Posted September 30, 2025
What is a Bake Off?
Created by the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel, the Bake-Off is a communal writing event in which writers are given a random list of “ingredients” to incorporate into a play (for example: a kitchen sink, a front porch, and a withheld secret) to help inspire creativity and give writers permission to play. Hudson Valley community members are invited to submit short plays to be considered as part of the HVS Community Bake-Off. Between 5-7 of these plays will be selected to be performed by professional actors, in-person on November 15 and 16.
Who is eligible to submit a play to the Bake-Off?
Anyone who has attended any of the playwriting workshops in Fall 2025 or has submitted to previous Bake-Offs is eligible to submit a play.
When are submissions due?
Please submit your 10-minute plays by 11:59pm on Wednesday, October 15. Play submissions should be made via this Google Form as a Microsoft Word of PDF file and will then be reviewed by a team of readers.
When will I find out if my play has been selected?
We’ll notify you by Friday, October 24.
When will I need to be available if my play is selected?
Two performances will be held in-person on November 15 and 16. You will also be invited to a rehearsal prior to the performance to give feedback to the actors and director.
What are the ingredients?
2025 Ingredients
(Please incorporate at least THREE of these in your play)
Mirages
Mind Meld
Incompatible Operating Systems
Gods
Beauty of Maps!
A crystal ball
A cracked screen
Hiding
Umbrellas
Mischief
How long does my play have to be?
You should aim for around 10 pages, but if your play is a bit longer or shorter, that is okay.
What information do I need to include with my submission?
On the first page, be sure to include the title, your name, and your phone number and email address. You should also include the setting (time and place) and a list of characters and short descriptions (including age or age range, and any other basic information you think is important to understand your play). For example: HAROLD – male, 50s. Jeannie’s father.
An example of play formatting is posted here.
Have questions?
Write Christine Scarfuto: BakeOff(at)hvshakespeare.org.
