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Sunday, March 31, 2013

Shakespeare scholars unite to see off claims of the 'Bard deniers'

A group of 22 of the world's leading Shakespeare scholars have come together to produce a book that details what they consider to be definitive evidence that the Bard really did write his own plays.

Since the 1850s, 77 people have been suggested as the likely author, with Francis Bacon, Edward de Vere – the 17th Earl of Oxford – and Christopher Marlowe the most popular candidates, and Queen Elizabeth I among the most outlandish. The academics feel the anti-Shakespeare campaign has intensified lately, and that the elevation of Shakespeare authorship studies to master's degree status has been the final straw.
Three eminent experts on Bacon, Oxford and Marlowe are among the Shakespeareans who demonstrate in a series of essays precisely why only Shakespeare could have written his plays and poems, apart from his collaborations. Cambridge University Press will publish Shakespeare Beyond Doubt: Evidence, Argument, Controversy on 18 April, days before the Shakespeare birthday celebrations in Stratford-upon-Avon on 20-21 April. The publication – which they say will be scholarly, but accessible for general readers – is co-edited by Paul Edmondson and Stanley Wells, noted scholars from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the academic charity.

More at The Guardian

Broadway Workshop’s Children’s Musical Theater Festival seeks original family-friendly musicals

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Broadway Workshop’s Children’s Musical Theater Festival provides up-and-coming theater writers with the opportunity, space and resources to develop and showcase new family-friendly musicals. In addition, we nurture and educate aspiring young actors through educational programming, rehearsals and performances of these original works. Our annual festival is held for one week every July in New York City.

We are looking for original family-friendly musicals, appropriate for an audience of ages 9 and up, to showcase at our annual festival from Saturday, July 13-Sunday, July 21, 2013. Here is some information on our submission process.

submission process
We are currently seeking submissions for our 2013 season.

Who is eligible: All writers, with or without industry representation, produced or unproduced, may submit a show for consideration. All musicals must be original family-friendly musicals, which have not received a commercial production. Shows that have previously received staged readings and developmental workshops are welcomed. CMTF will also consider musicals intended for older audiences which we will help the writers adapt for young actors.

HOW TO SUBMIT :: DEADLINE FOR MATERIALS IS APRIL 1, 2013
1. Determine whether your show is:

  • Category 1 (appropriate for performers ages 9-12)
  • Category 2 (appropriate for performers ages 13-18)

2. Download a form. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat.

3. Please fill out a submission form and mail it, along with a script of your show and a CD sampling of 3-4 songs to:
Broadway Workshop
ATTN: CMTF Show Submission
692 10th Avenue, Ste. 2C
New York, NY 10019
4. OR submit electronically. E-mail all of the above materials (completed form, script and 3-4 musical tracks) to info@cmtfnyc.com. Please be sure to indicate whether these items are being sent in multiple e-mails.

REGARDLESS OF CATEGORY, SHOWS MUST BE:

  • Under 90 minutes in length
  • Have appropriate storylines, themes and language usage for the indicated age group
  • Offer multiple lead and ensemble roles for a large cast of 20-25
  • Include music that can be taught and perfected to performance level during the Festival’s one week educational program

Selection Process: All submissions will be read by the Festival Artistic Director, who will select 4 shows (2 in each category) to be reviewed by a reading committee of 6-8 young members of Broadway Workshop, from which the final two will be selected.

Notification: We will contact you by May 1, 2013 with submission results. If selected, you must be available from June 1 - July 21 via email or in person in NYC for revisions and development of your show in preparation for the Festival.

Festival Rehearsals/Performances: Your show will be rehearsed and performed by young performers selected by Broadway Workshop, to participate in an educational program from Saturday, July 13-Friday, July 21, which includes 50 hours of rehearsals, workshops and seminars in preparation for the performances on Saturday and Sunday, July 20 & 21. All activities take place at Ripley-Grier Studios and New York Live Arts in Manhattan.

Benefits: If accepted into the Festival, CMTF will develop, promote and produce a workshop presentation of your musical, at no expense to you. There will be two performances of your show on the final Festival weekend with licensing/publishing representation in attendance. Past shows have received licensing offers as a result of participating in the Festival. In addition, shows will have visibility on Festival press and marketing materials.

For questions about the Festival please feel free to email info@CMTFnyc.com or call 212.262.2636.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

GIRL PLAY - short lesbian-themed plays by women wanted

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The Women's Theatre Project, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida is presenting: GIRL PLAY, their Fourth Lesbian Short Play Reading Series.

The staged readings will take place June 22, 23 and 24, 2013 at Art Gallery 21 at The Woman's Club of Wilton Manors, FL.  We will choose between 14-16 scripts and present them in two programs, Friday and Saturday night.  Audiences will vote on their favorite scripts and the “Best of the Fest” will be presented again at the Sunday matinee.

Seeking short plays (5-12 minutes-figure one minute a page); written by women with a lesbian theme; cast limit (women and men) is 2-8.

Limited submission:  No more than 2 scripts per playwright.

Scripts may be submitted to:
girlplaytwtp@yahoo.com with Lesbian Playwriting Festival 2013 written in subject line. 

Scripts must be received by midnight (EST) on March 31, 2013.

Thespian Production is seeking one-act plays

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Thespian Production is seeking one-act plays for its June and August 2013 "Theatre Madness" showcase.  Plays should be no longer than fifteen minutes and consist of minimal set and props.  Multiple submissions are accepted.  We accept all genres, but no nudity.

Send submissions along with a short synopsis to submissions@thespianproduction.com.

Deadline is March 31, 2013.

MILK CAN THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES 2013 READING SERIES Call for Submissions

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The Milk Can Theatre Company is currently accepting submissions for the Spring 2013 COW Reading Series. COW or Comments on Work is a new reading series hosted by The Milk Can Theatre Company in New York City. Designed to be a casual reading of excerpts from new works, works in progress or otherwise un-produced plays, the COW series is meant to foster the development of original and exciting work. Taking place in unexpected locations and featuring unexpected talent, each COW will hopefully spark interesting conversation and commentary, providing feedback for the playwrights at a much earlier stage.

The Milk Can Theatre Company, founded in 2003, is a collective of directors and playwrights. The name of the company reflects our belief that there is power and elegance in simplicity. We provide a collaborative home for artists. Each season allows every company member to take risks: the chance to explore, the opportunity to fail – it’s all a process.
The selected playwrights will have the opportunity to present their work for an audience and receive valuable feedback and commentary.

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION:

1.    Submissions will be accepted until March 31, 2013. All submissions must be postmarked by this date or they will not be considered for the current series. Another submission window will be posted in late summer of 2013.

2.    Submissions must be no more than twenty (20) pages in length. Send us your best scene, short script or work in progress but please stay within the page limit. Any submission over this limit will be immediately disqualified.

3.    Previously produced works will not be considered. This is the first step in our development process and therefore we are seeking new, unproduced works.

4.    We are unable to accept electronic submissions. All submissions must be mailed to the following address:
The Milk Can Theatre Company – COW 19-19 23rd Drive Astoria, NY 11105

5.    No submissions will be returned. Due to volume, we will not be able to comment or provide feedback on individual work.

6.    Each submission must be typed and stapled.

7.    Please include a title page with the following information:
Play Title (if any), Playwright’s name, Address, Phone Number, Email address, Short Synopsis of the work and a character breakdown.
 This page will NOT count towards the total page number of the submission.

8.    Please also attach a current résumé.

9.    All playwrights submitting must be available to attend at least ONE reading in New York City.
The Milk Can Theatre Company will NOT provide travel or housing accommodations.

10. Readings will be held on April 22, May 20 and June 17, 2012. The readings will begin at 7:30.

11. The Milk Can Theatre Company will provide space and actors for the reading.

12. This will be a free, public reading followed by talkback with the playwright and company
members.

13. Playwrights will only be notified if they have been selected for this series. These notifications will be sent out by April 1st. Please do not contact us to check on submissions.

For more information please visit www.milkcantheatre.org.

ARCADIANA REPERTORY THEATRE 2013 New Works Festival

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The Acadiana Repertory Theatre (Lafayette Louisiana) is now accepting submissions for its 2013 New Works Festival.

Acadiana Rep's second annual New Works Festival will run the last week of May and we are looking for 4 shows to fill the remaining slots. Shows will be given a full reading and audience members will be voting to decide which show they would like to see in our 2014 season, which has the theme of Commit.

Last years winners included BARRIER ISLAND by David Stallings of MT Theatre Works in New York and A PLACE TO LAND by Chelsea Marcantel, which just received its world premiere production this past weekend.

Please submit your play electronically to: stevenlandry@acadianarep.org
For more information about ART, please visit www.acadianarep.org

Epiphany Theatre submission guidelines

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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

  • original script
  • 90 minutes or less
  • may be full-length plays, one-acts, translations, adaptations, and musicals
  • any subject matter
  • preference will be shown for scripts that emphasize the fantasical (think Neil Gaiman or Terry Pratchett - though no adaptations of these authors, please).

Submissions can be sent to Epiphany Theatre at Epiphanytheatreco {at} gmail {dot} com.
Please include:

  • mailing and email address
  • a synopsis of the script
  • cover letter detailing the development and/or production history of the play

Questions? Email: Epiphanytheatreco {at} gmail {dot} com
Note: At this point in time we are hoping to focus on adaptations of royalty-free work. As we get our ducks in a row, we will eventually be looking for adapters to work with some well-known authors' writing.

Thank you for submitting!

Our Wish List:

  • A post-apocalyptic Tartuffe
  • A steampunk version of Offenbach's Tales Of Hoffman (this does not need to remain in opera format -- but the opportunity to integrate Barcarolle or The Doll Song would be great)
  • Grimm's Fairy Tales (done in any style!)
  • Any H.G. Wells, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker or Mary Shelley
  • Shows with a post-apocalyptic, steampunk, fantasy, or comic book feel (or all of the above!)

There is no pay (yet!), but you will have the opportunity to attend rehearsals (if desired), and sell your work at our box office.

The Very Short Play Festival

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NOTE: Writers will be required to produce their selected play for stage and provide their own actors. Therefore, even if YOU live far away from Northfield, MN, you will be responsible for getting your play to Northfield For JUST ONE DATE, EITHER on May 3 or 4, 2013


CALL FOR PLAYWRIGHTS
FOR THE 7th ANNUAL VERY SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL
Submission Deadline: April 2, 2013

The Arts Guild is calling for plays for our Very Short Play Festival. Submissions cannot exceed TEN MINUTES IN LENGTH when fully staged. Writers of ANY AND ALL AGES are encouraged to submit their work. There are no restrictions on genre or content, just on the length of the play. Submissions can be complete short plays or stand-alone excerpts from longer works.

The selected youth plays (those rated G or PG) will be performed on Friday night, May 3. The selected adult plays (those rated PG-13 and up) will be performed on Saturday night, May 4, 2013. On their performance night, each team will need to set up and clear the stage quickly, and there will be only one 30 minute tech rehearsal per team. Thus, all technical elements of the play must be as minimal as possible.

You can submit your play either by e-mail OR by regular mail.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: April 2, 2013.
Winning playwrights will be notified by e-mail on or before April 8, 2013.

E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS should be sent to vspf@northfieldartsguild.org with Very Short Play Festival in the Subject Line. Submissions must be formatted as a Microsoft Word document or .pdf file.
OR
If you prefer to send a PAPER COPY instead of an electronic one, it should be mailed to:
The Northfield Arts Guild
Attn: Very Short Play Festival VII
304 Division Street
Northfield, MN 55057

Please be sure to include your full name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number on your submission. If more than one person contributes to the play, please include the same contact information for each individual.

Spring

I HAVE A DATE WITH SPRING



SPRING AWAKENING


VERY WARM FOR MAY

Friday, March 29, 2013

2013 Turner Cassity Literary Festival ONE-ACT VERSE PLAY COMPETITION

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Open to all U.S. & international writers
Postmark deadline -- March 31, 2013
NO FEE

First place prize – Staged reading of the winning play and up to
$250.00 travel costs for winning playwright to attend the performance.

One-act verse plays: no more than 20 to 30-minute in length, should not require costumes, sets or lighting. Author retains all rights. No flash fiction or erotica.

Submission requirements: All manuscripts must be in Times New Roman, 12 point. Author's name should not appear on text. Submissions may be sent via regular mail or submitted by email. Submissions must be accompanied by a separate cover sheet with the writer's name, mail and e-mail addresses, phone number, the title(s) of the piece(s), and a short (100 word maximum) biography. Simultaneous submissions acceptable, but author must notify the Cultural Arts Council if a work wins an award prior to our June 1st announcement.

Submissions by U.S.P.S. should be mailed to--
2013 TCLF Verse Play Competition
Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County
P.O. Box 2018
Douglasville, Georgia 30133

Online submissions sent to: cultureassistant@earthlink.net. Subject line of email: 2013 TCLF Verse Play Competition.

Announcement of Winners and Honorable Mentions: We will announce winners on June 1, 2013, at www.artsdouglas.org. Winning entrant will be notified personally. The winning play will be read at the Cultural Arts Center at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, 2013 and will be open to the general public. For more information, contact CAC at 770.949.2787, visit the www.artsdouglas.org, or e-mail Andrew Badger, awiglaf@gmail.com.



ONLINE JOURNAL SEEKS PLAYS FOR PUBLICATION

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Silent Revelations Press will begin accepting submissions on January 1st, 2013 until March 31st, 2013.   

What are we looking for?

Silent Revelations Press seeks to publish original works from authors, poets, and playwrights.  Our primary focus is to consider the "silences" by questioning, probing, and displaying these issues from a unique perspective or point of view, while maintaining an anti-oppressive approach.  

For more information regarding our mission, and/or submission process, please visit:   http://www.silentrevelationspress.com

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Indie Boots is currently accepting play submissions under 15 minutes in length

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Deadline: April 1, 2013

Indie Boots is currently accepting play submissions under 15 minutes in length for   Indie Boots Theatre Festival: The Rebecca Plays.

All plays must be world premieres and must use "Rebecca" in the title of the piece ("Rebecca's Room," "When Rebecca Fell," etc.). The finalists will be performed as part of a festival in Chicago, IL in the spring. An audience award will be presented.
  • No entry fee / free to submit. 
  • No monetary compensation. 
  • Plays must require less than 10 actors. 
  • Once submitted, scripts may not be withdrawn.
  • All genres welcome. Comedies and scripts   featuring underrepresented characters (women, LGBTQ characters, etc) highly encouraged.  
  • Multiple entries from one writer accepted. 
Email info@indieboots.org with "Rebecca - Playwright Name" in the subject line.

For more information, visit: www.indieboots.org

Indie Boots: Bringing independent theatre, film, and music to audiences through annual festivals, special events, and curated programs.

Indie Boots
Chicago, IL
www.indieboots.org
www.facebook.com/indieboots
www.twitter.com/indieboots

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The Players Theatre: Accepting Submissions for Short Play Festival

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The historic Players Theatre, in the heart of Greenwich Village, is accepting short play and musical submissions for the June Festival competition.

This June our theme will be “Only In New York!” Starting June 6th, five short plays/musicals will be presented each week for three weeks. The Short Play and Musical Festival will run Thursday through Sunday in the Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre.

Each week, a Best of the Festival winner will be selected by audience and judge’s votes. The winner will receive a cash prize of $100. The Short Play and Musical festival is running Thursdays through Sundays from June 6 - 23, 2013.

All completed submissions must be received by 5:00 PM, Friday, April 12th.

Email Submissions to PlayFestival@ThePlayersTheatre.com and mail two (2) copies of your script (BLIND COPY ONLY) and application to:

The Short Play Festival
The Players Theatre
115 MacDougal Street
New York, NY 10012
212-475-1449

GUIDELINES

1. Submissions should be of a NEW YORK theme in honor of ONLY IN NEW YORK. Should be focussed on New York experiences and ideas.

2. Each production will have four performances; Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (Tech will be the previous Sunday.)

There will be three separate weeks. Festival staff will try to pair up one-acts according to theme and running time. Please let us know if you have any date conflicts.
We will try to work around conflict of selected plays but be aware that conflicts might exclude you from the festival.

3. Please mail or hand-deliver two (2) bound, hard copy, blind submissions, of your play not to exceed 15 pages/15 minutes, with the application form (link) to the above address. Please include a CD of music if you are submitting a musical.
 Make sure that a cast breakdown and synopsis is included. In addition, you must e-mail one copy. There is no submission fee but we limit the number of plays by each playwright to two (2). Plays will not be returned so please do not send SASE.

Blind submission: Pages should have no identifying marks other than the title and/or page numbers. The application should have all identifying information.

4. DEADLINE:

All completed submissions must be received by 5:00PM, Friday, April 12th.

5. Playwrights or their representatives are responsible for all aspects of their production; costs, casting (non-Equity), rehearsals, props. A list of available set pieces will be provided at pre-Festival meeting. The load-in and load-out will be done by the actors and staff in under 2 minutes so, please, limit your requirements. There will be a meet and greet for authors or representative which is mandatory. Please limit lights and sound cues to maximum of 5 (five) which should include lights up and black out.

6. Selected plays will be asked to contribute a $50 technical fee to assist producers in covering the cost of staffing and programs. (The Players’ Theatre will provide production stage manager (lighting/sound technician), house manager, box office personnel and media.) Lights will be a general wash.
 There is no storage space for props or costumes so limit them to what you can carry back and forth. Festival staff will provide each accepted production with one half-hour tech time. Each production will tech the Sunday before performance week and all cast members are required to be there.

7. There is a piano in the theatre. Any additional music requirements must be approved by and are at the discretion of the Festival staff. We have limited space and prefer that it is used for audience.

8. Festival staff will contact accepted play/musical authors and a list will be available on our website after April 19th.

9. There will be a mandatory meeting set for participants to provide information and answer questions. Rehearsal space will be available at a discounted rate for Festival participants.

One large dressing room will be available for all actors.

10. The Producers will schedule an audition for directors/authors to select cast.
(No double casting.)
The Festival will also try to assist any author in securing a director for those who do not have one. Please be aware that the larger your cast, the more difficult it will be for your directorto schedule rehearsals. It is not necessary to use The Festival casting service should your play already be cast.

11. There will be a $100 deposit to cover cancellation or damages. This will be returned at the end of The Festival.

12. Complete contact sheet and program info will be required two weeks in advance of performance date.

13. Audience voting will determine each week’s favorites. Only audience member who have seen all plays will be allowed to vote. Weekly winners will be awarded $100

Applications and more guidelines available at:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/129466268/SPF-Application-Only-In-New-York

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Fly-by-Night Theater submissions accepted Feb 1 - April 1 2013

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Due to the high volume of submissions we have received, submissions are now accepted from February 1st thru April 1st ONLY. Submissions submitted any time other than the specified dates will not be eligible for consideration. 

Fly-By-Night Theatre is always on the lookout for new works. And though we prefer to work with artists local to the North Carolina Triad area, we are happy and willing to work with like-minded artists anywhere.

Here are some ground rules for all submissions:

Please keep in mind that we do exclusively new work, and by new  we mean unproduced.

We are active collaborators. We aren't going to rewrite your piece for you, nor are we after any authorial credit or future production percentages or any of that nonsense – but we are a process-oriented group. Please just understand that going in.

If we agree to work with you on your piece, we will pay you a small stipend.

PLAYS

We're really open to any length. Full-length plays (75-120 pages) are your best bet, but we'll look at one-acts as well.

We tend to favor plays that are ambitious in form and content over the standard family/relationship squabble, but we'll look at anything.

HOW TO SUBMIT: Send us a brief synopsis (anywhere from a sentence to a page) and the first ten pages in format of your play, each in PDF format.

More information about us at www.flybynighttheatre.com

Dark and Twisted Fairy Tales wanted

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BHP is now accepting submissions with a "dark and twisted fairy tale" theme for our next showcase opening June 22, 2013.
The set will be one large rectangle cube and two small square cubes and you can use these in any way you see fit. Be creative! What constitutes a fairy tale? 5-15 minutes in length, please. Basic lighting and sound cues preferred. The deadline for submission is April 1, no foolin'.

We are now selecting plays for 2013 and beyond. Basic lighting and sound cues preferred. Otherwise, go nuts! There are no other restrictions - language, sexual situations, drugs, violence - the sky's the limit.

Our space is a black box with a thrust configuration and seats 85-100.

Please mail your submissions in PDF format to submissions@obsidianartspace.org by April 1, 2013. 

Monday, March 25, 2013

Seeking New 10-Minute Plays

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The Collective NY's Permanent Ensemble is searching for the best unpublished/unproduced short plays to be practiced, produced and published this summer.

The plays for this inaugural festival will be chosen blindly: we won't know who wrote what until we've made our selections.

Chosen pieces will appear in a week-long festival at a prominent NYC venue in summer 2013.

We are seeking stories that speak to the tenets of our Mission Statement and the work we do:
The Collective unites professional artists who share a responsibility to create work in the contemporary American Theatre that is emotionally truthful, socially relevant, and defiantly accessible.
To register, please e-mail: Collective10@thecollective-ny.org
Include your name, mailing address, phone number and the title of your play.
Registration deadline is APRIL 4th. 

Upon receipt of registration email, details for submission will be provided.

For more information, please visit thecollective-ny.org

We are looking for scripts for the April 13 - 14 Short Play Lab

(No web site available)

Scripts Wanted for April 13 - 14
Short Play Lab -- Cash Prizes!!
Dear Friend in the Theatre,

We are looking for scripts for the April 13 - 14 Short Play Lab.
New participants are welcome!

The rules are easy-peasy:

Deadline is April 1. 

Notification will be immediately after submission, if not sooner. The sooner you get your script in, the more time you have to prepare. Get that script in pronto!

Plays should be 1 - 10 pp. in standard playscript format.* (The shorter the better; shorter plays get priority.) Include a title page, as the first page of the script, with your contact info (preferred means of contact is by email).

Submit scripts in MS-Word.

You produce the play whether or not you live in New York.  The SPL provides the theatre (at the Roy Arias Studios, 300 West 43rd Street, NYC).
Productions must be non-union: no showcases please! (And no Equity waivers, either.)

Keep production values to a minimum: costumes and hand props are okay. We provide rehearsal cubes, chairs, and a table.

We provide a board op, box office, and venue management.

There are no fees. The SPL keeps the door.

Tickets are $20. Each playwright and director gets to watch his/her show for free. There are no other comps.

There will be a tech rehearsal on the afternoon of April 1.

Every play gets 2 performances, 1 on Sat. and 1 on Sun. Each play will be part of 1 of 2 programs: Program A or Program B, but not both. Program A takes place at 7 pm Sat. and 4 pm Sun. Program B takes place at 9 pm Sat. and 2 pm Sun.

We don't do staged readings. Be off-book, please! Plays not off-book during tech will be removed from the line-up.

THE MOST POPULAR PRODUCTION IN EACH PROGRAM RECEIVES A CASH PRIZE OF $75. Winners are determined by polling patrons at the box office.
*12 pt Times Roman; character names in the middle on their own line; line spaces between speeches and between speeches and stage directions; indented stage directions.

The SPL is a lot of fun and a good way to see your work on its feet in a supportive environment. It's also a great way to see actors and directors at work, so you can recruit people for later productions.

Our Associate Artistic Director, Tom Thornton, also coordinates Times Square Playwrights. He is in charge of all details of reading/curating plays for the Lab.
To submit a script, send it as an attachment to tt91457@yahoo.com. Any questions, don't hesitate to shoot Tom an E-mail!
Thanks,
John Chatterton
Executive producer, Short Play Lab
Tom Thornton
Artistic Director

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Geva Theatre submission guidelines


Plays we want

Geva Theatre Center accepts submissions for full-length plays, translations and adaptations. New plays are considered for possible inclusion in all our play development programs, as well as for production on our stages. Unfortunately, we cannot accept submissions of musicals for development at this time. We are looking for bold, theatrical voices, and are passionate about supporting the craft of both emerging and established writers in service of our commitment to developing new work for the American theatre.

The purpose and power of the theatrical event has always been to come together in the theatre and discover a new understanding of ourselves. By developing and producing work that explores and celebrates the human experience, we engage in a dialogue about what it means to be human, what it means to be an American, and what it means to be a global citizen, in the 21st century.

We try to stay open to a diversity of aesthetic, topic and approach, but plays that we are interested in frequently share some of the following characteristics:

  • Strength and depth of writing which would indicate that this is not the first draft of the play 
  • Strong, interesting characters that offer actors something to explore, and rich relationships between the characters onstage
  • A compelling narrative which presents a new story, or a new take on a familiar tale
  • Smart, compelling use of language
  • Action which befits a story told onstage, rather than on film or in print.

Before submitting your work to use, please read our full vision and mission for new play development here.

How to submit a play

Playwrights with professional representation may have their agents send full manuscripts at any time. Please note that lawyers and law firms do not qualify as "professional representation.”

To best accommodate our schedule of new play activities, we have an Inquiry Window, during which playwrights who are not working with an agent may send a submission inquiry. The current window is from November 1, 2012 to January 31, 2013. Inquiries submitted in any other time period cannot be processed. Before submitting a play for consideration, please look at our production history and at the list of new plays we have commissioned or produced, as an indication of the kind of work we are likely to produce.

Please do not send us the first draft of a play. Due to the amount of scripts we receive, we can only read any play one time, so make sure you are sending us your best work. Plays for consideration in our play development series must not have had more than one production at another theatre.

To have your play considered, submit the following (please note: electronic inquiries cannot be responded to):

  • A cover letter introducing yourself, with your full contact information
  • Your creative resume and a development or production history of this play. If the play has had other developmental readings or productions, they must be included here.
  • A description of this play, no more than ½ page. This need not be a summary of the plot – we welcome a description of the play’s world, characters and conflict, and your reasons for writing it.
  • A complete list of characters
  • A ten-page dialogue sample. Pages do not need to come from the beginning of your text but must be sequential.
  • Please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you would like materials to be returned.

Direct your inquiry to:
Jean Ryon
New Plays Coordinator
Geva Theatre Center
75 Woodbury Blvd.
Rochester, NY 14607

After reviewing your query, we will let you know whether or not we wish to read the entire script. Playwrights submitting Inquiries can anticipate hearing from us by June 30. Agents submitting plays should expect a response within 6-12 months. Please note: Due to the amount of inquiries we receive, we cannot respond to materials submitted electronically.

For more information, please call Jean Gordon Ryon, Geva Theatre Center’s New Plays Coordinator (585) 232-1366 ext 3034.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Eastbound Theatre seeks original monologues

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Eastbound Theatre seeks original monologues for inclusion in its SideTracks program of staged readings.

The SideTracks program was created last year. Three performances of original plays were held at theMilford Library. The program generally features readings of both monologues and small cast one acts.

Guidelines:
There is no deadline. This is an ongoing call.
Playwrights may submit more than one monologue.
Playwrights will be notified of any performances via email.
There is no submission fee.
There is no compensation for performance.
Playwrights will maintain all rights to their material.
Submissions must be unpublished, original monologues of 5-7 pages in length.

Email submissions to ZenRipple@yahoo.com. Attachments can be doc, rtf or pdf files.

Hard copy submissions can be sent to:
PT Playwriting opportunities
Eastbound Theatre: SideTracks
Milford Fine Arts Council
40 Railroad Avenue South
Milford, CT 06460

Theater of the absurd

WAITING FOR GODOT



ROSENCRANTZ AND GULDENSTERN ARE DEAD

Princess Grace Foundation presents: SUPPORT FOR EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS

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Grace Kelly was heralded as a talented actress. During Her career and subsequently as Princess of Monaco, She recognized the importance of encouraging emerging artists and supporting them in the pursuit of their artistic goals. To continue Her legacy, Prince Rainier III established the Princess Grace Foundation – USA as a public charity in 1982.   Today, the Princess Grace Awards is a national program dedicated to identifying and assisting emerging theater, dance, and film artists who are at the outset of their careers or at early stages of professional development. This mission is accomplished in playwriting through a residency program at New Dramatists, Inc. in New York City.


One playwright will be selected to receive:

  • A grant in the amount of $7,500
  • A residency (including transportation costs) at New Dramatists, Inc. in New York City-Inclusion of script in New Dramatists’ library
  • National distribution of the recipient’s script to catalogue subscribers for one year
  • Opportunity for winning play to be licensed and published by Samuel French, Inc. 
Eligible playwrights must be United States citizens or have permanent resident status, and must not have had any professional productions other than those using the showcase code or in an off-off-Broadway theater with 99 or fewer seats. (If your show used a higher contract tier than the showcase code, you are not eligible to apply. If your show received a festival production in a theater with more than 99 seats and did not use an Equity contract, you are eligible to apply.) Development opportunities such as readings and workshops are admissible.

Applicants must include the following:

  • Signed and dated application
  • Resume, including a list of other plays written and produced, performance venues and dates
  • One unpublished, full-length play (A full-length play is a single play that constitutes a full evening of theatre.
For example, a 90-minute intermissionless play is a full-length play.)
  • There is no restriction on subject matter
  • Both story and language must be original; no adaptations.
  • May not have received a professional production as defined above
  • Please submit the typed script in a binder (e.g. three-ring, or duotang), using accepted format.
  • No permanent binding is permitted (e.g. spiral binding.)
  • Personal statement: Please describe, in your own words, your views and expectations of your role as a theater artist now and in the future. Please elaborate on your “emerging status” and how you plan to utilize this fellowship.
(Not to exceed one page; minimum font: 12pt)
Applicants are also encouraged to submit a letter of recommendation from a theater professional (director, dramaturg, etc.) addressing how the applicant has demonstrated his/her excellence in the field; promise as an outstanding young artist; and why he/she is deserving of a Princess Grace Award.

Applications may be found here, and should be addressed to:

Princess Grace Playwriting Grant
c/o New Dramatists
424 West 44th Street
New York, New York 10036
(212) 757-6960

Thursday, March 21, 2013

MIRRORS: Monologues From Women’s Lives

web site

This competition is open to women 16 years or older who submit between February 1 and March 31, 2013. 

Playwrights may submit only one monologue. Monologues must be unpublished and unproduced. Type your monologue on standard paper with 1-inch margins double-spaced in 12-point type. Number each page of the monologue.
Please avoid gratuitous profanity. We are unable to accept electronic submissions. Scripts will not be returned. We are unable to provide critiques for submissions.

Please send the following to the address below.

- 3 copies of your one to three page monologue with no identifying information on the title page. On the character page of your monologue, indicate the speaker’s age and the person(s) to whom she is speaking.

- 1 one unbound title page with all contact information

- Your signed Permission Form (see http://www.h2ba.com/donna/permission-form.doc)

- A 60-word bio

MIRRORS: Monologues From Women’s Lives
Box 115
527 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10016

Monologues postmarked before February 1 or after March 31, 2013, will not be considered.

Questions? Please email us: mirrormonologues@gmail.com

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Gi60 (Gone in 60 Seconds: The World's First International One Minute Play Festival)


web site


Gi60 (Gone in 60 Seconds: The World's First International One Minute Play Festival):
Now accepting submissions for 2013:
Deadline for submissions: Midnight, April 1, 2013

How To Apply:
Gi60 is open to everybody; all you need is an idea and an internet connection. Since its inception in 2003, the Gi60 festival has premiered hundreds of new pieces of work written by people of all ages and backgrounds from around the world. So If you have an idea or something to say, why not write a play?

The Rules:
• Plays must last no longer than 60 seconds
• All work must be totally original and the author's own work
• All submissions must be sent by email and must include your name, address and location before the title of your work. The title of the play should appear in the subject line of the email
• Individuals may submit as many one minute plays as they wish (one submission per email). HOWEVER, if you submit multiple entries, PLEASE SEND EACH PLAY IN A SEPARATE FILE WITH THE TITLE OF THE PLAY IN THE SUBJECT LINE.
• Entries from schools must include the name of the school and a teacher's contact details in addition to the name of the author
• All submissions must be emailed to: screammedia@yahoo.com.
Terms and conditions:
• Copyright remains with the author
• Plays will be made available for download on YouTube after the event
• Plays will only be performed as part of 'Gi60 (Gone in 60 Seconds' )
• Plays lasting longer than 60 seconds will not be considered
• The organisers reserve the right to choose the venue for performance (this means your play could be selected for performance in the UK or the USA)
• The organisers may use individual plays to promote the Gi60 festival for a period of one year after the festival
• All successful authors will be contacted prior to the event to confirm their acceptance as participants
• There is no submission fee or payment for selected plays
• The organisers reserve the right to cut scripts where necessary
Gi60 is nothing without the imagination, skills and enthusiasm of our writers and for this we thank you!!
- Performances for Gi60 2013 Live US Edition:  Friday, June 7 and Saturday June 8, 8:00 pm: New Workshop Theater at Brooklyn College
- Performance for Gi60 2013 Live UK Edition: Saturday, June 8, Viaduct Theatre: Dean Clough Mills, UK.
Watch the blog for news on live streaming for this year's event!!
- To view plays from last year and previous years, please visit the Gi60 Channel on YouTube, or click on the link through the blog site, http://www.gi60.blogspot.com/


Monday, March 18, 2013

Playwright’s Call to Activism - 10 minute plays wanted

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This is for playwrights in New York, Westchester and Rockland County only.

UPDATE: new deadline - March 20th.

You are invited to submit an original 10-minute play to a Playwriting Festival for May 9th and May 16th to be held at The Stony Point Conference Center, located in Stony Point New York.

This festival, “Playwright’s Call to Activism” will benefit the Community of Living Traditions, a multifaith  residency program that practices hospitality, engages faith and cultivates nonviolence and justice. This will be an opportunity for unproduced writer’s to have their work presented. The challenge of the Festival is the necessity for social action to heal the problems in our society.

Be Creative! Consider all forms of injustice.

Using your skills and imagination, write an original play, drama or comedy that will be presented as a staged reading. Our “Call to Activism” festival calls for plays that deal with some aspect of nonviolent social action in response to injustice in a community and /or society.

We are seeking plays written in any style that reveal fresh plot, interesting character(s), sufficient conflict and a running time of 10 minutes maximum.

Series A performs on Thursday May 9th and Series B performs Thursday May 16th at  8pm.

General Guidelines

  • Play submissions (by internet only) are due by Midnight March 20th at midnight. 
  • Up to 12 scripts will be chosen to be presented one of the two festival dates. 
  • Stony Point Productions offers rehearsal space at 17 Crickekttown Road, Stony Point, New York 10980.  Plays will be presented in the Stony Point Conference Center’s auditorium which seats 120 people. 
  • Playwrights will be responsible for finding their own directors and actors. Please don’t allow this to discourage you from submitting. (if there are issues finding directors and actors  please contact Marie-Elena Ortiz at dramaturgycentral@gmail.com)
  • This is a fundraiser to assist the Stony Point Conference Center’s multi-faith community dedicated to non-violence.  All participants are donating their time and talent. Our goal is to fill every seat in the house! The suggested donation to attend  (this is not a submission fee) is $10.00
Script Guidelines
  • Your play must adhere to the theme of injustice and nonviolent social action.
  • Write for a cast of 1-4 actors (the more diverse the better)
  • The play must be no longer than 10 minutes 

How to Submit 
Email your script to Marie-Elena Ortiz at dramaturgycentral@gmail.com

Write in the subject line: Injustice/your name

In the body of the email send your complete contact information and a one line summary of your play as well as your availability for series A May 9th at 8pm or Series B May 16h at 8pm.

You will be contacted regarding your script status in late March.

Play submissions (by internet only) are due by Midnight, Wednesday, March 20th.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Essay written in English on any aspect of drama or the theatre

University of Wyoming web site

THE 2013 AMY & ERIC BURGER ESSAYS ON THEATRE COMPETITION
College of Arts and Sciences, University of Wyoming
$2,500 PRIZE for the best essay written in English on any aspect of drama or the theatre.

Dear Colleagues,

A tremendous opportunity exists for a theatre writer to submit an essay on drama or theatre and collect a $2,500 prize as a reward for their literary talents.  Kind donors affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Wyoming have endowed the Amy and Eric Burger Competition and I hope you will send an essay and/or encourage your students or colleagues to submit an essay.
Here are the rules:

1)  The essay must be written in English on any aspect of drama or theatre;
2)  Deadline: Entries must be postmarked by March 12, 2013 and received by March 18, 2013;
3)  Only one submission per writer. Essays must be unpublished and between 1,800 and 7,500
words in length. Topics in film and television are excluded. The judge¹s decision is final.
Submissions:

1)   Send two copies of the essay; do not identify the author on the essay;
2)   Attach a cover letter with the title of the essay and the author¹s name, address, phone number, and email address;
3)    Mail first class with sufficient postage to:
National Amy & Eric Burger Essay Competition University of Wyoming
c/o Dr. Jim Volz, President,
Consultants for the Arts Theatre & Dance,
PO Box 6850 Fullerton, California 92834-6850
Please note that entries will not be returned. The winner will be notified by June 1, 2013. The prize will be presented as cash in the form of a check. This is a continuing competition, varying in form. The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Wyoming reserves the right to make no award or to cancel the competition at any time for any reason.

Sincerely,

Jim Volz
DR. JIM VOLZ President, Consultants for the Arts jvolz@fullerton.edu

The Third Annual Ohio State University at Newark New Play Contest

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Rules and Information:

1) The contest is open to anyone, anywhere; plays, however, must be written in English.

2) Plays must be completely unproduced and unpublished, up to and including the date of the contest deadline.

3) Please use the standard playwriting format for manuscripts.

4) Judging will be blind, so it is important for contestants to follow these directions EXACTLY.

  • First, please ensure that your name does not appear on ANY page of the actual script.
  • Second, please type your contact information on a sheet of paper, seal it in an envelope, and staple it to the last page or inside cover of your script.
  • Electronic submissions are not allowed.

5) Plays are to be full-length works; a collection of short plays is not an acceptable substitute.

6) There are no restrictions on cast size or subject matter.  However, please keep in mind that the winner will be produced by a one-man theater department.  In general, plays with small casts, unit sets, and younger characters stand a better chance of winning.

7) The official opening date for the contest is November 1, 2012. The absolute deadline for submissions TO BE RECEIVED is March 30, 2013; entries received after that date will be returned unread to entrants. Winners will be announced on or before September 1, 2013.

8) The first prize-winner will receive $500, and the first-prize play will be given a full production at the end of the spring semester in 2014. The playwright is encouraged and welcome to attend; regrettably, Ohio State Newark cannot defray expenses. The second prize-winner will receive $300, and the third prize-winner will receive $100.

9) In addition to the prize-winners, there will be an indeterminate number of honorable mentions, designated by a certificate (suitable for framing).

10) Winners will be notified by individual emails; unsuccessful candidates will receive a mass email.

11) All entries become the property of Ohio State Newark upon receipt, and all but the first-prize winner will be shredded.  However, if you would like your script to be passed on to the local community theater’s playreading committee for review, please so indicate on your contact sheet.

12) Please send all manuscripts to:

Dave Williams, Associate Professor
Ohio State Newark New Play Contest
192 LeFevre Hall
The Ohio State University at Newark
Newark, OH 43055

13) If you have questions, please contact me at williams.1343@osu.edu.

Unchained Theatre Festival

web site

Variations Theatre Group, Inc (VTG) is proud to announce its Unchained Theatre Festival as part of our core mission, namely, to provide an opportunity for artists to develop new, arresting work.

DETAILS
The festival will run for three weeks starting from May 18th, 2013 at our brand new Chain Theatre in Long Island City, NY. Each play will be given four showings, and  votes from a panel of judges and audience will decide which plays which will be shown at the final performance.

Awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Ensemble, and Best Play will be presented on Saturday, June 1st, 2013 at7pm.

You may submit up to two (2) plays/applications for the festival. Plays can be submitted in one of two categories: Short Plays (under 30 minutes) and Long Plays (30 minutes to 60 minutes). Submissions should be sent by email to submissions@variationstheatregroup.com. Please include a completed application form, a character breakdown of your play, and a copy of your piece. We will accept either PDF or word documents.

If your piece is chosen to participate in the festival there is a non-refundable production fee of $200.00 for a short play and $400.00 for a longer play, to be paid immediately upon acceptance.  This fee will defray some of the expenses for publicity, ticketing, theater management and space rental incurred by us.

Each production will receive two (2) complimentary tickets to the Awards Ceremony/Final Performance.  Each production will also receive an advance code to sell tickets with and a  percentage of those ticket sales will be given back to the production. There will be six (6) weeks between announcement of selection and performance but we urge all productions to be prepared upon acceptance.

All playwrights are responsible for producing their own individual plays. Variations Theatre Group will assist with finding actors, directors, and any technical assistants needed. Variations Theatre Group will provide a stage manager for the festival, a general light plot designed by a lighting designer, and discounted rehearsal space if needed.

All submissions must be received by 5pm on Friday, March 29th, 2013.

Click here for more information and to download an application and please email it after completion to submissions@variationstheatregroup.com "

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Fourth annual Gay Play Series (GPS)

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The Ringwald Theatre is sounding a call for new, original one-act plays to be performed at its fourth annual Gay Play Series (GPS).

The Detroit-area’s only GLBT short play festival is striving to provide early-career writers the opportunity to see their work produced, giving them what is oft-needed exposure.

Last year’s expanded festival expanded in scope and received 175 entries from around the world. From those plays submitted, 11 were produced and Kristian O’Hare’s "Fanny Packs & Hanky Codes" came out victorious after the audience vote.

Artistic Director Joe Bailey said, “It’s so gratifying to be prepping the GPS festival for the fourth year! This year’s festival is shaping up to be a lot of fun with some great things planned. And, keep your eyes peeled for an exciting announcement coming soon about the past years winning plays!”

The plays submitted should have a performance time of 30 minutes or less and deal directly with issues or characters that are identified as gay/lesbian/transgender, or contain a gay sensibility. From the initial submission pool, a final line up will be chosen by a panel of judges to be performed at The Ringwald Theatre in June, 2013.

From those performed, an audience poll will be conducted to select one script that will receive a full production at The Ringwald Theatre.

All submissions must be submitted electronically to: Submissions@TheRingwald.com

— The submitted script must be the script proposed for presentation, with no major alterations necessary.

— Only one entry per playwright will be accepted.

— Please provide an approximate running time and a one sentence synopsis in the body of the email.

— No previously submitted scripts will be accepted. 

— Neither fax nor paper submissions will be accepted.

— Submission materials will not be returned.

— The deadline for submissions is March 16.

— The final line-up will be announced in May.

The Ringwald opened their doors five years ago on May 11, 2007, with "Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy." Quickly, The Ringwald became a mainstay of Detroit’s theatre community. Past Productions include: "Southern Baptist Sissies," "Bug," "Mercury Fur," "RENT" and "Evil Dead: The Musical." The Ringwald was named 2009 and 2012 Best Theatrical Troupe by Real Detroit and Best Place to See Local Theatre in 2010, 2011 and 2012 by the readers of Metro Times. 

Piper Plays: Smart Plays for Young Actors seeks playwrights

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Now in our second year, this annual festival celebrates plays that showcase the authentic voices of children and young adults.

We’re now accepting submissions of one-act plays that explore the world of children. We’re interested in smart, quirky, tragic, exciting, funny, disturbing, and dynamic short plays that investigate the complicated lives of young people.  To serve this purpose, at least some of your characters should be school aged, falling between 11 and 20.

If selected, our festival is organized into 3 phases:

 Phase 1: Ten plays will be chosen by artistic director, John P. McEneny and Festival Producers Phillip Suracci and Marielle Duke to be presented on June 13, 14, 15 at BAX* ( Brooklyn Arts Exchange 421 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY)

Piper will recruit directors and actors. Simple settings are preferred.

Phase 2: Out of the ten plays presented, three plays will be then be chosen by a panel of artists selected by the Piper Board of Directors and will be presented on Wednesday, July 11th 2013 during the Piper Summer season at the Old Stone House* (Washington Park, Brooklyn, NY 11215).

All three plays will be published in the inaugural publication Piper Plays: Smart One
Acts for Young Actors.

Phase 3: At the performance on Wednesday, July 11th, the audience will vote on their favorite one act and the winner will receive $500.00 prize. Votes will be tallied by Kim Maier, executive director of The Old Stone House.

*Please consider both performing spaces when submitting your play. The BAX space is a small intimate black box space that seats 50 and the Old Stone House outdoor space is a 24 foot wide stage the sits on the courtyard of the Old Stone House and seats 350 +. Your play must be able to adapt to both spaces.

Plays may have been produced before but should be unpublished. Running time: 10 – 40 minutes in length. We are very interested in working with playwrights who want to be involved in the short rehearsal process and who will commit to attending one of the productions.

Playwrights must be in attendance on Wednesday July 11th in order to be eligible for the $500 cash prize. Plays with attached directors or actors will be considered – please make sure you inform the Literary Director, Mr. Suraci when you submit your play.

Piper requests an email submission and short plot summary sent to:
Philip@pipertheatre.org and Marielle@pipertheatre.org

Deadline: Friday March 29, 2013

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Altruistic Theatre Company ~ Bare Knuckle Theatre Festival VI


Altruistic’s signature late night one-act showcase is making its long-awaited return for a sixth round, and we want you in on this. Five plays on any theme will go head to head for a cash prize. Only one can come out the victor - and it could be you! There's only one way to find out - send in your best piece. Step up or shut up. Boom.

The Rules:
  • Submit your best 10-20 minute play. After 20 minutes we will fade to black.
  • Bring your own cast. We can supply a stage manager the night of.
  • “Bare-knuckle” plays require minimal sets (Tables and chairs provided), no major lighting or sound cues.
  • No submission fee, only paying attendees can vote.
  • Any theme or topic, no casting limitations.
  • Winner by audience ballot gets 50% of the profits, so bring fans.

Hosted by your well-intentioned friends at the Altruistic Theatre Company.

To Enter:

- To apply, contact us by email to submissions.altruistic@gmail.com.

Submit:
  • A character break-down and short synopsis of the work.
  • A full script.
  • Writer/Company Bio and website (If Applicable)
  • Producer contact information


Deadline is March 22nd
Participants will be notified by March 27th.
The show will be hosted April 26th at 10pm. 

Driftwood Players Festival of Shorts

web site

Submission Guidelines (Our guidelines have been revised).
  • Submitted short plays must be less than 15 minutes long
  • Please DO NOT include the cover page (author’s name) as part of the main pdf (send as a separate pdf or in the text of the email)
  • Plays must be centered on the theme Aftermath.
  • Please use no more than 5 characters in your play.
  • No X-rated scripts. We are a community theater. We simply cannot perform them for our audiences.
  • Author name and other author information MAY ONLY appear on the cover page and MAY NOT appear on any other pages of the play. (See below)
  • Submissions should be previously unproduced.
  • Only one submission per author will be accepted.
  • Pagination should begin on page 1 of the text. Please include name of your play on each page.
  • Please submit in pdf format by EMAIL.
Process and Other Information
8 finalists will be chosen by a panel of readers, who will do so without knowing who wrote the play. Therefore your name and other identifying information may only appear on the front page, which will be removed prior to distribution to the readers.Failure to comply will result in automatic disqualification.
Please be aware that selected plays will be staged with minimal sets, props, costumes, lights and sound. The 8 selected plays will be assigned a director (at random) who will cast actors and present the work as he/she sees fit.
The 8 finalists have the chance to compete for an audience “peoples’ choice” award as well as judges’ awards.
Accepting submissions - February 1, 2013
Submissions closed - March 15, 2013 @ Noon
Finalists will be announced - May 1, 2013
Submit your works by e-mail to:shortssubmissions@driftwoodplayers.com

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

PlayFest - The Harriett Lake Festival of New Plays 2013

web site

PlayFest (Fall, 2013) is seeking new full-length plays that speak to the human condition in our fascinating and complicated contemporary world. We are interested in plays exploring important, challenging, and crucial social issues that affect our lives today.

Topics can range from todays international headlines to tonight's interpersonal issues in the bedroom. Both comedies and dramas are welcome.

The PlayFest weekend of staged readings is a direct pipeline to our new Studio Series of fully rehearsed productions, for which we choose two new plays to stage in our Mandell Theater.

We prefer plays that require six actors or less, but will certainly make exceptions for exceptional work. One man or one woman shows are welcome. We want strong, dynamic, compelling stories told with an original voice and a potent theatricality.

In order to qualify for PlayFest a play must:
1. NOT have received more than two professional AEA productions
2. NOT have received a Broadway or Off-Broadway production
3. NOT have received Orlando production in current form
4. NOT be published for general distribution with the rights held by the Publisher

We will select seven new works to be presented as readings. Playwrights will receive a stipend, travel and housing expenses.  We will provide directors, actors, assistant directors, stage direction readers and stage managers.  In addition to possible consideration for our new Studio Series, some plays may go on to be fully produced at the University of Central Florida as part of our partnership with UCF.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES – PLEASE FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES!

At this time we are not looking for full scripts.  We are asking for a simpler initial submission:

Submissions must include:
  •  Cover letter 
  •  Bio/résumé 
  •  A one-page synopsis 
  •  Ten pages of dialogue from the play (any ten pages)
  •  A character breakdown (with potential doubling) 
  •  Your mailing address, email address and direct phone number on the cover letter 
Please do not send full scripts until requested to do so.

Mail submissions via regular mail to:
Mark Routhier, Director of New Play Development
PlayFest - The Harriett Lake Festival of New Plays
Orlando Shakespeare Theater
812 East Rollins St.  Suite 100
Orlando, FL 32803

Email submissions will not be accepted.

Initial submission deadline for PlayFest 2013 is March 15, 2013.  

If you wish to be notified of receipt of your submission, please include a SAS POSTCARD with the name of your play written on it.  Otherwise you will only hear from us if we would like to see a full script.

Thank you!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Playwright wanted


Seeking an experienced, produced writer to assist in rewriting the script and preparing it for consideration by production companies. 

Please note - this is not the typical urban, faith-based musical. It appeals to a very broad audience and the intended goal is regional theater and eventual production on Broadway. I am seeking someone who has actually written and been a part of a completed, full scale stage production.

The script is in need of a detailed rewrite in order to get it to mainstream Broadway standards, enhance the overall work, and clarify the storyline. This is a paid position and the salary will be negotiable depending upon your experience and expertise. A few notes that may help you to understand the nature of the project and its current state:
  • Full length two-act musical. Faith-based theme. Familiarity with gospel-based work would help.
  • Music for the play is pre-existing. The music publisher has shown keen interest and music rights are secured.
  • The music is internationally known and the associated group has won several awards.
  • The current version of the script is over 200 pages. 
  • The script is in need of a trained and skilled eye to spot the problems and correct them. 
  • There are serious dialogue and character development issues that must be addressed. 
  • Time frame for completion is 6-9 months.

Please contact Greg Cooper at iynstyne@aol.com

Sunday, March 10, 2013

The 3rd Annual MRT New Play Competition

web site

McKinney Repertory Theatre is pleased to announce The 3rd Annual MRT New Play Competition. MRT is committed to providing quality entertainment for the community through cultural education and inspiration. We will begin our 11th season in Fall of 2013 and would like to encourage new playwrights to share their inspirations and hard work with us. MRT offers the competition winner the chance to see the playwright’s work fully realized on stage, and we hope that the winning play will go on to numerous productions elsewhere as well.

Prize:

An MRT committee will choose one play as the Winner to fully produce sometime in our 2013-2014 Season. A second play will be chosen as Runner-Up and that play will receive a staged reading in the 2013-2014 Season. The Winner and Runner Up will be announced on or before July 31st, 2013.

Guidelines:
  1. Submission must be emailed in PDF format, no later than March 10, 2013. Submissions will no longer be accepted by U.S. Mail.
  2. Submissions must be accompanied by a completed and signed and legible entry form.  (form attached)
  3. Only original, full length, unpublished scripts will be accepted.
  4. Plays must not have been previously produced nor have won awards (although previous readings are acceptable).
  5. Adaptations, translations, musicals and children’s plays will not be accepted.
  6. Only one submission per playwright will be accepted. In the case of multiple submissions, only the play determined by the committee to be the first submission will be considered.
  7. Casts of eight or fewer are preferred. Adult casts are preferred. Please keep in mind that MRT is a family oriented theater company.

Submission Procedure:

Electronic Submissions will only be accepted.  Email entries will be accepted only in PDF format, and must include your completed and Legible Entry Form. Send your email entry to info@mckinneyrep.org with a subject line of “3rd Annual MRT New Play Competition” and your full name. All submissions must be accompanied by a completed, signed and legible entry form.

PLEASE NOTE:

McKinney Repertory Theatre will have exclusive rights to produce the Winner, and a staged reading of the Runner-Up, royalty free during the 2013-2014 Season and to use the names of winning plays, readings and playwrights in all MRT publicity and promotions. MRT will also have the right to make copies of the plays for production and reading use. MRT reserves the right to accept or reject any submitted play. MRT also reserves the right to declare no winner. The decision of the committee is final. MRT will not provide transportation or housing for the Winner or Runner-Up during production, but will welcome your input in the process.

ENTRY FORM PDF
ENTRY FORM WORD

Saturday, March 9, 2013

The Turner Cassity Literary Festival takes the no-fee path

NYCPlaywrights received this lovely email today about our no-fee policy from a planning committee member of the Cultural Arts Council of Douglas County/Douglasville's Turner Cassity Literary Festival.
I took your policy to our committee and all agreed that it would be best to eliminate the fee in order to preserve the good quality of submissions that we have gotten in the past and to foster high-quality writing without undue burdens on playwrights...
As a playwright myself I am most happy that you maintain this policy.
Thank you,
Alice Shapiro
(Alice's web site is  www.upstairsamusical.org )
NYCPlaywrights salutes the Turner Cassity Literary Festival committee for their decision. And thanks to Alice Shapiro for sharing her perspective as a playwright. We love to hear from playwrights if we've done something that's been helpful to them. 

Friday, March 8, 2013

MRTʼs SPRING ONE ACT PLAY COMPETITION

web site


Seeking fully produced one act plays (cast, directed and ready to perform)
7 minutes to 30 minutes in length for
MRTʼs SPRING ONE ACT PLAY COMPETITION May 8 - May 31, 2013
at Manhattan Repertory Theatre, 303 W.42nd St. NYC.

FIRST PRIZE for BEST PLAY: $1000

To submit your one act play production please email:
The complete play, a synopsis of the play, the running time of the play, the set and lighting requirements, the playʼs production history (if it has been produced before and where) and a creative team leader contact email address to:

manhattanrep@yahoo.com

by Monday March 18, 2013 at Midnight.

Please put “SPRING One Act Competition” in the subject heading. Applicants will be contacted by Thurs. March. 21 as to their acceptance.

There is no submission fee.  NON-EQUITY ONLY.

Each play will be given a MINIMUM of FOUR performances, more if the play moves on to the semi-finals and finals. Manhattan Rep will supply a Sound/Light Technician to run your show.
Once accepted, there will be a $150.00 participation fee.

There will be NO additional security fees or Manhattan Repertory Theatre based production fees.

For more information and competition guidelines, please log on to: www.manhattanrep.com

The Puzzle: Marble’s Festival of New Work

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Monday, June 24th – Saturday, June 29th 2013

An eclectic, yet interlocking, mosaic of creative people and expression serving and entertaining the Marble Community and New York City. Brian Hampton (Director of ARTS Ministry at Marble), Producer Marya Spring Cordes, Artistic Director
The Puzzle is in its 3rd year!

We are looking for plays, musicals, and the spoken word that illuminate the human condition staying within Marble Collegiate Church’s positive, inclusive, and welcoming nature.

If you would like to submit a piece of creative work, please complete this application - printed clearly or typed.  Send with a cover letter and script of proposed work/project.  Please include a CD of music if submitting a musical.  Any other support material is encouraged but not required.

Please send to:

The Puzzle: Marble’s Festival of New Work
ARTS at Marble Collegiate Church
One West 29th Street
New York, NY  10001

Submissions must be postmarked by Monday, March 11, 2013.

Submissions containing adult language are not discouraged. However, due to the nature of the festival, you may be asked to provide alternate language for the public reading.

If not selected, and you would like your script returned, please include a SASE (Self
Addressed Stamped Envelope).

Rehearsals will be held during the month of June leading into the festival week of June 24-29.

Each piece will have one performance.

There is no participation fee for this festival.
Thank you for submitting for The Puzzle!

Moonlit Wings Productions seeks plays or musicals

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Moonlit Wings Productions (MWP), celebrated theatre in the National Capital Area seeks new theatre-for-youth plays & musicals for the 2013 Summer Season.

MWP workshops and mounts a total of 8 new theatre-for-youth shows every summer. Each show rehearses for 2 weeks with a professional director, choreographer, & tech director/stage manager and concludes with a public performance at the end of each session. Playwrights are given a thorough production review from the creative team and the chance to debut their work. This is our 6th year in the DC-VA-MD area and our productions consist of two teams "Camp Drama" -- our in-house stage -- and "Broadway Biz" -- our touring group. More at www.moonlitwings.org.

SUBMISSION CRITERIA:
  • Plays or Musicals (straight plays are okay, we do pride ourselves on a well-rounded theatre experience so we will ask to work music into your play)
  • Runtime: 20-40 minutes (Hour long works may be submitted but we will ask for permission to make necessary cuts)
  • LARGE cast, 15 minimum - 35 maximum, ensemble shows preferred, female driven or gender neutral casts encouraged
  • Material suitable for talented performers ages 7-15
Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, but sooner is better than later, ideally by the end of March.

Our theme this year is: "All the worlds a stage...Season 6: Global Spotlight" and we are especially seeking shows with any international or worldly influence or material.

***Please email the following to info@moonlitwings.org with "2013 Show Submission - TITLE HERE" as the header:


  • Your Name
  • Phone Number
  • Are you part of an organization or group? If so, which one?
  • Has this work been produced before?
  • A VERY brief synopsis of the show (3-5 sentences)
  • Does your entry relate to our 2013 season 6 "Global Spotlight" theme (suggested but open to all submissions)? If "Yes", then how so? 
  • Cast size
  • Runtime

We will reply to selected playwrights by or before May 2013. Our past collaborations have been with authors having work published by NYC's Beat By Beat Press, Playscripts Inc, and several independent literary organizations. Please forward all questions to info@moonlitwings.org. No phone calls, please.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Animal Rights Press Seeks Full-Length Plays for Publication

Ashland Creek Press is a small publisher devoted largely to environmental and animal rights-themed literature. We are looking to publish dramatic works that explore the human/animal relationship and/or works with strong vegan themes. Prior production or staging is not required and previously published works are acceptable. However, the author must retain all rights to the work.


To learn more about us and submit online, please visit:
http://www.ashlandcreekpress.com/submissions.html

Newman University presents: CALL FOR FULL LENGTH PLAYS FOR COLLEGE PRODUCTION

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Newman University is seeking new full length plays.  The selected play will be performed as a part of our 2013-2014 Season.

We are looking for new, unpublished works that we can mount for a premiere.

Preferable cast size between 4 and 10.

Submission deadline:  March 14, 2013.  

Please send with cover letter and SASE if you need the hard copy returned.

Mark Mannette
Director of Theatre
Newman University
3100 McCormick
Wichita, KS  67213

Email enquiries to mannettem@newmanu.edu.

Monday, March 4, 2013

NYCPlaywrights February 2013 Play of the Month video: TUMMY BUBBLES by Jennifer Lane



Jennifer Lane on the origins of her play:
TUMMY BUBBLES was originally written for the terraNOVA Collective's Groundbreakers Playwriting Group as part of their FIZZ Plays event in 2012. All of the members of the writing group were given the word "fizz" as inspiration, and my first thought when I heard that word was "pop rocks and soda!" and my play developed around that initial impulse. It was so much fun to see TUMMY BUBBLES presented alongside five other plays which began with the same piece of inspiration, but which developed into such dramatically different pieces, in terms of theme and style.

More information about the playwrights and cast here.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

THE INKWELL'S 2013 OPEN CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

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SUBMIT YOUR PLAY IN PROGRESS TO THE INKWELL!

Now through March 17th

For a period of four weeks every 12 to 18 months, The Inkwell asks playwrights from across the country to submit plays to be considered for sustained, collaborative development processes that can include:
  • intensive dramaturgical support;
  • opportunities to participate in master classes, webinars, and workshops;
  • mentoring and networking opportunities with other playwrights and playmakers;
  • intensive rehearsals with actors, directors, and dramaturgs leading to staged readings; and,
  • input from designers on how set, costume, sound, and other stage elements serve a play.

We will be choosing between 25 and 30 plays in progress for our unique initial development experience, a FIRST CONTACT showcase reading. We will then select a handful of playwrights for 18-month sustained, developmental collaborations to support these playwrights' artistic and professional growth.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INKWELL WILL ONLY ACCEPT PLAYS THAT MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

  • Plays that are full-length. We will not consider any one-act plays.
  • Plays that have not received a full production. A full production includes any public event centering on the script that involved a director, actors, and design elements.  The Inkwell considers staged readings and academic productions exceptions to this rule.
  • Plays that are submitted through within the submission period of February 22nd through March 17th
  • Plays that are formatted as Microsoft Word or PDF files.

REMEMBER, WE ONLY ACCEPT SUBMISSIONS ONLINE THROUGH THE INKWELL'S WEBSITE. We will not accept any submissions sent to us by mail or directly to the submissions email address.

To learn all about the play submission process, and to submit your play, please visit THE INKWELL'S WEBSITE. And if you have questions, email us at submissions@inkwelltheatre.org. We look forward to reading your plays.

THE INKWELL is Washington, DC's resource for new play development for playwrights...for playmakers...for playgoers.      

Silver Spring Stage presents: ONE-ACT AND 10-MINUTE SCRIPTS

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Silver Spring Stage is seeking original one-act scripts for its upcoming annual One-Act Festival.

The Festival will run for three weekends, from August 8 through August 25, 2013. One weekend will be devoted to plays by local playwrights (MD, DC, VA).

The other two weekends are open to all playwrights. 

Silver Spring Stage will award Playwrights’ Prizes at the conclusion of the Festival.  Prizes will be $150 for Best One-Act Play and $100 for One-Act Runner-Up.  All plays presented as part of the Festival will be eligible for prizes.

Submission requirements:
  • All submissions must be emailed in Word or .pdf format to: oneacts2013.ssstage@gmail.com.  Hard copies will not be accepted and will not be returned.
  • Please include the author’s name and contact information (including address) in the body of the email.
  • All mentions of the author’s name or contact information must be removed from the script.
  • All scripts must be submitted in standard professional play format.
  • There is no minimum length, but plays may not exceed 50 pages.
  • Scripts must be original and unpublished, but may have been previously performed.
  • Playwrights may submit no more than two scripts.
  • Plays that have previously been submitted to Silver Spring Stage may not be submitted again.
  • All submissions must be received by March 15, 2013.

Plays will be selected based on artistic merit, technical and casting requirements, adherence to submission rules, length, and originality.  Selected playwrights will be notified by May 1, 2013.

Questions?  Email us at oneacts2013.ssstage@gmail.com

SEEKING PLAY PRODUCTIONS for Manhattan Rep’s 1st Annual Play Party

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Seeking NEW never-produced-before short play productions (cast, directed and ready for the stage) 40 minutes to 60 minutes for Manhattan Rep’s 1st ANNUAL PLAY PARTY at Manhattan Repertory Theatre, 303 W. 42nd St (at 8th Ave.) April 10 - April 21, 2013

To submit your play production please email: The complete play, a synopsis of the play, the running time of the play, the set and lighting requirements, and a creative team leader contact email address to:
manhattanrep@yahoo.com 

by Wednesday March 6, 2013.

Please put "PLAY PARTY SUBMISSION" in the subject heading. Applicants will be contacted by Wednesday March 13, 2013 (if not sooner) as to their acceptance.

Accepted plays will be considered on a first - come first served basis. (The earlier you submit, the better your chances of being accepted.)

Each play will be given a MINIMUM of THREE performances, and receive 5.5 hours of rehearsal time in the theatre you will be performing in, (2 hours straight rehearsal, 2 hours for tech and 1.5 hours for dress rehearsal) which will be scheduled for you on the weekends between 8 am and 11 pm or on a week night between 5 pm and 11 pm.

NO PAY. NON-EQUITY ONLY.

Once accepted there will be a $100 non-refundable participation fee to insure your participation in the festival. There will be NO additional Security fees or deposits, audience minimum or Manhattan Repertory Theatre based production fees.
For more information and complete Play Party guidelines, log on to: http://manhattanrep.com/

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Breaking the mould / Arab women in the Arab spring

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Swivel Theatre Company is seeking ambitious writers to submit one-act plays about Arab Women in the Arab Spring to be showcased during a 3 week run in June 2013 at the White Bear Theatre, London.

SUMMARY OF THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR WRITERS
Theme of the Script: Arab Women in the Arab Spring.
Length of the Script: 30 A4 pages
Deadline to submit your script: 4th March 2013
Benefits to you: This is an unpaid opportunity. However, the scripts selected to be performed in The White Bear Theatre will be promoted along with the writer’s name in all our promotional material and website.
To participate: Just send us an email to tell us you are interested in submitting a script to swiveltheatre@live.co.uk.

INTRODUCTION
The rich and the poor. The rebels and the regime. The fighters and the bystanders. Women across the Arab world have had a myriad of experiences amid revolution. We want these stories to be told, and we can’t do it without great writers!

These stories can be told through comedy or drama, satire or gritty realism. The key is that it’s a woman’s story, and the rest is up to you.

We know this is a subject that lots of people are interested in but don’t know much about…. but fear not. The team at Swivel can help you at every step of the process, whether it is coming up with the initial idea or finding research materials.

Like so many good things, there are guidelines. We want scripts that are less than 30 pages, and they all need to be emailed to us by 4th March 2013 to swiveltheatre@live.co.uk. Earlier entries are welcome!

Drop us an email if you are interested in writing a script- we will add you to our writers mailing list, which means you will get updates and advice straight to your inbox. If you are stuck or have any queries, we are here to answer any questions and provide any help or support you need along the way.

Entry is entirely free. This is an unpaid opportunity.

We look forward to hearing from you, and good luck

GUIDELINES
Please read these carefully

Script Content

  1. Scripts should be no less than 20 and no more than 30 A4 pages, in Times New Roman font, size 12.
  2. Scripts should have no more than 5 characters.
  3. Characters should be of playing age between 16 and 40 years old.
  4. Characters can be both male and female, from the Arab world and beyond.
  5. Writers are encouraged to keep set and technical direction to a minimum, plays must be feasible for performance on a limited budget.

Deadlines and process

  1. Scripts must be submitted by 5.00pm on 4th March 2013, but we will accept scripts earlier on a rolling basis
  2. Writers should include a 100 word summary of the plot, as well as their CV within the email
  3. Scripts must be submitted in Word or PDF format.  Scripts must be emailed to swiveltheatre@live.co.uk.
  4. Writers can submit more than one script, up to a maximum of 5.
  5. We will shortlist a selection of scripts, and shortlisted writers will be invited to interview and meet with the company.


WHY WORK WITH US?
At Swivel, we work very hard to showcase creative professionals that work with us. As a company we have:

Sold out our debut show to break box office records, beating the theatre’s 20 year box office history in ticket sales
Received stellar reviews for our work across the board
Developed a reputation for being a truly professional company, that deals with all collaborators with integrity and mutual co-operation
Promoted an open-book policy: our accounts are never hidden, and we operate a profit share system in equal measure with creatives that work with us. Wherever there is profit, it is ALWAYS shared
Made ourselves the most open and inclusive company in London: we always support emerging talent with enthusiasm and passion.

For Writers:
We will ensure that your work is promoted in every way possible. As a minimum, successful writers will receive:

1) complimentary seats for industry professionals

2) the option to workshop texts with the help of the Swivel team and a group of actors

3) promotion of their script in all marketing materials, including :
a) the website (which receives average over 5000 hits per month during runs)
b) social media, including the facebook pages and twitter
c) the programme, in which each writer will have a biography and photo, as well as any desired links
d) our newsletter,

On all of which we can include any links to our own marketing resources, incluidng your websites or social media pages.

4) access to our mailing list for future promotion of work

5) full support from the company at every stage of the process, from redrafting through to support in accessing industry professionals once the show is up and running.

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