WRITER SUBMISSION NOTICE

The Studio Theatre in Exile (STIE), in Peekskill, NY, is accepting submissions of one-act plays to be presented over two weekends in late February/early March 2026. The performances will take place onstage at Studio Theater in Exile’s 50-Seat Black Box Theater in Hudson Valley MOCA, Peekskill, NY. 

Playwrights will be given access to a pdf of the HVMOCA exhibit entitled “Psychological Portraits”.  The submitted work may reflect the playwright’s response to a particular piece in the exhibit. (If at all possible, we would love for playwrights to come in and view the work in person.) Or if you wish you may use Psychological Portraits as a prompt and write a play from the prompt.

Guidelines: 

• The one-act play should be no longer than 15 minutes. 
• A total of 5-6 plays will be selected. 
• Directors will be selected by STIE and matched with selected plays (suggestions for directors are welcome). 
• Normally we ask for shows to have at least two characters. Because “Psychological Portraiture” lends itself to monologues, we are considering adding 5 minute monologues between the larger pieces.
• Playwrights will agree to work with dramaturg Mara Mills (STIE Artistic Director). 
• Only new plays or plays that have not been produced in the NYC tri-state area within the last five years, will be considered. Writers should be residents of the N.Y.C. metropolitan area.

Technical: 

• The STIE Black Box theater includes projections, lighting system, sound system, technical  staff and lighting/sound designers. 
• Technical and scenic elements must be simple. We have had a lot of success using projection in the space.  STIE technical/design team will work with the directors to develop projections, light and sounds cues.
• The theater is equipped with three 20” square black boxes, a small table, and chairs. 
• Submission deadline: October 30, 2025.

Submit your work at mara.mills@studiotheaterinexile.com and pjgarfinkel@gmail.com 

Please write “Psychological Portraits” in the subject line of your email.

Rehearsals at the theatre start the week of 01/19/26, usually 7 – 9 pm. 

Performances will be Friday, 02/27/2026 to Sunday, 03/1/2026 & Friday, 03/06/2026 to Sunday, 03/08/2026.

Fridays @ 7:00 PM, Saturdays & Sundays @ 3:00 PM

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