota Playwrights Festival
Young Minnesota Playwrights Festival
In partnership with Young Minnesota Playwrights and Park Square Theatre
Park Square Theatre is proud to partner with Young Minnesota Playwrights to present the Young Minnesota Playwrights Festival - a dynamic program dedicated to fostering new voices in theatre across Minnesota.
Through a multi-stage development process, emerging playwrights are supported in bringing original stories to life, from initial concept through staged performance.
The festival provides a platform for new work to be explored, refined, and shared with the community, connecting artists with professional mentors and collaborators along the way.
The program culminates in a live presentation of six selected works, each brought to life by local theatre professionals and performed at Park Square Theatre on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
2027 GUIDELINES AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Welcome! We’re excited to have piqued your interest in Young Minnesota Playwrights (“YMP”). In 2027, we will select and develop six original one-act plays by writers in Minnesota high schools. On June 26, the six plays will be performed at Park Square Theatre in Downtown Saint Paul. Below are the eligibility requirements and submission guidelines for your consideration. If you have questions, please email info@youngMNplaywrights.org.
Eligibility Requirements
Playwrights who submit materials as described below must be students enrolled in grades 9- 12 at a public, charter, or private high school in Minnesota.
Submission must include a completed TEACHER RECOMMENDATION FORM from a current theatre or English teacher regarding the playwright submitting their play.
Submission must include a STUDENT PROFILE AND PLAY SUBMISSION FORM completed by the playwright.
Submission Guidelines
All materials must be submitted electronically as typed, 12pt font, double spaced with one-inch margins. The cover page must include the title, playwright contact information, and date of submission. Please paginate your submitted script, starting after the cover page.
Submit an original 10-15 minute one-act play (maximum 15 pages of dialogue) on any subject you choose, with up to four (4) characters.
Include in your submission, a character breakdown with a brief description of each, including age, gender and ethnic identification if necessary.
Include a one to three-sentence description of your play.
OR
Submit a synopsis of the play you intend to write (up to six pages) that includes a description of your story and a character breakdown using the criteria above.
Submit up to three pages of dialogue.
Participation Requirements
If your play is one of those selected for the 2026 Competition and Production, you will be required to:
Work on revising your play with the mentorship and guidance of a theatre professional from February through May
Meet virtually (Zoom, Google Meet) once per month, or more, as agreed upon with your mentor.
Maintain the play requirements as outlined in Submission Guidelines.
Attend at least one rehearsal at Park Square Theatre in downtown St. Paul during the week of June 21. Playwrights can attend as many rehearsals of their play as they like.
Attend a dinner and the dress rehearsal of your play (and others selected) on Friday, June 25 from approximately 4 pm to 9 pm at Park Square Theatre.
Attend the performance and post performa-nce events on Saturday, June 26, from approximately 1 pm to 10 pm (dinner provided).
Provide your own transportation to all events.
Provide oral and written feedback to YMP.
How it Works
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![Bold text on a gradient blue background that reads 'Act One: Submit Your Play'.]()
Act One: Submit Your Play
The program begins with an open call for one-act plays from across Minnesota. Playwrights are invited to submit either a completed script or a synopsis with sample dialogue by February 15, 2026. There is no cost to participate, and all submissions are facilitated through the Young Minnesota Playwrights website.
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![Text on a gradient blue background that says, 'ACT TWO: DEVELOP YOUR PLAY'.]()
Act Two: Develop Your Play
Six selected plays move into a development phase, where they are paired with Twin Cities theatre mentors. This collaborative process focuses on refining character, dialogue, and story structure, while deepening the themes each piece brings to the stage.
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![Stage background with the text 'Act Three: See Your Play on Stage' in white capital letters on a dark blue gradient background.]()
Act Three: See Your Play on Stage
The program culminates in a live presentation of the six selected works. Each piece is brought to life by local theatre professionals and performed at Park Square Theatre on Saturday, June 26, 2027. Playwrights whose work is selected receive a $200 honorarium in recognition of their contributions.
Call for Actors & Stage Managers
Park Square Theatre and Young Minnesota Playwrights (YMP) are seeking non-Equity actors and stage managers for a festival of six original one-act plays written by Minnesota high school students and developed with professional theatre mentors.
This is a unique opportunity to help bring new work to life and support emerging playwrights in a fully staged public performance.
About the Project
YMP has selected six original one-act plays by high school writers across Minnesota. These plays are currently being developed with professional artists and will culminate in a public performance at Park Square Theatre in June 2026.
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We are seeking:
10 actors (ages 17–50+) to perform multiple roles across multiple plays
2 experienced stage managers
Casting is open to all ethnicities and identities.
Some scripts require specific casting needs, including:Two Hispanic actors (young adult male and female)
One African American male actor (young adult)
One African American female actor (40s)
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All rehearsals held at Park Square Theatre:
June 20–25 (no rehearsal June 21) | 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
June 26 | approx. 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Tech + Dress)
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June 26, 2027 at 1:00 PM
Andy Boss Stage at Park Square Theatre -
Stage Managers (Adults): $400 stipend
Actors (Age 19+): $350 stipend
Student Actors (Age 16–18): $150 stipend
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Saturday, May 16, 2026
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Open Book
1011 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415Sign up for an audition slot via the audition form
Bring a headshot and resume
Prepare a 1–2 minute contemporary monologue
Callback auditions (by invitation only):
May 18, 2026 | 2:00–5:00 PM
Sides will be provided from selected plays. -
Please submit a resume to:
info@youngmnplaywrights.org
Deadline: May 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM -
Contact:
info@youngmnplaywrights.org
Key Dates:
Attend at least one rehearsal at Park Square Theatre during the week of June 21, 2027
Dress Rehearsal: Friday, June 25, 2027 (4–9 PM, dinner provided)
Performance Day: Saturday, June 26, 2027 (1–10 PM, dinner provided)
Young Minnesota Playwrights 2027: Mentorship Video