GHOSTWALK 2026 Calls for Original Ghost Story Monologues Local Playwrights Invited to Haunt the Historic Teague-McKevett Packing House
SANTA PAULA, CA — The Santa Paula Theater Center (SPTC) is pleased to announce an open call to local playwrights for its annual Santa Paula GhostWalk. Each year, this beloved community event takes place at a unique historic location — and this year, GhostWalk makes its home at the hauntingly evocative Teague-McKevett Packing House, one of Santa Paula’s most storied landmarks. GhostWalk is an outdoor theatrical experience in which audiences travel between stations, encountering original ghost story monologues performed by local actors. Scripts are brought to life in the atmospheric setting of the venue itself, making the historic location as much a part of the story as the characters who inhabit it. Performance dates are October 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25. Submission DetailsSPTC invites playwrights to submit original, unproduced ghost story monologues for consideration. Monologues should be written for a single performer and timed to no more than seven (7) minutes when read aloud at performance pace, including pauses. Scripts that exceed this length will not be considered. Please note that staging, guide introductions, and outros will add time in performance, so it is essential that the script itself remain within the seven-minute limit. “Ghostology”: Guidelines for SubmissionTo help playwrights craft effective scripts for this unique format, SPTC has prepared the following guidelines:
Keep It Simple and Direct. Because most stories are performed outdoors in distracting environments, they must capture and hold the attention of an audience. Avoid extraneous details and characters that do not contribute directly to the storyline.
Write a Historical Character. Writing a historical character — real or imagined — is a preferred approach, and stories that interpret some aspect of local history are especially welcome. Spend time researching your subject and their era before writing. Even small authentic details, such as period language or references to things that no longer exist, add richness and credibility. Research notes may be attached to your submission.
Ghosts Don’t Know the Modern World. Since your ghost comes from another time, they should have little or no knowledge of the contemporary world. Avoid references to current events, technologies, or situations. If your ghost has observed anything from the world that followed their death, keep those impressions vague and perhaps confused.
Gruesome Endings Are Not Required. A ghost story does not have to involve a gruesome death. While a sad, tragic, or dramatic death is a classic motivation for a ghost’s return, other unresolved issues can be just as compelling. A ghost might tell the story of another’s death, or carry some other unfinished business. Use your imagination freely when inventing a ghost’s motivation.
Time Your Script Out Loud. Read your script aloud — with appropriate pauses and variations in pace — before submitting. The spoken performance must not exceed seven minutes. Performances are scheduled in 15-minute slots, and time must be allowed for travel between stations.
Performance DatesOctober 9, 10 & 11 • October 16, 17 & 18 • October 23, 24 & 25 How to SubmitPlaywrights interested in submitting a monologue for Santa Paula GhostWalk are encouraged to submit their work to [email protected]. Please set the subject line as: Ghostwalk submission. Word or PDF format. SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS 07/13/2026. Website: santapaulatheater.org Location: Teague-McKevett Packing House, Santa Paula, CA # # # About the Santa Paula Theater Center The Santa Paula Theater Center is a non-profit community theater dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the Santa Paula Valley through live performance, education, and community engagement.