SOVEREIGN VOICES: The BVT Female Playwright Reading Series

The Call to Pen

Your words are the blueprints for our future. It’s time they were heard.

The Black Visionary Theatre (BVT) is officially opening its doors to the next generation of African American female storytellers. We are not just looking for scripts; we are looking for manifestos, quiet truths, and tectonic shifts. This is a rare opportunity to move your work from the solitary page to a living, breathing stage. Selected plays will undergo a rigorous professional evaluation by a panel of industry-leading playwrights and directors, culminating in a high-profile reading series.

The Mission

BVT is seeking original, unproduced stage plays written by African American women. We are looking for voices that dare to be visionary—works that challenge, celebrate, and complicate the Black experience.

The Reward

  • Professional Critique: Direct feedback from established, award-winning playwrights and directors.

  • The Reading: Selected works will be featured in our curated reading series, bringing your characters to life through professional actors.

  • Industry Exposure: Connect with a network of creatives dedicated to elevating Black female voices in the American Theatre.

  • WINNER: Receives a Full BVT Production of their play.

  • RUNNER-UP: Receives 6-Months of Development.

Key Milestones

Date | Event | Description

MAY 15, 2026 | The Call to Pen: Submissions Deadline.

JUNE 1, 2026 | The First Echo: BVT Female Reading |

1. A hybrid event (Zoom & In-Person).

Submission Guidelines

  • Eligibility: Open to all African American women playwrights (emerging and established).

  • Format: Full-length or one-act plays in standard unpublished stage play format (PDF).

  • Theme: Visionary. What does the future—or the past—look like through your lens?

"A play is not a document; it is an event." Let BVT be the place where your event begins.

SUBMIT HERE
Invitation:

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Contact

"Black Visionary Theatre, Inc. is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to the organization are deductible for federal income tax purposes to the extent permitted by law. For purposes of corporate matching gift programs or other formal documentation, our Employer Identification Number (EIN) is available upon request by contacting our development office."

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Black Visionary Theatre, Inc. | 229 W 135th Street, Front 1, New York, NY 10030

Email us: info@BlackVisonaryTheatre.com