Flashback Theater Co. (FbTC) is seeking full-length work by playwrights with a Kentucky voice to be developed during the 2027 New Play Workshop. Flashback Theater Co. is committed to developing work that embodies the spirit of our region of Kentucky through this yearly development program. From this year’s submissions, three finalists will be chosen. Each of these finalists will have the opportunity to workshop a selection of their work during the 2026 New Play Workshop in a “mini workshop”. Of these three finalists who complete the mini workshops, one will be chosen for a full length development workshop in 2027. Submissions must be received by 11:59pm EST on February 20th, 2026. Playwrights must be able to attend one day of the workshop, taking place June 22-26th, 2026, for consideration.
What is the New Play Workshop?
Throughout the week of June 22nd, 2026, Flashback Theater will host their New Play Workshop, produced as part of Flashback’s Professional Training Ground Program. The chosen finalists will work with Flashback’s team to select a scene or other short section from their full length work to develop during a “mini workshop” session. During their mini workshop, playwrights will have the opportunity to work on a selection of their work with Producing Artistic Director Sommer Schoch along with local actors. Playwrights will be encouraged to rewrite their selection for a public reading at the end of the week: Flashback Theater Co’s Festival of New Plays, a night of staged readings at a local Somerset, Kentucky venue on Friday, June 26th, 2026.
Flashback Theater values the addition of new work to the theater canon, specifically works that speak to the experience of our region. The goal of New Play Development at FbTC is to facilitate a process where we can enhance works written by or with a Kentucky voice and establish a relationship where we produce regionally relevant new works. Our mission prioritizes development of new work, and many past workshop recipients have gone on to have their works fully produced as a part of FbTC’s Mainstage season!
Choosing a 2027 Finalist
After this summer’s New Play Workshop and Festival of New Plays, the Flashback Theater team will be in touch with playwrights to let them know which play will be selected for the full length 2027 New Play Workshop. Of the finalists selected last year, one playwright was chosen for full length development. The finalist chosen for the 2026 New Play Workshop is Joshua Pennwrite: Ghostwriter by Michele L. Hinton. Several factors contribute to the final decision: including writing quality, the play’s readiness for production, mission relevance, and the playwright’s willingness to collaborate.
Submission Criteria
Please review the following information about our season programming goals before submitting. Note: your play need only meet one of the first two Kentucky based criteria.
- Your play is Kentucky based.
- We look for plays that are connected to our history or region in some way. Past productions that have met this criteria: And the Tide Shall Cover the Earth by Norma Cole, Last Train to Nibroc by Arlene Hutton.
- Your play has a Kentucky voice.
- A “Kentucky Voice” might mean, simply, that you as a playwright are from or have a significant connection to Kentucky. Additionally, beyond that, we look for plays that relate a Kentucky perspective to the rest of the world. How does our community see the world? How does the world see our community? This can be in the form of a Kentucky character in a new place, an outsider coming to Kentucky, or perhaps some other expression of a Kentucky voice. Past Flashback productions that met this criteria: Brother Wolf by Laurelyn Dossett, Harriet Simpson Arnow’s The Dollmaker adapted by Betty Peterson, and Hazard County by Allison Moore.
- Your Play is Full Length
- We are ultimately interested in workshopping full length works. For the mini workshops, we will work with the playwright to make a selection of scene/s from the full work to workshop and stage. Drafts of full length works that are not fully complete are welcome; however, work should show a complete narrative arc with a beginning, middle and end.
- Your play is formatted in a neat and readable way.
- Your play is submitted as a PDF and is formatted neatly in a manner that easily translates to the stage.
To Submit:
- Email your work to submissions@flashbacktheater.co
- Send the file as a PDF in a standardized play format.
- Include a title page with your name, email, mobile phone number, and location
- Please submit by 11:59pm EST on February 20th, 2026
- Please note that submissions from playwrights who cannot attend the workshop will not be considered.
If you have any questions, please contact Bailey Patterson, Flashback’s Education Coordinator, at bailey@flashbacktheater.co.
New Play Development History at Flashback Theater Co.
Get in the Game by Amber Frangos with Mini Workshops of: Clare De Luna by Chris Harris, Another Time by Thomas Alvey, and Joshua Pennwrite: Ghostwriter by Michele L. Hinton Workshop Dates: June 9- 13, 2025
The American Parade by Steve Cleberg
Workshop Dates: May 30 – June 3, 2022
World Premiere at Flashback: July 21 – July 31, 2022
Mary: Her Story book and lyrics by Amber Frangos, Music by Maria McNeil
Workshopped over three years, 2018-2021
Workshop Dates: July 22-25, 2019 for book
August 5-9, 2019 for music
December 14, 2019 for the “Tell Him” scene – book & music.
October 5-8, 2020 for book & music, Public Reading held at 7 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2020
World Premiere at Flashback: May 2022
Making It Home by Jim Colgan
Workshop Dates: August 25-28, 2020
Get in The Game (formerly Leo: One Man’s Journey Through Breast Cancer) by Amber Frangos
Workshop Dates: 2018
Boats Against the Current by William H. McCann
Workshop Dates: July 16-20, 2018
World Premiere at Flashback: February – March 2019
Rosies: The Women Who Riveted The Nation by Amber Frangos
Workshop Dates: July 24-28, 2017
World Premiere at Flashback: May 2018
Dancing in the Dark by Stephanie Porter
Workshop Dates: July 18-22, 2016