In OpenScene We Celebrate Hispanic Culture Through Playwriting
2026 Applications Will Open Soon
The 2026 Escena Abierta Playwriting Contest open on February 1, 2026, and closes at 11:59 pm EST on May 31, 2026.
Open Scene proudly invites you to participate in the
6th Annual Playwriting Contest, 'Escena Abierta.'
This Open Scene initiative creates spaces that celebrate and preserve Hispanic culture while nurturing meaningful connections across various cultural communities. United by a shared language and legacy, we promote creativity and bring voices together through playwriting.
Escena Abierta seeks plays of exceptional dramatic writing quality, with a clear voice and a solid theatrical proposal. We value works that demonstrate a strong command of dramatic craft, clarity of conflict, internal coherence, and expressive power as a complete piece.
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
Contemporary, personal, and diverse aesthetic approaches are welcome, as long as they are supported by strong dramatic writing, narrative clarity, and clear theatrical purpose. Innovation is not valued on its own if it does not strengthen the play’s effectiveness as a theatrical text. Please read the following carefully to ensure your submission meets all specified terms. Works that do not comply with these conditions will not be reviewed.
01.
All works must be original and unpublished. Submissions that have been previously released, published, or publicly read will not be accepted.
02.
The piece must have a length of fifty (50) to seventy-five (75) pages and a running time between 60 and 90 minutes maximum, formatted in Times New Roman or Arial, 12-point font, with 1.5 line spacing.
03.
The work must have been created no earlier than January 2020 and must be in Spanish. Adaptations and translations are not permitted.
04.
The author must be at least 18 years old and hold exclusive artistic responsibility and ownership of the work. Submissions are limited to one play per playwright.
SELECTION PROCESS
01.
An independent jury of at least three judges will review each manuscript anonymously.
02.
The winner’s name will be announced no sooner than one month after the submission deadline.
03.
The winner will be notified via email and announced on our social media channels.
AWARD
"Escena Abierta" Playwriting Contest: Prizes and Rights
The winner of OpenScene's "Escena Abierta" playwriting contest will receive a diploma, a $500 cash prize, and the honor of having their work showcased in a professionally produced dramatic reading by OpenScene.
Rights Agreement
By accepting the award, the contest winner grants OpenScene non-exclusive rights to disclose and publish the winning work for a period of one year from the official announcement date. These rights include:
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Conducting dramatized readings of the work.
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Producing and/or adapting the work, either in full or in part.
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Reproducing, distributing, and presenting the work publicly or privately, whether for free or ticketed events.
No additional compensation will be provided to the author during this period, and all rights will revert to the author after one year. The author retains copyright ownership throughout, subject to the specified limitations.
This agreement ensures that the winning work reaches a wide audience while honoring the author's creative vision.
STEPS TO FOLLOW
No changes or revisions will be accepted once the material is submitted.
Please send your work in PDF format, using Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier New, 12 pt font, 1.5 line spacing, with numbered pages, and WITHOUT the author’s name. Submit the requested information via email no later than May 31, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET to info@openscene.org.
Subject line: "VI Concurso de Dramaturgia Escena Abierta: (TITLE OF THE PLAY)"
In the body of the email, include:
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The title of the work
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A 4-6 sentence synopsis
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Your email address
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Your mobile phone number
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Your full postal address
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How did you learned about the competition
Attachments:
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Your work in PDF format, with numbered pages, the title, and the year it was written
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Ensure your name does NOT appear anywhere in the document. Please do not include biographical information, reviews, or promotional materials.
Note: The award may be declared void if submissions do not meet the required quality standards. Non-awarded submissions will be deleted after the winner is announced.
EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR AWARDING
01.
Overall Dramatic Writing Quality
Theatrical writing strength, clarity of conflict, rhythm, coherence, and the power of the play as a whole.
02.
03.
Clarity and Narrative Flow
The play is easy to follow, coherent, and engaging. Scenes are well connected and the pacing supports the reading and theatrical experience.
Characters and Dialogue
Depth, evolution, and credibility of characters, plus dialogue quality, precision, and effectiveness on stage.
04.
05.
Stage Feasibility
Realistic viability for contemporary production, clarity of stage directions, and practical scenic potential.
Impact, Universality, and Resonance
Ability to connect with diverse audiences and generate emotional or reflective resonance beyond overly local references.
2025 CALL IS CLOSED | March 31, 2025, at 11:59 pm EST
At OpenScene, we thank the more than 150 participating plays and our jury!
Congratulations to 2025 Winning Play:
"Una noche a la deriva"
By Antonio Oliveira Pérez
Congratulations to the 2025 Jury's Special Mention:
"El Guernica de Dora Maar"
By David Barbero