VSA Playwright Discovery Program

This program "truly changed my life and [gave] me a renewed confidence in who I am as a disabled artist."—2024 Participant

Each year outstanding disabled writers from around the world are selected to participate in the Access/VSA Playwright Discovery Program. In addition to receiving a $1,000 award, these talented young writers enrolled in secondary school (generally, ages 14-19) participate in a script development program and explore the theater industry through exclusive workshops.

The program focuses on developing works in the 10-minute script format. Multiple winners will be selected by a panel of theater industry professionals.

The program includes:

• Virtual and in-person script development sessions
• One-on-one sessions with a professional dramaturg
• A trip to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. for a session with professional actors and theatrical designers that mimics a first day of rehearsal
• Workshops covering key business-related topics
• Networking opportunities

Eligibility:

To be eligible to enter the Access/VSA Playwright Discovery Program applicants must meet the following criteria:

• The competition is open to U.S. and international applicants. However, all pieces must be submitted in English or ASL; pieces submitted in other languages will not be accepted.
• Can be either an individual or co-author. Co-authorships of up to two students are accepted, but both authors must fulfill eligibility requirements and at least one must be a student with a disability. Co-authors do not have to be in the same grade level. The application must include information for both authors. Co-authors will share the financial prize equally (i.e. each author receives $500 USD).
• Entrants must be a student with a disability or a co-authorship that includes a student with a disability.
• Authors must be students enrolled in senior high school (generally, ages 14-19) on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 in order to apply.
• Previous applicants are eligible to reapply in subsequent years until they win or age out of the competition. Any applicant may win only once.
• Winners must be present for all Access/VSA Playwright Discovery Program workshop events (virtual date Saturday, March 29, 2025; in-person dates July 6-10, 2025) in order to be eligible for the award.

If selected as a finalist, applicants are required to provide proof of age and disability, and must be willing to publicly disclose that they have a disability for all materials and public appearances associated with the Access/VSA Playwright Discovery Program.