The Billie Holiday Theatre and the Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop are selecting five new comedic plays for a virtual reading series running February through June 2027. All styles of comedy are welcome: absurdism, dark comedy, farce, romantic comedy, satire, and everything in between.

Readings take place online one Sunday a month from 4:00 to 6:30 PM Eastern. Each play receives a reading by professional actors, followed by a structured critique. The program ends with an in-person reading of one of the five plays at The Billie Holiday Theatre.

Submissions are free and open November 6–25, 2026. Selected playwrights will be notified by January 4, 2027.

We welcome one-acts and full-length comedies of 40 to 90 pages in standard play format (12-point Times New Roman or similar, 1-inch margins), with a cast of no more than eight actors (doubling welcome). Musicals and solo shows are not eligible. Scripts longer than 90 pages in standard format may not be considered.

Questions? Email support@thefsww.org.