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Sunday, January 18, 2015

Send your scripts to Route 66

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CALLING ALL PLAYWRIGHTS! Route 66 Theatre Company is now accepting submissions for its first new play development workshop.

Cultivating new plays and new playwrights has always been an integral part of our artistic process at Route 66 Theatre Company. Our last three productions have been world premieres: A Twist of Water, Cicada, and The Downpour. Now we’re taking our commitment to new work even further by awarding one playwright with an 8-day developmental workshop of their play. This workshop will be focused on the playwright and what they need to move their script toward being production-ready. A workshop curator, two dramaturg mentors, and a panel of special guest directors, artistic directors, and literary managers will provide support, criticism, ideas, and suggestions. If you’re a playwright looking for an experience that will develop your draft into the play you envision, read on!

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 20th, 2015

SUBMISSION MATERIALS: 1) full draft of your play, 2) production history if applicable, 3) character breakdown, 4) play synopsis, no longer than 1-page, 5) playwright bio and/or resume.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: Plays submitted should be full-length drafts that speak to Route 66’s mission. All submission materials must be submitted electronically in pdf or MS Word form and emailed tosubmissions@route66theatre.org. (Eligible playwrights should reside in the continental U.S.)

FINALISTS: A few finalists may be asked for a Skype or in-person interview the week of February 3rd, 2015.

WINNING PLAY ANNOUNCED: February 9th, 2015

WORKSHOP DATES: March 9th through March 16th, 2015. Playwright’s must be completely free during the dates of the workshop to attend rehearsals, meetings, and to work on re-writes.

THE WINNING PLAYWRIGHT WILL RECEIVE:

A wholly process-oriented, writer-focused, week-long experience that includes

o Travel, housing (home stay), and a $300 stipend

o Two dramaturg mentors

o A cast of professional actors and Limoncelli as director

o Rehearsal space

o Feedback from dramaturg mentors, Limoncelli, and Tovar

o Time to write between readings and rehearsals so the project can move forward several steps during the workshop

o A reading for an audience and a panel of special guest directors, artistic directors, and literary managers

ROUTE 66 WILL RECEIVE:

The right of first refusal to produce the winning play within a specific time period.

ROUTE 66 TEAM:

Playwright/Director Frances Limoncelli, workshop curator, Artistic Director Stef Tovar, producer.

ROUTE 66 MISSION:

Route 66 Theatre Company introduces, develops, produces, and exports new work for the stage. The road begins with our new play development process and reaches west, where our World and Chicago Premiere shows are given an advocate for further regional productions along the road less traveled from Chicago to Los Angeles.

A MESSAGE TO THE PLAYWRIGHT:

Sometimes a playwright can only get so far working alone. They know their draft has possibilities, but they crave professional actors to read it out loud, brainy dramatists to bounce ideas off of, and experienced directors, writers, and artistic directors to discuss it with. And TIME! They crave the TIME to digest and incorporate the results of those experiences into their play.

In our opinion, too many developmental workshops focus on the culminating performance instead of the development of the work: energy is spent on nabbing a “name” to read the lead role or time is spent staging music stand choreography. This is usually a well-intentioned attempt to give the play a favorable showing for the invited industry members in the audience. That can be of great help for a polished play that’s ready for a backer’s audition, showcase, or premiere…but it’s not so developmental.

The Route 66 Developmental Workshop will be focused on supporting the writing process. You’ll be given resources, guidance, and freedom to experiment. Writing time is incorporated into the schedule so that you can try new ideas and incorporate feedback that strikes a chord with you. It’s our goal to give you everything you need so you can leave with a draft that is several steps further along than the one you came in with.

In our efforts to provide support, we will be careful not to coddle. We believe most artists are excited by a productive, forthright process. We find that even tough feedback, given respectfully and constructively, is usually welcome to the artist who stands to benefit from it. We are also committed to the idea that our support not be misconstrued as directive. The mentor team will provide expert advice from several different points of view, but the creative decisions are the playwright’s alone.

If you’re passionate in your artistry, idealistic in your vision, excited by collaboration, open to feedback, and energetically in pursuit of an experience designed to help your play evolve…then come play with us.

Frances Limoncelli, Workshop Curator
Stef Tovar, Producer, Artistic Director

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