Developmental Program
CAROLINA
PLAYWRIGHTS LAB
A professional new works lab for playwrights in North & South Carolina
Developmental Program
CAROLINA
PLAYWRIGHTS LAB
A professional new works lab for playwrights in North & South Carolina
A premiere, professional new works development program for playwrights residing in North and South Carolina. CPL offers a pivotal step in the journey to full production, equipping playwrights with the tools, space, and support to dig deep and fully develop their work.
The 2026 CPL will develop two full-length, original plays over three weeks, with two staged-reading presentations of each play for public audiences.
Presentations will take place at The Studio at Theatre Raleigh, located at 3027 Barrow Dr, Raleigh, NC 27616.
Wilder All the Time: September 12th & 20th at 3:00pm.
Roses Fading: September 19th & 26th at 3:00pm.
RESERVED SEAT UPGRADE
Reserved seat with a $10 donation!
2026 CPL Selections
ANNOUNCING the 2026 Carolina Playwrights Lab SELECTIONS! Congratulations to these two playwrights from the Carolinas! We are honored to help develop your piece and bring them to life this fall!
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WILDER ALL THE TIME by Lexi Silva
In a version of West Texas in 1872, brothers Wendell and Rudy are on the run to Mexico. On their pilgrimage they encounter an unexpected intruder, Sister, a runaway nun in a crisis of faith looking to get anywhere fast. As they grow nearer to the border, Wendell’s eyesight gets poorer, while his dreams grow wilder. In this existential Western comedy about what it costs to care for yourself and others, the trio must confront the final frontier: the truth.
Lexi Silva (she/her) is a playwright, dramaturg, and Teaching Assistant Professor in Dramaturgy at UNC Chapel Hill and PlayMakers Repertory Company. She began her arts career as Literary Intern at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and has since worked for literary teams at regional theatres across America. Her play, Nightflies, is a featured staged reading in SCRIPTED at Dublin Fringe (2026). She is completing an MFA in Playwriting at The Lir Academy, and holds an MFA in Dramaturgy from Indiana University.
ROSES FADING by Hannah Reynolds
“While hiking, a young girl finds herself trapped in an eerie town with no exit. However, everything is not what it seems, and she soon discovers a strange connection between herself and the town’s residents, including an introverted pianist, an eccentric boy with a notebook, and a determined handyman.”
Hannah D. Reynolds is a playwright based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She recently graduated from Wake Forest University, with a B.A. in Theatre & Critical and Creative Media. Hannah was a winner of the 2024 New South Young Playwrights Festival, and her play, Roses Fading, received an Honorable Mention at the Region IV American College Theatre Festival. She has also received recognition for her work as a filmmaker, and her most recent short film, Stargazing, premiered at Wake Forest this year.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Selected plays are chosen through a multi-step reading and scoring process by a seasoned reading committee, and receive the following:
Rehearsal Process
Two weeks of in-person rehearsal facilities with printers available for live edits
Creative team
A seasoned Director, Dramaturg, Stage manager, and qualified cast
Technical Support
Basic technical capabilities with sound and lights technicians
Public Readings
Two staged readings for the public in a local venue
Industry Feedback
Three panelists provide moderated critique after each presentation and provide guidance in script editing
Compensation
$500, plus housing/Travel
2026 Festival
CAROLINA PLAYWRIGHTS LAB
September 7 – 26, 2026
The Studio at Theatre Raleigh
3027 Barrow Dr, Raleigh, NC 27616
Congrats to our selected playwrights!
TESTIMONIALS
SUBMISSION WINDOW
April 13 – May 10, 2026
Eligibility
Playwrights based in North or South Carolina
Submission Type
Full-length plays only
Submission Format
Blind submissions
Fee
Pay What You Can (first week) – then $15
Eligibility & Playwright Requirements
- Playwright must be from NC or SC and have a valid, current address
- Selected playwrights from the previous year may not submit – must wait 1 cycle before submitting again
- Non-Selected playwrights who have previously applied must skip 1 submission cycle before reapplying and must have completed new work on the piece since the first application
- You must be the sole author of the play you are submitting to CPL, and the exclusive owner of all rights to the play. You may submit an original or adapted work, provided that the rights to any material not in the public domain have been granted in writing and a copy of the release is submitted with your script.
Submission Requirements
- Blind submissions only. Please remove any identification, contact information, and credits from your script
- Only 1 piece by a playwright will be accepted – multiple submissions are not allowed
- Only complete applications will be accepted. If we discover an error or omission in your application, then CTW will contact you by email. You will have 48 hours to correct your materials. If your application is not corrected, it will be withdrawn from consideration and your fee will not be refunded.
Script Rules
- Play must be written in correct format – View Example
- “First Drafts” will not be accepted – play must be mature in development
- Minimum page count of around 60 pages or 90 minutes in duration
- Musicals are ineligible – please visit the National Music Theater Foundry page to learn about our musical development program!
- Screenplays are ineligible
Previous Development & Production
- Your play must not have had a full production, or be licensed or optioned to have a professional production, prior to July 1, 2026. If you have any questions about this, please reach out to the CPL Selections Process Manager, Kevin Aponte, at Kevin@carolinatheatreworkshop.com.
- If your play has previously received—or is scheduled to receive—a developmental workshop, reading, or staged reading prior to July 1, 2026, you must disclose that information in your CPL application. Failure to disclose additional development could affect your application’s standing.
Fees & Deadlines
- Late submissions will not be accepted
- The administrative fee for CPL 2026 is “Pay What You Can” from April 13th to 20th; from April 20th to May 10th the fee is $15 per script submission. This helps offset the costs of the application process itself: its organization, staffing, administration, and submission platform.
Questions / Contact
- Your play must not have had a full production, or be licensed or optioned to have a professional production, prior to July 1, 2026. If you have any questions about this, please reach out to the CPL Selections Process Manager, Kevin Aponte, at Kevin@carolinatheatreworkshop.com.
PAST CYCLES
Explore past Carolina Playwrights Lab festivals and the exciting new works developed each year.
