Wendy C. Goldberg serves as artistic director of the conference, which provides writers with a month-long residency to shape their works with professional actors and directors, ultimately resulting in script-in-hand readings.

The organization celebrated its 50th anniversary year this past season. 

"It's been a remarkable year celebrating our 50th anniversary, and now we look to the future. For our 51st season, I look forward to building on our immense artistic legacy and helping to nurture the most innovative and fearless storytellers of our time,"Goldberg said in a statement. 

Submissions, which are open to previously unproduced plays, will be accepted through Oct. 17. The O'Neill provides writers with a stipend, housing, meals and transportation to its Waterford, CT, campus.

There is a $35 submission fee. For details, visit TheOneill.org. Among the plays that were nurtured at the O'Neill are The House of Blue Leaves, Uncommon Women and Others, A Walk in the Woods, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson and Fences. Alumni include August Wilson, John Patrick Shanley, Wendy Wasserstein, Adam Rapp, Gina Gionfriddo, John Guare, David Henry Hwang and Adam Bock. Musicals developed at the O'Neill include Nine, Avenue Q, In The Heights, Violet and Tales of the City.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center was founded in 1964 and is based in Waterford, CT. Programs at the Center include the Puppetry Conference, Playwrights Conference, Critics Institute, Music Theater Conference and the National Theater Institute. The Monte Cristo Cottage, O'Neill's childhood home, is also owned and operated by the group.