Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 05/16/2026
(NEW YORK, NY) -- Emerging Artists Theatre (EAT) is now accepting submissions for the Fall Spark Theatre Festival NYC. The festival will run October 5-25, 2026, at The 28th Street Theatre, located at 15 W 28th Street in New York City. The application deadline is June 14, 2026.
The Fall festival will be broken into two categories: workshop productions and fully developed new work. Throughout the Fall festival, a diverse selection of new work for the stage will be given a single performance, which select productions given more than one presentation.
Spark Theatre Festival NYC showcases polished works-in-progress. Many pieces showcased at the festival are presented in front of an audience for the very first time. Artists are welcome to present staged readings or fully produced off-book productions. Each participant is given the option of doing a talkback following their performance, during which they may ask the audience for feedback on their work.
Submissions of short plays, solo performances, dance, cabaret, sketch comedy, jazz, burlesque, monologues, storytelling, and subway musicians/acts are now being accepted. If you have an artistic discipline that isn’t mentioned or is “out of the box,” please submit.
Please note that the Spark Theatre Festival NYC is not accepting musicals for this round of submissions. In November, EAT will launch the first annual Spark Musical Theatre Festival NYC! Watch for further details to be announced soon. Applications for the musical theatre festival will be live at www.emergingartiststheatre.org on June 15th.
The Spark Theatre Festival presents work nightly throughout the three-week festival, Monday through Sunday, at 7:00pm, and on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00pm & 9:00pm, and on Sundays at 2:00pm, 5:00pm, & 7:00pm. Presentation slots are 60 minutes. Artists submitting a short piece will be paired with another play or dance piece to create a 60-minute performance slot. Submissions must be a minimum of 5 minutes for dance pieces and monologues. Productions may not be performed within 3 months prior to the Spark Theatre Festival or within 1 month after the festival.
To submit a new work, please visit www.emergingartiststheatre.org/submissions
The deadline for submissions is midnight (EST) June 14th, 2026. Participants will be notified on a rolling basis starting in mid-July. There are no submission or festival fees, and participants receive a 50/50 box-office split when the required audience guarantee of 1 ticket per minute of performance is met. Past artists who have packed the house have made between $300 and $900 for a 30-minute to 1-hour presentation.
Application and submission guidelines are available at www.emergingartiststheatre.org/submissions
Spark Theatre Festival NYC is a bi-annual three-week developmental festival that provides artists of different disciplines the opportunity to present one night of a "work in progress" with audience feedback. Since its inception in 2006, successful FringeNYC, NYMF, Edinburgh Fringe, and Off-Broadway shows have emerged from this festival.
Emerging Artists Theatre provides: A 99-seat off-Broadway theater in the heart of Manhattan; After the audience guarantee of 1 ticket sold per minute of performance is met, artists receive 50% of the box office; Professional/Equity stage manager and technical staff; Piano and music stands; Ticketing services; Box office; A projector; Two dressing rooms; Curated talkback (where you decide what feedback you need); Safe and supportive environment; Nice, friendly staff; Simple set pieces available (blocks, tables, chairs, small couch/bed); One technical rehearsal; and Rep light plot and sound system - typically, shows are limited to approximately 10 sound and 10 light cues for an hour-long performance.
EVENT PREVIEWS
Ferrell Studios Community Theatre presents "Merrily We Roll Along"
(METUCHEN, NJ) -- Ferrell Studios Community Theatre, a nonprofit theatre organization serving Central New Jersey, announces its upcoming production of Merrily We Roll Along, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The production will close the company's 2025-26 season, themed "Our Time," with five performances at St. Luke's Episcopal Church Auditorium in Metuchen, NJ from August 20-23, 2026.
Ritz Theatre Company presents 2026 One-Act Play Festival
(HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- The Ritz Theatre Company presents their 2026 One-Act Play Festival from August 28-29. The festival features one-act comedies from practicing and promised playwrights from around the world!
Brundage Park Playhouse presents "Anything Goes"
(RANDOLPH, NJ) -- Brundage Park Playhouse presents Anything Goes across two weekends from August 21-30, 2026. Set sail aboard the S.S. America before the end of summer with a dazzling production of the classic musical comedy.
McCarter Theatre presents the Octopus Theatricals Production of "All The Devils Are Here"
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre presents the Octopus Theatricals Production of All The Devils Are Here from August 19-30, 2026. Learn how Shakespeare invented the villain in a play created and performed by Patrick Page. The production is directed by Simon Godwin.
George Street Playhouse presents "Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares"
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse presents Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares - a comedy show with original songs from August 26-30, 2026. Direct from an acclaimed run at Edinburgh Fringe and two sold-out Off-Broadway engagements comes this one-woman comedy show from the mind of Tony Award® winner Laura Benanti.
Spring Lake Theatre Company presents "Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret"
(SPRING LAKE, NJ) -- Spring Lake Theatre Company presents two performances of Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret from August 29-30, 2026. This is a one-act play from the experiences of America's longest war, blending heartfelt storytelling with a unique cast of combat veterans and military family members.
Bell Theater at Bell Works presents Broadway Sings for Aaron Lazar on August 31
(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- In 2022, as the world was finally coming out of COVID-19, Aaron Lazar was invited to return to the stage to lead the cast of The Bridges of Madison County, playing opposite Kate Baldwin at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal. Just days into rehearsal, Lazar received a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive neurological disease with no known cure. Thus began Lazar's "extraordinary" journey.
Light Opera of New Jersey to Hold Auditions for "Amahl and The Night Visitors"
(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- Light Opera of New Jersey will hold auditions for Amahl and the Night Visitors, a heartwarming holiday opera, on August 27th and September 3rd from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Callbacks will be on September 5th from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Auditions will be in Basking Ridge. Registrants will be advised of exact location after registering. All roles are opened and paid.
Haddonfield Plays & Players presents "Marrying George Clooney: Confessions from a Midlife Crisis"
(HADDONFIELD, NJ) -- What happens when fantasy meets 50-something reality? Find out when Haddonfield Plays & Players presents Marrying George Clooney: Confessions from a Midlife Crisis from September 4-6, 2026. This is a sharp-witted, satirical play written by Amy Ferris and adapted from her best-selling memoir.
Fifth Annual Broadway in the Park concert to Take Place September 7th
(MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- SOMA Stage presents the fifth annual Broadway in the Park concert on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026 at the Memorial Park Amphitheater in Maplewood. This year's concert, Broadway in the Park: Let's Rock!, features Broadway's biggest rock and pop hits from the 1950s through today. Showtime is 4:30pm.
FEATURED EVENTS
