We are pleased to announce the new ATHE Award for Excellence in Playwriting. Submissions for the award will be accepted through December 1, 2014 (or until 150 plays have been received). The award honors a new play marked by sophisticated and nuanced storytelling, with the potential to make a major artistic impact on contemporary theatre.
Plays must have been written during the two years preceding the upcoming conference (August 2015) by playwrights engaged with an institution of higher education (as a student, faculty member, artist-in-residence, guest artist, etc.) during that time period. Only full-length plays may be nominated for this award. Self-nominations and nominations from ATHE members are permitted. Only one play may be submitted per playwright in any given year. The plays can be produced or unproduced, but must be unpublished.
Click on this link to be taken to the submission page on our website where you may also upload your play. No submission fees are required.
The winning playwright is expected to attend the conference beginning July 30, 2015 and participate in a development workshop and staged reading of the play. The playwright will receive conference registration, three nights in the conference hotel, $600 towards travel expenses (reimbursement). Additionally, the winner will receive a plaque at the annual ATHE Awards Celebration and attend a reception.
Submission Guidelines
Electronic submissions are required. Word, PDF, and Rich Text formats only.
Samuel French script formatting required.
Although we do permit the submission of musicals, the limitations of staff and resources will make it difficult for us to produce such material.
Screenplays are not accepted.
Your play must not include material that you do not have permission to use.
Your play must not be previously published, but may have been previously produced.
Do not submit an incomplete, unfinished or rough draft of your play. Submit the entire completed play.
Samuel French script formatting required.
Although we do permit the submission of musicals, the limitations of staff and resources will make it difficult for us to produce such material.
Screenplays are not accepted.
Your play must not include material that you do not have permission to use.
Your play must not be previously published, but may have been previously produced.
Do not submit an incomplete, unfinished or rough draft of your play. Submit the entire completed play.
The ATHE Award for Excellence in Playwriting subcommittee has no problem with you submitting your play to other competitions simultaneously.
Plays must be full-length. The rule of thumb is that plays under an hour are not full length.
The screening for the award will be done by blind reading. Please remove all playwright identification from the script including name, mailing address and telephone/fax/e-mail.