what steps must i take to get my play published?

Answer 1

I, too, am a new playwright. I have asked some of my theatre contacts (having been an actor for almost 35 years), and they have advised that I try to get my play performed first, so I can judge it's merit. Also, It's generally believed that publishing houses are quicker to pick up on an "established" work or authors than something totally unknown. I don't know if that's true, but I feel it makes sense. So...
The first step will be a play reading for members of the selection committees of any local community theatres. If someone offers to perform it, be availbe for rewrites (there are always things that will need to be changed in order to make it from the page to the stage).
Once it has been front of an audience and you see whether it got the response you were hoping for, you can do any necessary re-writes or submit directly to Samuel French, Dramatists Play Service or any of the other publishing houses, all of whom have websites.

Answer 2

step 1: pucker up
step 2: kiss booty
repeat steps one and two, continuously, until you are published.