LA New Play Project Offers $40K Grants to Playwrights & Theaters

Los Angeles New Play Project is continuing its support for their sixth year of championing boundary-pushing theater. Recipients are playwrights and local theatrical producers who support the world premiere of a play in a small-to-mid-sized theater within Los Angeles County. These theaters are defined as having no more than $3 million annual expenses. Applicant theaters may be either nonprofit or for-profit. 

In 2025, LANPP's eligibility period was extended to include plays produced throughout the calendar year rather than only those TO BE produced after the submissions are made final. The Los Angeles theaters welcomed the change, as it allowed them to consider submitting their very best work, not just what fit into the previous submission calendar. 

Plays may have been previously presented in workshops or readings, at any time, but not as a full production prior to 2026, in order to be eligible for the grant. Award funds are disbursed in two parts: $20,000 to playwrights with a follow-up award of up to $20,000 to producers. LANPP encourages playwrights whose bold, timely works explore themes from politics and American history to immigration and suspense. 

In a city where no other program matches their scale or vision, LANPP is unique—offering support twice the size of the average NEA grant, and at a time when such funding has nearly vanished. Last year's recipients included four playwrights and four local theaters in Los Angeles for a total prize distribution of $160,000. 

For 2026 submissions, producers apply on behalf of the playwright and the production. Applications for the 2026 cycle will be accepted between April 1, 2026 and 5 PM, Monday, June 1, 2026. Producers may not submit more than one play per year.  

LANPP aims to support quality writing in the vibrant and evolving Los Angeles small and midsize theater community, and to encourage the production of exciting, untried plays that will enrich and energize the community.