The Vassar Drama Department invites sophomores, juniors, and seniors from any discipline to submit an original play for the 2025–2026 Annual Playwriting Awards. Submissions are due on January 19, 2026. Winners may receive a $1,000 prize, a certificate, a public staged reading, and a reception. Entry forms and guidelines are available on the Drama Department website.

How to enter

Entry forms and play guidelines are available at https://www.vassar.edu/drama/courses-requirements/playwriting-competition.

Deadline

• Submissions due: January 19, 2026

About the awards

The Marilyn Swartz Seven ’69 Playwriting Award

The Marilyn Swartz Seven ’69 Playwriting Award was established by friends and classmates of Marilyn Swartz Seven ’69 to support an annual playwriting competition. Created in 1999 with the help of Professor Emeritus of Drama James Steerman, the award honors Seven’s legacy and her lifelong passion for writing plays. Past recipients have come from a wide range of majors, including English, Math, Science, and Drama. The author of the winning play receives a $1,000 award, a certificate, a staged reading, and a catered reception.

The Phillip Cook Aspiring Playwright Prize

The Phillip Cook Aspiring Playwright Prize was recently established through an endowed fund created by Demetra Takes ’72. The prize is awarded each spring to a sophomore, junior, or senior in any discipline who submits the best full-length play, pair of one-act plays, or musical theater work. A $1,000 gift supports the prize, a public reading, a reception, and related administrative expenses.