Phase I: Submission

Every year, the BPF receives a number of original, never-produced plays by people who have been domiciled in the state of Maryland.  Plays are accepted for a current season from April 1 through September 30. For details on how to submit a play to the Festival, Please read our submission guidelines.

Phase II: Review

Submitted plays are read and reviewed by members of the Baltimore theater community as well as representatives of the BPF's producing theatre companies. To see a copy of our guidelines for review, see Review!.

Phase III: Public Readings

Those plays reviewed and judged "ready for reading" are given a public reading at one of our member theaters. The BPF supplies a director, who obtains actors for the reading. The playwright must attend the public reading and supply scripts for the actors. Following the reading, the playwright receives feedback from the audience, actors, and director. Representatives from the member companies also attend these readings, scouting the plays they want to produce. Public readings occur between September and March.

Phase IV: Selection

In March, the member theaters meet to choose the plays they will produce. BPF member theatres are independent producing organizations, each with their own tastes, ambitions and strengths. Each theatre chooses which play(s) they will produce based on their own criteria. A play does not need to have a public reading to be selected.

Phase V: Production

From June until August, the Festival kicks into high gear, as the member theaters produce the plays they've selected. Plays are spread across the Baltimore area and throughout the summer, typically in 3-4 week runs.

Phase VI: Adjudication

The Festival is an adjudicated event, and every year the BPF selects judges for review of both the script and the production. In September, the BPF holds an awards ceremony where it announces the results of the judging. The award for best play is named in honor of the late Carol Weinberg, a frequent contributing playwright in the BPF.