GET INVOLVED

ETC’s annual 10-Minute Connections brings together local playwrights for an evening of short, thought-provoking play. Each play is a 10-minute theatrical reading submitted by local writers and inspired by a single-word theme. This year’s theme is Sacrifice—the act of giving up something of value for the sake of something else, or offering something precious in service of a greater purpose. 

Eligibility:

• Playwrights must be local to the Cincinnati area.
• Plays must be complete at the time of submission; partial drafts will not be accepted.
• Only one (1) play per playwright may be submitted.

Selected plays:

• 5–6 plays will be featured in a public reading as part of ETC’s Studio Series on Thursday, January 28, 2027.
• Playwrights must be available for the performance.
• ETC may request edits or revisions.
• Selected playwrights receive a small honorarium.

Ready to write? Submit your completed play by December 31, 2026, and join us for a night of revelation, insight, and powerful storytelling.

Play Submission Guidelines

Theme Definition—Sacrifice: The act of giving up or losing something of value for the sake of something else; an act of offering something precious to a deity; the surrender or destruction of something for a particular purpose; something forfeited in order to gain, achieve, or preserve something considered of greater importance.

Format Requirements:

• Plays must be submitted electronically in PDF format with numbered pages.
• Plays should be approximately 10 minutes in length.
• Plays must incorporate the theme Sacrifice. Winning submissions will be selected based on how effectively the theme is explored.
• Plays may have 1–4 characters only; submissions with five or more characters will not be accepted.

Please submit your electronic PDF copy and complete contact information (postal address, email address, and contact phone number) to Jared D. Doren, Programming and Events Manager.

jdoren@ensemblecincinnati.org