What Is Joining Sword & Pen?

When the Joining Sword & Pen competition opens, the Babes publish an image which becomes part of the submitted scripts.

These blind submissions are full length plays which are read by and voted on by the ensemble.

The winner will participate in the development process in Fighting Words and then go to full production by the Babes. The winning script’s playwright will also receive the Margaret W. Martin Award ($1000) sponsored by Babes’ longtime benefactor, David Woolley.

Submissions accepted only during the competition window.  Joining Sword & Pen 2023-2024 launching August 19, 2023 and closing April 16, 2024.

On the left, a femme-identifying person has wandered into a cavern. We see them from the back so cannot discern any other identifying characteristics including age, identity, or ethnicity. The cavern seems to have a crack in the ceiling, letting in golden yellow sunlight. In the far edge of the cavern, coming out of the shadows is a Mysterious Figure. The Figure is wearing a sleeveless white shift-dress. On their head is a cow skull with antlers. The arms of the figure are olive toned and raised above their head to hold the skull by the horns, so the skull is blocking their face. To the left of the Mysterious Figure are 4 long swords, leaning against the wall of the cavern. There are rocks randomly strewn around the floor of the cavern between the mysterious figure and the femme-identifying figure.

Take a look at the full list of plays that came from Joining Sword & Pen.

If you are a playwright and want to know more about Joining Sword & Pen, email [email protected].

Info on the most recent 2020-2021 Joining Sword & Pen Competition:

The winner: “THE GATEKEEPERS”, by Jillian Leff

Synopsis of The Gatekeepers

Taking place in a distant future where the United States has undergone sweeping reform: Guns are banned, healthcare is free, and numerous tax and economic bills have helped lessen the division of classes and pulled millions out of poverty. Sloane (first name Bridget, but don’t call her that) is a young woman who has been tapped by a watchdog intelligence agency called the CRC, led by the odd, yet domineering William Hale. As Sloane triumphantly (and a little drunkenly) leaves a warehouse after signing her contract, she is stopped by a mysterious woman who says she has come back in time to stop Sloane from making the biggest mistake of her life.

Jillian Leff smiling under a large banner saying "JS&P WINNER!"

About the playwright

Jillian Leff (she/her) is a Chicago based playwright and actor. In the city, her plays have been produced by The New Coordinates (SMALL WORLD – co-written with Joe Lino – 2020 Jeff Award Nominee for New Work) The Cuckoo’s Theater Project (MISSED OPPORTUNITIES), and The Right Brain Project ((NON)FICTION), while her short plays have been produced by Broken Nose Theatre, Random Acts Chicago, and Ghostlight Ensemble, among others. She has a BFA in Acting from Ball State University and is an Ensemble Member of Babes With Blades Theatre Company. https://newplayexchange.org/users/21210/jillian-leff