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Saturday, September 26, 2015

Lourdes University Drama Society 2015 One-Act Playwriting Competition

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NOTE: No entry fee necessary with copy of Dramatists Guild membership card

Cash awards of $250 for 1st place, $100 for 2nd place, and $50 for 3rd place will be presented. Winning plays will also be produced by the Lourdes University Drama Society.

To enter please send the following items to the address below:
  • Completed entry form 
  • Bio of the playwright(s) – must be 100 words or less 
  • Play synopsis including character descriptions 
  • Three copies of the script 
  • $5 entry fee or copy of current Dramatist Guild membership card 
Mail to: 

Keith Ramsdell
Lourdes University Drama Society
One-Act Playwriting Competition 6832 Convent Blvd
Sylvania, OH 43560

Competition Rules:

The competition is open to all playwrights 18 years of age and older. Only one play per playwright may be entered per year. Plays may be co-written by more than one playwright, but the names of all playwrights must appear on the entry form.

Entries must be one-act stage plays with performance times of 8 to 15 minutes. Full-length plays, musicals, children’s plays, film and TV scripts, and plays previously entered in this competition are ineligible.

Submissions are restricted to original dramatic works – no adaptations – that have not been previously published or produced outside of an academic environment.

While all reasonable care will be taken, Lourdes University Drama Society does not assume any responsibility for lost, misplaced or damaged scripts.

There are no restrictions on genre or theme.

Scripts will be judged on concept, dramatic action, characterization and dialogue. Preference will be given to plays with 2 to 4 characters, limited staging requirements, and content/language sensitive to the traditions and values of Lourdes University. The decisions of the judges are final. No critiques will be given, and no scripts will be returned.

Lourdes University Drama Society will produce the winning plays royalty-free during its Festival of One Acts 2016. This includes the right to make rehearsal copies of the script, to use the title of the play and the author’s name in publicity and promotion, and to videotape the play for archival purposes. The playwright will receive a program and DVD from the production. All future production and publication rights remain the property of the playwright.

The deadline for entries is a postmark of October 1, 2015

Late scripts will not be accepted, and revisions cannot be made once a script has been submitted. Winners will be announced and notified by the end of the calendar year.

Formatting Instructions:

To ensure anonymity during the judging process, no personal information should appear anywhere on the submitted script. The entry form will contain this information.


All scripts should be printed on 8-1/2” x 11” white paper, typewritten on one side only and submitted in acceptable play manuscript format. Each copy should be bound with a staple. Pages must be numbered, and the name of the play should appear on each page.


The entry form, bio, synopsis and fee or copy of DG card should be clipped together.


Incorrectly formatted entries will be disregarded.

More Information:

Please contact Keith Ramsdell at dramasociety@lourdes.edu with any questions. You may also visit us on the web at www.lourdes.edu/dramasociety

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