UMASS seeks full-length scripts for New Play Lab

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1. WHAT IS THE UMASS NEW PLAY LAB?
Our mission is to develop two exceptional new plays per year in cooperation with visionary playwrights. The Play Lab is, in essence, a writer's playground: a stimulating and constructive artistic environment founded on three guiding principles of engagement, collaboration, and discovery. The UMass Amherst Department of Theater's commitment to new play development is internationally recognized, from our groundbreaking work with New WORLD Theater to our recent collaborations with artists like Will Power, Marcus Gardley, and Constance Congdon. We approach new play development with rigor, focus, and sensitivity—and we're seeking playwrights who are as passionate about this process as we are.

2. HOW IS THE UMASS NEW PLAY LAB STRUCTURED?
The Play Lab is a UMass Department of Theater mainstage production, running from March 24 – April 5, 2014. Two playwrights will be chosen for concurrent 10-day residencies during this period. These residencies are structured around a series of public staged readings directed and dramaturged by UMass graduate students and performed by undergraduate actors. The 10-day workshop term allows time for exploration in rehearsal and the generation of new material.

3. DOES THE UMASS NEW PLAY LAB PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT?
Yes. We offer a $750 honorarium per playwright. Accommodations will be provided. Playwrights are responsible for their own travel arrangements and meals.

4. WHAT KINDS OF PLAYS CAN I SUBMIT?
Plays must be full-length. Musicals are not accepted. Submissions may have had a previous reading, workshop, or production; as a rule, though, the Play Lab exists to develop relatively new work, so unproduced material will be given priority in our selection.

5. HOW DO I SUBMIT MY PLAY(S)?
Submit manuscripts to newplaylab@theater.umass.edu. All documents must be submitted in .pdf format; plays formatted otherwise will be disqualified. Please include a concise playwright's bio and development history of your play in the body of the e-mail.

6. WHAT IS THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE?
The deadline is Monday, July 1st.