Youth Playwriting Festival
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine is proud to present a festival of new plays written by young playwrights for a family audience. These original works will be performed by the Museum & Theatre’s company of actors on October 17-18, 2026.
The Festival aims to inspire a love of theatre and nurture the budding talents of young writers.
Have Questions? Contact us by email at theatre@kitetails.org.
Play Festival Submission Details
Eligibility
Playwrights must be 17 years or younger as of July 30, 2026 and reside or attend school in the state of Maine; co-authored plays are welcome provided all authors meet these eligibility requirements.
Deadline
Plays or musicals must be received or postmarked by July 30, 2026.
Fees
There are no submission fees!
Content
We welcome original plays, adaptations, or musicals between 2 and 10 minutes long.
Selected plays will be selected based on how they align with the values of the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine: Curiosity, trust, community, belonging and play.
Limit
Up to three plays per playwright or team - please complete a separate submission form for each piece.
Format
All plays must have a title page and numbered pages.
Notification
We will contact playwrights in August 2026 whether their play is selected for the festival or not.
Prize
Selected plays will be mentored, directed and performed in October 2026.
Submit Online
Submit Via Mail
You may send printed scripts including a cover sheet to:
The Theatre Team
Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine
250 Thompson’s Point Rd.
Portland, ME 04102
Cover Sheet Must Include:
Title
Author(s) Full Name
Date of Birth
Age (as of April 15, 2026)
School Name (if applicable)
Teacher Name (if applicable)
Mailing Address
Email
Phone Number
All Submissions Due July 30, 2026
Playwriting Workshop
Wednesdays, 3:45 pm - 5:15 pm | April 29, 2026 - June 10, 2026
Want to write a play, but you don’t know where to start? Sign up for CMTM’s playwriting workshop!
Aspiring writers dive into the art of creating their own ten-minute plays—from first spark to final scene! Over six weeks, students explore what makes a great script: strong characters, compelling dialogue, and stories that matter to them. With sharpened pencils (or keyboards!) and plenty of time to write, they’ll experiment with structure, voice, and stage action. Along the way, they’ll read their work aloud, share feedback with fellow playwrights, and learn how theatre brings words to life. This supportive, creative space helps each writer develop confidence and craft as they prepare original plays for submission to the Youth Playwriting Festival in Fall 2026.
Designed for grades 3-5.