LaGuardia Performing Arts Center Invites Playwrights and Theater-Makers to Apply for the 2026 Rough Draft Festival

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (October 22, 2025) — LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC) at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY is now accepting submissions for the 2026 Rough Draft Festival, which will run from March 9–21, 2026. For over two decades, the festival has championed bold, original voices shaping the future of theater. Playwrights and theater-makers are invited to submit works-in-progress for development and public presentation at LPAC ––one of New York City’s most dynamic incubators for new performance.

Selected artists receive up to ten hours of rehearsal space prior to technical rehearsals, along with seven hours of tech time with LPAC’s professional crew. Each project will be awarded a development budget of up to $3,000, determined in consultation with LPAC staff. Artists will also benefit from marketing and press support, full venue services (including front-of-house and box-office staff), and a public presentation in LPAC’s professional performance spaces.

All submissions are reviewed by a committee of theater industry professionals to ensure a thoughtful and equitable selection process grounded in artistic excellence.

“Over the years, we’ve realized that the works presented in Rough Draft were never truly ‘rough,’” said LPAC Artistic Director Handan Ozbilgin “They often reach their full potential because of the extraordinary talent and imagination of the artists who bring them to life. Rough Draft embodies a spirit of openness, curiosity, and fearless creativity. These are qualities that continue to define our community of makers.”

Since its inception, the Rough Draft Festival has served as a launchpad for artists who go on to shape the American theater landscape. Notable alumni include Lauren Holmes, recipient of the 2024–2025 Princess Grace Award in Playwriting and New Dramatists Residency; Zhailon Levingston, Broadway director and Board Member of the Broadway Advocacy Coalition; Tamilla Woodard, Chair of the Acting Program at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University and Resident Director at Yale Repertory Theatre; and Melis Aker, a writer, actor, and musician named a “Woman to Watch” by the Broadway Women’s Fund. Their continued success reflects the festival’s impact as a space where experimentation, mentorship, and artistry converge.

Each year, LPAC selects up to five compelling projects for in-progress performances and staged readings, giving audiences a rare glimpse into the creative process and artists the opportunity to advance their work toward full production. The festival remains committed to providing meaningful exposure and professional support to artists developing new work.

How to Apply

Applications are open through November 20, 2025. Submissions should include:

• A one-page proposal describing the project, its current development stage, and goals.
• A headshot, résumé, and brief bio of the playwright(s) or lead artist(s).
• A five-page excerpt from the proposed play.
• A budget proposal (up to $3,000) covering stipends, props, and other non-technical expenses. Final budgets will be determined in collaboration with LPAC staff.

All materials should be submitted via the official RDF form available at lpac.nyc. With questions, please email LPACresident@lagcc.cuny.edu.

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LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC), located at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY, is a cultural hub that fosters artistic excellence, education, and community engagement. LPAC is dedicated to providing a platform for dynamic artists and storytellers to create, collaborate, and inspire. Through diverse programming, LPAC continues to support its mission of making the arts accessible to all. It is the stage for productions of the award-winning Theater and Music Performance programs of LaGuardia Community College, as well as works from partner institutions, including Carnegie Hall, Joffrey Ballet School, and the Drama League of New York.

LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.

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