Orlando Shakespeare Theater will be performing seven new plays for the PlayFest 2017 weekend, November 2–5, 2017. In Round 1, we will accept submissions from January 1, 2017 through March 1, 2017 of 10 pages from new plays to be considered for PlayFest 2017.
WHAT TYPES OF PLAYS ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We look for scripts that are appropriate for our Goldman Theater, an intimate proscenium theater that seats 118. Typical cast size for the Goldman Theater is 1–8.
We are especially interested in scripts that speak to the issues that our audiences are experiencing right now. Past PlayFest plays have dealt with issues of racism, autism, gender, Alzheimer's, immigration, etc. Our Shakespeare and classical productions deal with “timeless issues” and we like for our new plays to deal with modern “issues of our times.”
ELIGIBILITY
For a script to be eligible for inclusion in PlayFest 2017, a play does NOT have to be a world premiere, but it must be a “new” play. For our purposes, that means it cannot:
1. Have had more than two previous professional (AEA) productions before PlayFest 2017
2. Have been published
3. Have had an AEA production in New York City or Orlando
4. Most importantly, the author must still be developing and working on the script.
ROUND 1 PROCESS - UNSOLICITED 10 PAGES
For unsolicited scripts, please send us the following from January 1, 2017 through March 1, 2017:
1. A brief bio about you (100-150 words)
2. A brief synopsis of the play (100-200 words)
3. A brief character breakdown (1-2 sentences that describe each character)
4. 10 pages from the script
Please send us your BEST consecutive ten pages, not necessarily the first ten. We want to be able to get a strong sense of your use of language and dialogue to tell your story. We do not have the staff necessary to read full unsolicited scripts, but we are excited to read your best 10 pages and then ask for your full script as a part of Round 2. Full script submissions for Round 1 will NOT be read or considered for PlayFest.
All submissions should be emailed as PDF electronic submissions. Please send to cynthiaw@orlandoshakes.org.
ROUND 2 PROCESS - FULL SCRIPTS
For Round 2, we request full scripts from our unsolicited 10 page submissions, as well as agent- submitted scripts, and previous PlayFest alumni scripts. We will be accepting Round 2 submissions from January 1, 2017 through June 1, 2017.
For Round 2, please send us
1. A brief bio about you (100-150 words)
2. A brief synopsis of the play (100-200 words)
3. A brief character breakdown (1-2 sentences that describe each character)
4. Full script
5. Optional: if you have letters of recommendation or references, we would be happy to read those as well.
All submissions should emailed as PDF electronic submissions. Please send to cynthiaw@orlandoshakes.org.
ROUND 3 - SEMI-FINALISTS
From June 1–August 1, we will select up to 15 plays as semi-finalists for PlayFest. From those semi-finalists, we will select the final seven which will appear in PlayFest.
FINAL SELECTION
The final plays for PlayFest 2017 will be selected by August 15th, 2017.