PRODUCTION FOR ALL

FYBY New Play Festival

All ages

For Youth By Youth Theatre, or FYBY (rhymes with sky) is committed to uplifting works that are for youth, by youth, or (ideally!) for youth and by youth. We celebrate young voices and stories that reflect the creativity and complexity of youth artists.

FYBY has an open call for play submissions from early and emerging playwrights. We will begin accepting play submissions May through August 2026, or until we receive 100 submissions, whichever comes first. After the submission window closes, three outstanding works will be selected for staged readings featuring local Chicago actors and directors. A staged reading performance will be sometime in January 2027. Playwrights will be notified if their work was selected by September 2026. An application and selection of Chicago directors will shortly follow, then actor auditions.

We do not have a theme or required format for 2026 submissions. Playwrights must be at early or emerging career, click “Submit a Play Here!” for a definition. Plays do not need to be TYA (theatre for young audience.) We do have three categories that will help us sort through submissions:

• Theatre for Young Audiences

  • Audiences ages 0–13 or "family friendly"

• Theatre for Young Adult Audiences

  • Audiences ages 14–24

• Stories of Us

  • Plays featuring characters from marginalized social identities

We especially encourage submissions from youth playwrights. Youth playwrights are under 25 years of age.