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The following is a list of ten magazines, blogs, and journals that pay writers for reviews of theater. Keep in mind that payment rates are not guaranteed, and may need to be negotiated.
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Thanks to Erim Akpan for compiling this list.
Broad Street Review is a Philadelphia-based arts and culture forum covering events in and around Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Wilmington, DE. It publishes reviews of plays and cultural events. Reviews should do more than summarize the piece and provide an opinion; they should use the creative work as a jumping-off point to discuss a broader issue. For more details, read their guidelines here.
Slant magazine publishes reviews of plays, interviews with actors and theater professionals, and occasional industry news. Read their submissions page to learn more about how to query. Writers who include clips with their queries have a better chance of receiving a response.
Hyperallergic is an arts magazine that publishes reviews of plays with striking settings or surprising inspirations. Its guiding principle is a curiosity about how art and visual culture relate to and reflect the wider world. Hyperallergenic prefers reviews of work with a strong visual element or some form of cultural commentary. If a story is local, it needs a wider-reaching takeaway to be considered for publication. Learn how to submit here.
Culture Eater is an Australian magazine that publishes reviews of plays and other arts. Contributors are paid $25-100 for feature submissions. Visit this page to learn how to join their reviews team.
Antithesis is an annual arts and humanities journal that publishes reviews of performances, including plays as well as other arts. Submissions are normally only accepted from writers in Australia, but writers living elsewhere can submit pitches to be considred. Contributors receive $50 and a copy of the magazine. Take a look at their submission guidelines for more details.
Howlround publishes essays between 750 and 2000 words analyzing plays beyond a typical “good or not good” evaluation. Particular areas of interest include work being performed in places that aren’t traditional theater hubs, formally experimental work, work created by traditionally underrepresented artists, work that addresses a pressing or contemporary issue, and work that is unlikely to be documented in traditional media outlets. Writers are paid $50-150, depending on the length of the piece. For detailed guidelines, look here and here.
Creative Loafing Charlotte publishes reviews of plays and other performance art in North Carolina’s Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Payment can vary, but writers are usually paid a minimum of 10 cents per word. You can read their submission guidelines for more details.
The Threepenny Review is a print and digital literary magazine which publishes criticism, reflection, argument, fiction, and poetry. It publishes critical articles about theater performances and other arts. Writers are paid $200-400 per piece. Read their submission guidelines for more information.
Exeunt is a digital magazine seeking to “give theater and performance the consideration and thought it deserves.” It publishes opinion pieces, academic essays, and responses to criticism. Send a pitch here.
Nothing to Say publishes writing from practicing creators, regardless of writing experience, who have ideas they are excited to share. The magazine is inclusive of all disciplines, but if a submission is specific to one discipline, it should have some common ground with others. They prefer fresh arguments and conversation-starters over personal stories. Writers are paid $200 for essays 1500-2000 words. To learn more, visit their submissions page.
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