(These don't cost anything)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dramatists/

The "Dramatists" Group.  A Yahoo Group for Playwrights.  You'll need to join Yahoo for this or the following three groups, but it's free.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/playsandplaywrights/

"PlaysandPlaywrights" -- very similar to Dramatists.  In fact, there are a lot of duplicate posts.  But there's enough different that it's useful to check both.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bigcheap/

"Big Cheap Theatre" -- commonly known as BCT.  This is THE bulletin board for Los Angeles Theater -- at least the 99 seat variety, which is what we're working in.  Not just for playwrights, but for actors, directors, everybody.  It can get wild and woolly but it's the place to find out what's going on.  You will find submission opportunities on this site, but that's not the focus.

Submission Opportunities

There are a lot of websites that list submission opportunities for Playwrights.  Here are some of the better ones.

http://groups.msn.com/AbsolutelyTheatre

AbsolutelyTheatre.  Like a Yahoo Group, but this is an MSN group.  Again, you may need to sign up with MSN, but that's free.  It's got many sub-groups once you're in.  Be sure to go to FORUMS and then "New Play Works" -- that's where all the submission opportunities are.

http://www.burryman.com/stage.html#subs

Based in Australia (hence the funny name) it nevertheless has a remarkable list of links to playwriting opportunities.

http://p202.ezboard.com/benavantplaywrights

The En Avant ("Forward!") Website.  Run by fellow playwright Kathleen Warnock (a wonderful person), it has a whole lot of opportunities, grouped by type of play.  Very helpful.   You can help Kathleen by finding and submitting opportunities to the site, or just sending her a thank you email.

Or money.  She'll take that too.

http://www.stageplays.com/markets.htm

The Playwrights' Noticeboard.  Used to have a lot more opportunities, seems to be slowing down lately.  But still a good resource.

http://www.playwritingopportunities.com/

Also run by just one guy -- write him an encouraging email if you find his site helpful!

http://www.bu.edu/bpt/getin/mailinglist.html

The Boston Playwrights' List.  Run by the Boston Playwrights' Theatre, it has opportunities from theaters everywhere, for playwrights everywhere.  A slight Boston bias, but many, many opportunities.

http://www.stageplays.com/markets.htm

http://www.nycplaywrights.org/nycplaywrights/

http://www.pwcenter.org/ebulletin/OngoingOpps.htm

http://playwrightscentersf.org/resources/opportunities.htm

www.enavantplaywrights.org

http://emerging.freewebspace.com/PlaywritingCompetitions

http://users.erols.com/pforum/newsltr.htm

I also get good info from the Boston Theater playwrights opp list. You have to join a list serv to get the listings. Instructions for joining from the moderator:

To join the list:

Direct any fellow playwright to http://www.bu.edu/bpt/getin/mailinglist.html

Anyone can sign up by typing their email in the box below "3) Join our playwrights email list" and hitting the submit button.