McKinney New works Play Reading Festival

Thanks to a generous gift from Rainer & Sandra Schulte, MRT proudly presents the inaugural McKinney New Works Play Reading Festival and Young Playwright Competition, a celebration of creativity, storytelling, and NTX voices in theatre. This new event will showcase three original works by local playwrights - two established and the winner of the Schulte Prize for Young Playwrights.  Each original theatrical work will be performed as a live staged reading in the intimate, historic setting of the Heard-Craig Carriage House in downtown McKinney.

The 2026 festival will feature:

• Better Half Dead by Joan Torres and Dr. Andrew Harris on February 12, 2026
   
• Tar-Tuff by Dr. Andrew Harris on February 19, 2026
   
• The winning play of the Schulte Prize for Young Playwrights on February 26, 2026

Tickets for all three (3) staged readings in the festival are $30, or $15 for individual readings. Secure your seats starting December 1st and be among the first to experience these exciting new works!

Named in honor of Rainer & Sandra Schulte, whose generous gift made the New Works Play Reading Festival and Young Playwright Competition possible, this award was created to encourage and recognize young playwrights in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. The winning playwright will receive a $500 cash prize and a staged reading of their play as part of the McKinney New Works Festival.

Submissions open November 1, 2025, and must be received by December 1, 2025.
A winner will be selected by February 1, 2026.

• Applicants must reside in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex or be currently enrolled in a college or university within the region.
   
• Entrants must be between the ages of 16 and 25 at the time of submission.

• Limit one (1) submission per person.
   
• The first 30 submissions will be considered; up to 10 additional may be reviewed if needed.
   
• Scripts must be original, unpublished works that have not been professionally produced (school or workshop performances are acceptable).

• Casts of eight or fewer are preferred, with adult casts being preferred.
   
• Submissions must be in standard play format (PDF) with the playwright’s name and contact info on a cover page only.
   
• Length: approximately 45–90 minutes.
   
• Content: should be suitable for a general audience, in line with MRT’s mission as a community theatre, so explicit language, graphic violence, and so forth will eliminate the play for consideration.

• The winning playwright will receive a $500 cash prize (issued via check; W-9 required).
   
• The winner will also be honored with a staged reading and will be invited to collaborate with the production team.   MRT’s goal is to present a staged reading of the winning play on February 26, 2026. However, this is not guaranteed and is subject to availability of venue, cast, production resources, and other unforeseen factors.   If produced, the staged reading will be at no cost to the playwright, and there will be no licensing fees or other payment paid apart from the award money.  The playwright will be invited to provide input on the staged reading process, but MRT retains full artistic and production control of the final presentation.
   
• All submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges selected by MRT, and their decision is final.

MRT values diversity and inclusion. No applicant will be discriminated against based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or ability. Age limits exist solely for eligibility purposes.

• Submissions Open: November 1, 2025
   
• Deadline to Submit: December 1, 2025
   
• Winner Announced: January 31, 2026
   
• Play Readings: February 12 & 19, 2026
   
• Winning Play Staged Reading:  February 26, 2026