Jeremy O. Harris and The Bushwick Starr provide financial relief for playwrights

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Jeremy O. Harris and The Bushwick Starr are partnering to provide financial relief to playwrights during this period of isolation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

APPLY HERE

This grant will distribute 152 unrestricted cash awards of $500 each directly to US-based playwrights, of any employment and/or immigration status. To us, a practicing playwright is a person who generates live performance in a theatrical setting through the creation of text and action. Playwrights in need at any stage of their practice or career are encouraged to apply. Grantees will be chosen through a random lottery after submissions have closed.

TO APPLY: Playwrights are asked to submit a piece of writing to demonstrate eligibility for this grant, which is designated for playwrights. Shorter plays and texts are acceptable as long it constitutes and translates into an evening of performance. We ask for page numbers denoting an excerpt that you would like us to read. Although the grant process is not merit-based we are always interested in familiarizing ourselves with as many artists as possible, and will attempt to look at all writing that is submitted during summer 2020.

Awards will be granted by random lottery. Application will open on Friday, May 29 2020 at 3pm Eastern time and remain open until we receive 1500 submissions. We will then randomly select 152 recipients from the pool of 1500 applicants (10% of the applicant pool). Submissions will be viewed and administered by The Bushwick Starr curatorial staff to confirm eligibility.

Grants will be issued in cash by electronic fund transfer or check, we aim to make payments no later than Monday, June 15 2020.

You do not need to demonstrate need, skill, or merit to be eligible for funding. However, we hope you will weigh your level of need when considering whether to apply. If your experience of need is not urgent or acute, please consider stepping back and letting those who could most benefit from our limited resources access them first. If you know someone who is eligible and would benefit, please consider inviting them to apply.

If you have further questions, please refer to the FAQs. All other questions or concerns from grantseekers may be directed to: grants@thebushwickstarr.org

The Coming Out Play Festival 2020

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Deadline: May 31, 2020

St. Louis MO

SUBMISSION FORM


The Q Collective is seeking submissions for its upcoming original short play festival THE COMING OUT PLAY FESTIVAL.

Plays for THE COMING OUT PLAY FESTIVAL may be submitted via Google form only from March 15 through May 31, 2020, with festival play selection completed by August 1, 2020. Playwrights selected will be notified by August 1.

Plays submitted should be based on a fairy tale, myth, legend, or classic literature. Please make sure works chosen are in the public domain. The playwright may additionally choose to pair a recent headline (two-years-old or less) with their selection.

Performance Dates:

Performances of THE COMING OUT PLAY FESTIVAL will take place Oct. 15-25, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Saturday through Sunday at 4:00 PM. All performances will be held at The Chapel.

Playwrights will be invited to the first read through of their play and a performance and are encouraged to invite friends as well as share any interviews and/or publicity materials via their social channels.

Compensation:

Selected playwrights will receive a $50 stipend for their work and two tickets to a performance of their choice. Playwrights may attend any rehearsals but are asked to please arrange ahead of time with the director of their piece. The producer or director may contact the playwright for purposes of clarification, publicity, and other artistic, technical or festival marketing and promotion needs.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

• Scripts must be typewritten using Samuel French guidelines (http://www.playwrightslocal.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Samuel-French-Formatting-Guide.pdf).
• Scripts must not exceed fifteen minutes in length. We will NOT accept plays with longer run times. Please time your plays prior to submission. A general page estimate for a 15-minute play includes approximately 14-20 pages, although this is clearly not an exact science.
• Due to the limitations of our host venue’s theater space (proscenium with apron; stage proper is 12’x28′ and apron is 5’x22′), please limit your script to 1-6 actors. Roles may be doubled within our acting pool.
• Please keep prop and set demands to an absolute minimum.
• A fundamental foundational principle of The Q Collective is to be open and welcoming to all gender identities, races, ethnicities, sexualities, ages, abilities, etc. Our play festivals reflect these values and we encourage writers to embrace them.
• Scripts shall be submitted in PDF format. Submitted scripts should bear only the title of the play. They shall NOT include a synopsis, author’s note, nor the name, address or other author-identifying information.
• Playwrights may submit multiple works; however, no more than two (2) plays per playwright will be produced in the festivals.
• Previously produced but unpublished works and well-developed works in progress are welcome; plays previously produced by The Q Collective are not eligible.

To submit a play, please fill out this form and upload your blind copy here: https://forms.gle/8RKsysMqCjrn6J4b8.

The PEN/Heim Translation Fund

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Deadline: June 1 2020 11:59 PM EST

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

The PEN/Heim Translation Fund was established in the summer of 2003 by a gift from Priscilla and Michael Henry Heim in response to the low number of literary translations currently appearing in English. Its purpose is to promote the publication and reception of translated world literature in English.

Deadline: Submissions will be accepted from April 1, 2020 through June 1, 2020.

Who is eligible:

• The PEN/Heim Translation Fund provides grants to support the translation of book-length works of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or drama that have not previously appeared in English in print or have appeared only in an outdated or otherwise flawed translation.
• Works should be translations-in-progress, as the grant aims to provide support for completion.
• There are no restrictions on the nationality or citizenship of the translator, but the works must be translated into English.
• The Fund seeks to encourage translators to undertake projects they might not otherwise have had the means to attempt.
• Anthologies with multiple translators, works of literary criticism, and scholarly or technical texts do not qualify.
• Translators who have previously been awarded grants by the Fund are ineligible to reapply for three years after the year in which they receive a grant. 
• Please note that projects that have been previously submitted and have not received a grant are unlikely to be reconsidered in a subsequent year. 
• Projects may have up to two translators. 
• Translators may only submit one project per year.

How to apply:

Translators must complete the below applications form by 11:59 PM (EST) June 1, 2020. The below application will require the following materials. Please use a standard 12pt font with 1 inch margins.

1. The application form, with all items completed:
A 1-2 page, single-spaced statement outlining the work and describing its importance.
A biography and bibliography of the author, including information on translations of his or her work into other languages.
A CV of the translator, no longer than 3 pages.
If the book is not in the public domain and the project is not yet under contract, please include a photocopy of the copyright notice on the original (the copyright notice is a line including the character ©, a date, and the name of the copyright holder, which appears as part of the front matter in every book), and a letter from the copyright holder stating that English-language rights to the book are available. A letter or copy of an email from the copyright holder is sufficient.
If the translation is currently under contract with a publisher, please submit a copy of the contract.


2. An 8–10 page, single-spaced sample of the translation. For prose, this should be within the range of 3,000-5,000 words. For poetry, please include 1-2 poems per page, within the 8–10 page range.

3. The same passage in the original language (and, if the work has been previously translated, the same passage in the earlier version).


Please be mindful of the requirements for 12pt font and 1 inch margins. The judges reserve the right to withdraw from consideration any submissions that go over these requirements.


Contact awards@pen.org with any questions.

Feels Blind Literary seeks work by women

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Deadline: June 1, 2020

Feels Blind Literary welcomes submissions of short fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, plays, and art from new and emerging writers and artists who identify as women.

Submissions for Issue #5 are open until June 1, 2020 and should be sent to feelsblindliterary@gmail.com. Please put in the subject line the category to which you are submitting and include a short bio written in the third person. Please be certain your name does not appear anywhere on your submission document, however.

While we are adamant about not charging a submission fee, as we feel this creates a barrier in terms of who can submit and how often, we encourage submitters to donate what they can using the donate tab. We hope to work toward being able to pay our contributors.

Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but immediately withdraw you work if it is accepted elsewhere.

Submissions must be previously unpublished, original works.

We will do our best to respond to each submission within 60 days. If 60 days has passed, please send us an inquiry at feelsblindliterary@gmail.com. We will try our best to respond much sooner.

Short Fiction: Send one story up to 7000 words.
Flash Fiction: Send one story up to 1000 words.
Creative Non-Fiction: Send one personal essay or memoir up to 5000 words.
Plays: Send one one-act play up to 20 pages.
Poetry: Send 3-5 poems. If spoken word, send 1-3 recordings.
Art & Music: We are open to all mediums and genres. For art work, submissions must be adaptable to accommodate the space, so send us your work in a minimum of 300 ppi.

While we won't know exactly what we like until we see it, we do like honest, accessible work. Things that are overly abstract or don't make readers feel something don't do it for us. We want you to make us laugh and/or cry. We want you to challenge us as readers. We want your work to pass the Bechdel Test. We will not tell you which writers we worship, though we will tell you we don't worship Raymond Carver, Ernest Hemingway, or John Updike.

​​

Rights revert to the author upon publication. All work published in our online issues will be considered for an annual print anthology. While we cannot pay contributors at this time, we hope this changes in the future.

​

Drama Notebook submission guidelines

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Have you written plays for kids and teens and simply want to have them used and performed?
Drama Notebook is accepting submissions from playwrights, teachers, and actors who have written scripts or scenes for children and teens. We are building a huge library of royalty-free, high-quality scripts for use in educational settings.
Most drama teachers pay for materials out-of-pocket, and cannot afford to pay royalties, per-script fees, video fees, etc. By sharing your work, you will be benefiting thousands of educators in over 100 countries.

We can either license your script for a small fee, or purchase the copyright for a slightly larger amount. This is not life-changing $ to be sure, but you will experience the joy of knowing that your work is being performed by students all over the world.
When we publish your script, we include your bio, a link to your website (if applicable), and a way for teachers to contact you when their students perform your play!
Ready to submit your plays?

1. Download more detailed information online.
2. See an example of a formatted script.
3. Download our handy script template (optional).
4. Fill out the play submission form.

We will contact you immediately to let you know that we have received your submission, and our team will get back to you within one week to let you know whether or not we’d like to add your script(s) to our library.

What to expect after submitting your play…
We will write you right back and let you know that we received your piece, and will read it and get back to you as soon as possible. Currently, we are back-logged due to a huge influx of scripts that we are currently formatting and publishing on the site. We appreciate your patience, and if your play is accepted, we will give your script the same attention to detail as we are with our current playwrights. We estimate a maximum wait-time of 60 days and we appreciate your patience.

THE ACRONYM PLAYS An “Urban Stages New Pages” On-Line Publication Opportunity

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Deadline: June 1, 2020

Plays chosen will have the opportunity to be presented live at the
award-winning Off-Broadway theatre, Urban Stages, located at 259 West 30th Street New York NY

While nothing can fully replace live theater, the staff at Urban Stages invites ALL playwrights to participate in our next 10-minute play competition, THE ACRONYM PLAYS.  This opportunity will support our goal to discover and nurture new works by artists of diverse cultural backgrounds.

From the safety of your home, we encourage you to create a brand new play using the springboard and guidelines, detailed below, that will be reviewed by a panel of professional theatre artists.  On a rolling basis, the readers will recommend compelling, well-constructed plays to Bara Swain, our Creative Consultant, who has been spearheading our staged reading festivals for “Urban Stages New Pages” since its inception. If your play is selected, the script will be uploaded to our website and accessible to the public for reading and, yes, commenting on Urban Stages’ FB page (@urban.stages)!  After all, this will be the first time that your words will be presented!

Acronyms! Yes, that is the springboard for our next ten-minute play competition at Urban Stages.  Use your imagination! Acronyms are defined by Merriam-Webster as “a word formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the successive parts or major parts of a compound term.” Huh?  Okay, we’re not going to be heavy handed during this chaotic time. Since an acronym is a kind of abbreviation, we’ll also accept plays that are inspired by a shortened form of a word or phrase. WTF! … and I’m not referring to offensive slang, LOL. WTF is also the acronym for the Williamstown Theatre Festival and Women’s Tri-Fitness Competition.  Oh, and LOL can refer to the now mostly obsolete “lots of luck” or “lots of love” used in letter-writing or, yes, Land of Lincoln, the official state slogan of Illinois, also retired from use.

Your challenge is to write a 10-minute play using an acronym or an abbreviation as the springboard for your piece. There are a wealth of acronyms to choose and explore, from social media, technological, economic and environmental acronyms to political, medical, digital, customer service and school logo acronyms.

As always, everyone – the writers and Urban Stages staff – are donating their time and talent for this online adventure and future live readings at our theatre home in the heart of Manhattan.

NOW, HERE ARE THE RULES

1. Your play must use one (or more) acronyms/abbreviations in your play, or serve as the springboard for your script. 
2. Write for 2-3 characters only.
3. Maximum length is 10 pages.  As we roll this program out, please submit your play in Word or PDF in the event that we need to re-format for our website.
4. Dazzle me!  The link below provides lists of common acronyms in chat, military, government and business,  as well as informative acronyms (i.e. ADD, OTC, DOA, DIY) and acronyms as identifiers (i.e. AA, NFL, SWF, ESPN).  You may also be inspired by googling “Acronyms” and searching images.  https://abbreviations.yourdictionary.com/articles/common-accronyms.html 
5. Scripts can be submitted beginning on April 1 through June 1, with a possible extension. We are currently selecting judges and designing our website to support this effort.  Plays will be “published” on a rolling basis.

SUBMITTING YOUR PLAY

It will be helpful if you state your name and the acronym that inspired your work in the subject line.  Please include a summary of your play in the body of your email and a bio.  If you have a website, let us know that, too.  The authors of the plays chosen for “publication” will be notified prior to uploading to the web.  While our assumption is that we have your permission to present your play in the written form on our website, we will confirm your approval at that time.  Note that if we need to set a limit of submissions at a later date, you’ll hear from us.

Submit your play to Bara@UrbanStages.org.  Do you have any questions?  Reach out to Bara at the same email address.  I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Review Americana: A Creative Writing Journal submission guidelines

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If you would like to submit to Review Americana: A Creative Writing Journal, send an
explanatory email that includes your name and contact information to editor@americanpopularculture.com. Attach your submission to that email.

We publish a spring edition in late June/early July and a fall edition in late December/early January. Your work will be considered for the next available issue.

A note on reading times: We publish twice a year. Our reading period for spring is January through June with the spring edition decision and publication coming in late June/early July. Our reading period for fall is July through December with the fall edition decision and publication coming late December/early January.

Please conform to the following guidelines:

1) We consider poems, short fiction, short screenplays, short plays, creative nonfiction, essays about the art of creative writing, and essays about the teaching of creative writing.

2) We prefer no simultaneous submissions. If your work is under consideration elsewhere, please let us know. If it is accepted for publication elsewhere, please let us know that as well.

3) We do not consider multiple submissions. Please wait until you have heard from us regarding your previous submission before you submit again. Poets may submit up to four poems. All other authors should submit only one work.

4 ) We only consider previously unpublished work.

5) We do not publish profanity, gratuitously violent, or erotic work.

6) All work submitted to any publication or contest at Americana is reviewed blindly. Please do not include your name on the submission. If you do, we will remove it before it is sent out for review.

7) American citizenship is not a requirement for submission; the only requirement is that the work hold some appeal for an American readership and bear some relationship with American culture.

8) We ask for First American Serial Rights for one month after publication. After that, rights revert back to the author.

9) We don't pay for publication, and we don't charge reading fees.

Generations 2020 seeks full-length plays

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Deadline: June 1, 2020 - or when 250 submissions are received

Boulder CO

SUBMISSION FORM ONLINE

In order to support the work of parent playwrights, BETC is seeking full-length plays written by a parent with at least one child 18 years of age or younger as of June 1, 2020. 

The winning playwright will receive

a week-long workshop residency in September/October 2020, with daily rehearsals, culminating in a staged reading of the selected script;
the chance to rewrite and revise during the week as part of the script development experience;

• a stipend for travel costs;
• a $500 prize; and
• a $500 childcare stipend to defray the costs associated with childcare during the residency.

During the residency, the selected play will be rehearsed with a cast of professional actors, director, and dramaturg. The week will culminate in a public reading. This year’s Generations residency may be held online if public health circumstances dictate in the fall. Specific date arrangements for the residency will be made directly with the winning playwright.
Entry Guidelines:

Plays must be full-length scripts, submitted by playwrights with at least one child 18 years of age or younger as of the submission deadline.

Each playwright is limited to submission of one script for consideration.

Plays must be in the English language. Playwrights must be U.S. residents.

No musicals will be accepted.

We will not reconsider scripts that have already been submitted to this competition in previous years.

Scripts that have been produced by Equity or professional companies or that have been published are ineligible.

Scripts may not be under option or scheduled for production or publication as of June 1, 2020.

We will consider scripts that have had a workshop, reading, or academic production. BETC will negotiate an option on the winning play and have right of first refusal on the world premiere production. The winning play will receive full consideration for production in an upcoming season.

The application deadline is June 1, 2020, or when our 250-script submission cutoff is reached. Our winning playwright will be notified by August 31, 2020.

The submission form will require you to submit a blind copy of your full script as a PDF file.Please do not include your name anywhere in the sample file. The biographical and demographic info you submit will not be referenced during the selection process.
Selection process:

In our initial reading round, we read the first 20 pages of a script. Script excerpts nominated by two readers continue to the semi-finalist round, in which two readers read the full scripts and complete thorough reader responses. Highly regarded scripts become finalists. Our full committee reads all finalist scripts, then advises our producing artistic director in selecting the winning play.

FAQ’s:

Because of the volume of submissions we receive, we do not provide feedback on submitted scripts during or after the competition. We will confirm that an initial submission has been received, and notify applicants of the competition winner.

Due to available program funding and staff capacity, we will not consider scripts from grandparents or others who are not currently custodial parents of a child 18 years of age or younger. We hope to be able to expand our program to additional generations in future years, but at this time our focus is on assisting playwrights with young families.

bkONE productions is seeking submissions

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Deadline: June 1, 2020

Currently seeking scenes, monologues, sketches, songs, short films, poetry and more for an anthology series that they are producing.

Works should be original and focus on the mindset and situations people are dealingwith. The struggles, joys confusions & mania that has come with this evolving Coronavirus pandemic.

"Zoom friendly" works a plus!

Seeking all types of works for consideration, for all ages, backgrounds and types.

SUBMIT HERE

Emit Theatre seeks interactive plays for young audiences

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Deadline: June 1, 2020

We are accepting original scripts that have not been previously produced, as well as concepts for devised pieces, from NYC-based artists. This production will be performed for public audiences in Fall 2020 and subsequently toured to schools and community groups. The selected applicant will be compensated with a stipend.

Submitted stories must center a population that has been historically underrepresented in theatre. Inspiration for the piece can include but is not limited to: a folk tale, legend, piece of music, visual art piece, or historical event.

Requirements for submissions:

• For young people within the age range of 4-11.
• 40-60 minutes in length.
• Can be performed with 1-3 actors.
• Appropriate for up to 70 audience members.
• If submission is an original script, it must be finished and ready for rehearsal (although the script is free to continue developing throughout the process).
• Must include specific opportunities for interaction throughout. Examples of appropriate interaction include but are not limited to: call and response, group movement, posing questions to the audience, or bringing a small group onstage to help with a task.
• Must be able to become a sensory friendly, relaxed performance

It is desired that applicants have experience with interactive performance, but it is not required. The selected applicant will train with Artistic Director Gianna Cioffi to develop the interactive elements of the piece in harmony with Emit’s style and community.

Application deadline is June 1, 2020. A decision will be made by July 1, 2020.

Submission is via this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSczP0hdGqZF71Ne6pvXtSbAZQsiQnsDXpXLdhv-yz3gLFhE6g/viewform

Urbanite Theater submission window is open

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No deadline given

Sarasota FL

The window to submit plays is currently OPEN.

To submit plays, please adhere to the following guidelines

1. Must require the use of five or fewer performers.

2. Scenic and set demands must be singular, minimal, flexible, or representational.

3. Full-length plays only.

4. Contemporary content only, with an emphasis on material that parallels our mission and production history.


How to submit

1. Email your script to info@urbanitetheatre.com with "Play Submission" in the SUBJECT: field.

2. Synopses are optional, but please do not submit a synopsis by itself. Please include full plays.

3. Acceptable file formats: Word Document (docx) and PDF.

4. Play must include character breakdown at the beginning of the script, along with playwright name and contact information (or agent, if applicable).

5. Please include link to your website, your bio, and the play's production history. Special interest given to plays not previously produced in Florida.

6. Please note if you'd be interested in having your play read in the Urbanite Reading Series.


Thank you!

Actors' Theatre International Short Play Contest Submissions

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UPDATE: THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR SUBMISSIONS

Deadline: July 1, 2020

Santa Cruz CA

Import note on 2020 submissions:
In light of the current Corona virus pandemic, Actors' Theatre would like to support and encourage writers who submit to the International Short Play Contest by waiving the usual submission fee of $10 for 2020.

We will ONLY be accepting submissions via email at sccactorstheatre@gmail.com

Please follow the guidelines below.
Best of luck to everyone and stay safe!

Since 1995, playwrights from around the world have submitted their scripts to Santa Cruz Actors’ Theatre, in the hopes that their piece might be one of the 16 selected to become a full-fledged production at the 8 Tens Festival.

Submissions are accepted year-round, but must meet the summer deadline of July 1 to be considered for the 8 Tens Festival the following January.

Over the six months following the deadline, 16 plays are anonymously selected by a panel of judges consisting of local writers, directors, and theater enthusiasts. They are then assigned to directors at random and rehearsed for three months before premiering in front of a sold-out audience at the annual 8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival.

The only criteria for entering: each play must be 10 minutes or less.

Guidelines & FAQs - NEW FOR 2020

Submissions must be 10 pages or fewer, in 12-point font, written in standard play format.

All submissions must include:

1. A cover letter that includes the play's title, author name, address, phone, email, and short biography of the writer.

2. A cover page with only the title of the play.

All submissions will be judged with the identity of the writers withheld.

FEES ARE WAIVED FOR 2020. There is a $10 fee per submission. Submission fee is waived for young writers (under 18 years of age) or incarcerated writers.

E-SUBMISSIONS ONLY FOR 2020 - to: sccactorstheatre@gmail.com

Ten minute play submissions are subject to our contest rules and are accepted from Jan 1 to July 1 of each year.

All submissions must be submitted no later than July 1.

What happens if my play is selected?

If your play is selected you will be notified via email.

Winning playwrights will receive 

• a fully-staged, 5-week run of their play during the 8 Tens Festival
• $50.00 stipend
• A complimentary DVD of the Festival

We also accept full length scripts for consideration throughout the year, in all genres.
Please send via snail-mail only to:
Actors' Theatre, PO Box 7084, Santa Cruz, CA., 95061

CDDG One-Act Play Competition

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Deadline: June 5, 2020

Penwell Station, Truro UK

As part of our 50th celebration we are launching a competition to find a new one act play to be performed 1st to 3rd Oct and 10th Oct. The competition is open to all; both members and non-members.

Apart from the special reward of seeing your work performed there will also be a cash prize of £100 plus a script consultation with Victoria Ferguson to the winning playwright. Closing date for submissions Friday June 5th 2020 (Terms and conditions apply) As long as it has never been performed before it will qualify. All welcome from 16 years to 100 plus.

Plays should be:

• Between 40 - 50 minutes in length
• Never before performed in any capacity (but need not be written specifically for this competition)
• Entries should have author name and preferred contact information on the title page

The winner will receive £100 cash and a script consultation with Victoria Ferguson to help develop their script and discuss careers in scriptwriting.

Victoria is a writer and script editor, and was the coordinator for the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition. She collaborates with emerging and established writers to develop their scripts for the stage and screen, and is currently working with production companies including Drama Republic (Doctor Foster), New Pictures (COBRA) and 42 M&P (Military Wives) to find projects to develop for film and TV.

So, let the creative juices flow.

Please email your entries to j-frankland@hotmail.co.uk

Y.E.S. Festival 2020 seeks plays

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Deadline: June 1, 2020

Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts is calling for submissions for the 20th anniversary of our award-winning Year End Series Festival of New Plays - THE Y.E.S. FESTIVAL, running April 8-18, 2021.

Submissions will be accepted from Jan. 15 until June 1, 2020.

Two plays will be selected for performance in the festival.

The selected playwrights will each receive a cash prize of $400 and an expense-paid (travel and accommodations) visit to NKU to see their plays in production. Selected plays will receive a full production.

WHAT TO SUBMIT

• Full-length plays and musicals are eligible. The author must fully own all rights.
• No children’s theatre, one-acts, or reader’s theatre pieces will be considered.
• Adaptations will only be considered if the adapted work is in the public domain.
• Submissions may not have had a previous professional or university production.
• In deciding what to submit, a writer should know the festival will be cast with undergraduate student actors. Submissions with larger casts are looked upon favorably in the selection process.
• Scripts must be standard sized and legibly typed. Standard Dramatists Guild format is preferred.
• Submissions (ONE per playwright) should include a one-page synopsis and a cast list with brief character descriptions.
• For musicals, please also include libretto, a list of characters with vocal ranges, demo CD and samples of the score.

TO SUBMIT

Use the online form or print out and mail an entry form.

For additional information please contact:

Michael King, Co-Project Director
mking@nku.edu • (859) 572-5647

Corrie Danieley, Co-Project Director
danieleyc1@nku.edu • (859) 572-5451

Theatre Huntsville seeks original plays for reading series

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No deadline given

Monday Night at the e-Theater is seeking original plays of any length for a new play reading series.

Casts may be any size up to eight (8), however, smaller casts are preferred.

By submitting, you would be allowing us to read, record, and publish video to Facebook and other social media platforms. We know there is a lot of great work out there, and this is an opportunity to hear it read by experienced actors. Each reading will be followed by a Q&A with the playwright for feedback.

Submissions should be sent to: playwriting@theatrehsv.org

Monday Night at the e-Theater is the collaborative effort of five separate community theatre organizations in North Alabama, dedicated to keeping theatre alive while we are all shuttered. At each Monday reading, a different community theater will be featured, and donations will be collected for them to help keep theatre going throughout the region.

The first reading is scheduled on Monday, May 25 at 7:30 pm. We will continue each Monday after that for the foreseeable future.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
• A full copy of the script in a 12 point font, Times New Roman or Courier
• Character breakdown
• A brief description of the play (to be used for promotion)
• If possible, highlight any stage directions that you, as the playwright, feel MUST be read
• PDF format preferred
• Cover sheet including play title and playwright name and contact information

Thank you for your interest. We can’t wait to read the submissions!

2020 Marion Thauer Brown Audio Drama Scriptwriting Competition

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Deadline: May 28th 2020

The MTB Audio Drama Scriptwriting Competition celebrates good old-fashioned storytelling with a $250 first prize and $100 second-place prize. All genres considered and authors retain all script rights.

There’s no fee for entry. We simply ask the following:

• Please keep to one entry per author.
• The script should be your original work/story. Adaptations of another author’s works or use of proprietary characters such as Dr. Who, Frankenstein, or Othello will lead to disqualification.
• Please keep the script “family friendly” as determined by meeting the following conventions:

1) Avoid incorporating swearing, which for this context includes “damn,” “hell,” “God” etc. This will lead to automatic disqualification regardless of context.
2) Avoid implicit or implied sexual context. Romantic affection is fine. Details about intimacy are not.
3) Avoid graphic depictions of killing or torture. It is understood that people can get bumped off for dramatic capital if needed (which is not to say it is necessary to do so) but if you do please avoid disturbing intimate details.

Given the current world situation, please refrain from submitting dystopic/pandemic fiction. This isn’t to say the subject can’t make for compelling drama. However, this year’s competition will be adding an additional evaluation criterion rewarding upbeat stories so you’ll be putting yourself at a disadvantage.

Make sure your script is action/plot driven. Having something happen is far more engaging than having characters talk about it.

Please make sure it is free of visual stage directions such as “Shonna blows him a kiss. He nods knowingly as Tyler silently walks off stage” or stage play set design details.

Scripts should run no longer than 30 minutes.

Entry deadline May 28th 2020.

Winners will be announced on June 21st 2020.

Theatre Three Off-Stage/On-Line seeks short plays

web site

No deadline

In an effort to present original content in a unique way, Theatre Three, is seeking short plays to be produced as part of a series of online works. Ideally, the pieces are written or re-conceived for an online platform. We hope that writers will see the constraints of the format as a way to tell stories in a different way.

The Plays:

• Should run 1 to 10 minutes.
• Should require no more than 6 actors.
• Should ideally be able to be performed without stage directions. (The scene may be set at the outset.)
• Will be rehearsed on Zoom or similar platform.
• Will be posted on Theatre Three’s website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.

Playwrights may make multiple submissions. This is an open-ended project.

Selected works will received a $25 stipend; playwrights will retain all rights to future productions.

Questions and pdfs of scripts may be emailed to Jeffrey@TheatreThree.com.

Click here to watch the shows

A IS FOR PLAYWRITING CONTEST ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE

web site

Deadline: May 31, 2020

NYC
A IS FOR IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE ITS PILOT PLAYWRITING CONTEST!

WHY A PLAYWRITING CONTEST?

It’s not just abortion that is stigmatized in our culture, but the entire lived experiences of people who seek to fulfill their promise as autonomous human beings, realize their own dreams, raise their families in safety and peace, pursue their ambitions, and maintain control over their physical and reproductive lives.

The subject of Reproductive Justice is one too often simplified by our current dialogues, and too often the voices and perspectives of the people most affected by restrictions, legislative prohibitions, and cultural prejudices are excluded from our artistic institutions.

A is For seeks to change that. We believe the theatre is an especially powerful platform with which to share stories, debunk myths, and disempower fears. We believe the theatre can transform. We want to amplify voices which can reframe the conversation, to support and promote artists who can dispel myths and misconceptions. We want to change the way people think about abortion and reproductive justice. We want to hear the stories you want to tell.

In that spirit, the stories we hope to bring to the fore will be diverse in perspective as well as imagination. These plays may be personal and realistic, or they may be allegorical. They may be fantastic, sprung from dreams, or they may be grounded in naturalism. Whatever form or shape they may take, we hope to receive a wide range of works from all over the country, reflecting the great variety of experiences that Reproductive Justice demands we all recognize.

In highlighting these stories, we’re broadening the emotional vocabulary of the American audience, and opening up our theaters to a fuller and more honest exploration of the human experience.

DATES

• We are currently accepting submissions through May 31, 2020 11:59PM EST.
• Judging through July 20 at 11:59pm EST.
• Winners will be announced at the end of July, exact date tbd.
• Presentation of all three winning plays will be on a date tbd in the fall of 2020.

CRITERIA

• Submit one-act plays about Reproductive Justice, including (but not limited to) the topic of abortion.
• You may not edit your entry after submitting.
• You may submit as many plays as you wish.
• Plays must be no longer than 60 minutes (typically about 60 pages, double-spaced.) Plays longer than 60 minutes will automatically be disqualified.

Plays do not have to be as long as 60 minutes. They can be shorter. They can be as short as a single page if you feel that’s sufficient to tell your story.

Please submit your files in PDF only.

Plays in languages other than English will be accepted as long as an accompanying English translation is also provided.

Plays should include a cover page that includes the name of the playwright, and all relevant contact information, including representation, if applicable.

WINNERS

A qualified Jury of accomplished theatre professionals and experts in reproductive justice will read and assess all entries.

Only the winner and runners up will be contacted directly by AisFor once the jury has made its decisions.

Grand Prize will be awarded to one play which will receive $5,000

Two runners up will receive $1,500 each
All three plays will be presented in whole or in part (depending on length) as rehearsed readings in a single evening (date tbd in the fall of 2020) at a theatre in New York City.

Green Stories seeks 10 minutes episodes

web site

Deadline: June 4, 2020
10 minutes episodes for mobile phones via Quibi

Length: 3 – 15 ten minute episodes of 8-10 minutes each (suitable for new platform Quibi – designed for mobile phones)

Eligibility: Open to all, as long as it has not been published elsewhere. All submissions must be in English and conform to the green stories criteria of showing a positive vision of what a sustainable society might look like or in some way smuggling in green solutions/policies/characters in the context of an otherwise mainstream story.

Prizes: £750: 1st prize £500, 2nd prize £100, third prize £50. An additional prize of £50 for the best student submission (18-25 years) and £50 for best < 18-year submission (if sufficient high-quality entries). 

If a student or under 18 entry is the best overall then it will win first prize regardless of whether the entry is from a student or under 18, and the student (or under 18) prize will then go to the next best student (or under 18) prize entry. (tbc – awaiting prize sponsorship confirmation).

 Entries must be submitted via the link below.

Submit here. Send as a pdf. 

Also your script will get a better reception if written in a standard TV episode format e.g. see https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/screenplaytv.pdf

The Seven Short Works Festival

web site

Deadline: June 1, 2020

Albuquerque New Mexico

 If you wish to submit by standard mail, please send script(s) to the addressed listed on our website. There is no submission fee if you choose to use this method.  

The Seven is one of the nation's premiere short works festivals.  It features seven fully produced world premieres, utilizing seven different directors and a professional ensemble cast.  The scripts are reads by a jury of theatre professionals (blindly, without any identification of the playwright) and the seven highest scoring scripts will be produced.  The overall Jury Award-winner will be awarded the Andaluz Prize, and will receive transportation to/from and lodging at the festival.
Important Dates

June 1, 2020:  Postmarked submission deadline.
June 7, 2020 at 11:59 pm (MST):  Digital submission deadline.
July 1, 2020:  Winners announced.
Performance dates TBD.

Submission Rules
- Scripts must be based on the theme:  "YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP.” All theatrical genres are acceptable (drama, comedy, musical, monologues, etc.).
- Do NOT use the phrase: "you can't make this up" in the script or as a title.
- Scripts may be a maximum of 10 pages, in standard playwriting formats. For digital submissions, only .pdf, .doc and .docx file formats will be accepted.
- The Seven is comprised of world premiere productions. The script must never have been produced before July 30th, 2020 in order to be accepted. Scripts that have received public readings only ARE eligible.
- Scripts must be submitted with:

1. A title page with all playwright contact information
2. A title page with only the title of the play.  These should be included as a part of the document file.

These pages and any character/title pages do not count against the 10 page script maximum.

- The preferred method of submission is digital, and the process can be accessed below. There is a $5.00 US submission fee to do so.

- If you wish to submit by standard mail, please send script(s) to the addressed listed on our website. There is no submission fee if you choose to use this method.  Script pages should be affixed using a single staple or paper clip ONLY.  No binders or folders.

- Playwrights can submit a maximum of TWO scripts total.

- There are no age/gender/career, etc. limitations in this submission process. It is open to all and scripts from anywhere in the world will be accepted.

- If you are submitting a musical, make sure to include the audio files on a thumb drive. You must submit these scripts via snail mail.

- Make sure to include your email address. Once the submissions have been logged-in, you will receive a confirmation email, which could take up to 72 hours.  

The Playwrights Group

STUCK AT HOME? 

GOOD TIME TO GET SOME 

WRITING DONE. 

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR 

ONLINE OFFERINGS

Script Consultations

Have a script you want feedback on?  Just send a PDF of your script and you’ll get the answers you’re looking for via email, phone or video conference. 

Richard Caliban has worked with  individuals on their scripts from all over the world — Indonesia, China, Greece, Australia, Serbia, as well as right here in New York. A script consultation will provide you with feedback on the structural soundness of your story, the dramatic arc of your protagonist, thematic unity and much more.

Online One-on-One Courses

If you’re looking for more, check out our One on One Online Playwriting Courses:

•       The Art of Playwriting

•       Write a Play in 10 Weeks

Both are One on One with instructor Richard Caliban, who has spent his life in rehearsal rooms getting words on a page up onto a stage. And since it’s One on One, the courses can be adjusted to fit your level of experience. 

Weekly  Workshop

During the current crisis, the weekly workshop has moved online to a Zoom meeting. We read everything from a one page scene to a full length. Plays, musicals, film scripts — whatever it is you’re working on. This is a great opportunity for those not in the NYC area. 

We meet (virtually) Thursdays from 7 - 9:30pm EST. 

Please visit our website for details and rates:

www.theplaywrightsgroup.com

Contact us at scripts@theplaywrightsgroup.com

TINY PLAYS FROM QUARANTINE

web site

Deadline: May 22, 2020

Minneapolis, MN

Little Red Theatre Company is now accepting tiny plays inspired by life outside of quarantine. In other words, life before COVID-19. This means that you can submit a tiny play about everything or anything, as long as it's no more than 600 words. 

We will be putting together a collection of these tiny plays and will publish them on our website. Your tiny play is due Friday, May 22nd. Get writing!

Email littleredtheatrecomany@gmail.com your submissions and let us know if you have any questions.

Instagram: @littleredtheatrecompany

ReOrient Festival 20201

web site

Deadline: May 30, 2020

San Francisco CA

Golden Thread produces passionate and provocative plays from and about the Middle East that celebrate the multiplicity of its perspectives and identities. We are a developmental catalyst and vibrant artistic home to artists at various stages of their careers. We bring the Middle East to the American stage, creating treasured cultural experiences for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Eligibility:

• Plays by playwrights of Middle Eastern heritage on any topic

• Plays about the Middle East by playwrights of any ethnic background

• Plays must be in English

Areas of interest include:

• Comedies: political satire, romantic comedies

• Plays that experiment with non-realistic forms, non-linear or physically-based storytelling

• Plays that explore and demonstrate aspects of daily or family life

• Adaptations of classical texts and or historical figures

• Exploration of Middle Eastern performance traditions

ReOrient Festival of Short Plays

In January 2020, we will begin receiving submissions for consideration in ReOrient Festival of Short Plays 2021. ReOrient Festival showcases the diversity of voices and aesthetics from the Middle East and its worldwide diaspora in a curated festival of short plays produced biennially in San Francisco.

10 to 30-minute plays

ReOrient 2021 DEADLINE: May 30, 2020

Submission Guidelines:

• Complete the Play Submission Form

• Email pdf copy of the play to submissions@goldenthread.org with subject Line: ReOrient 2021

We accept full-length plays year-round. We will only contact playwrights whose plays are under consideration for reading and/or production.

WE NO LONGER ACCEPT HARD COPY SUBMISSIONS BY MAIL.

For any further questions or concerns, email submissions@goldenthread.org.

15-Minute Musical Challenge

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Deadline: May 15, 2020  

Help Celebrate the Power of Musical Theatre
In all times, but especially during challenging times, we believe that musical theatre has the power to elevate the human experience and uplift each other.

Most of us will spend more time at home in the coming weeks, and we know that the current health crisis is taking a major emotional and financial toll. We hope we can offer a bit of an inspired incentive by inviting you to use this socially distanced time as an opportunity for musical theatre creativity. With the generous support of the Alhadeff Family Charitable Foundation we are excited to announce the NAMT 15-Minute Musical Challenge.

We are calling for submissions of 15 minutes of brand-new material by May 15, 2020. This can be a complete, 15-minute musical or 15 minutes of a new full-length project.  While we recognize the current crisis will be on our collective minds, this is a call for musicals about absolutely anything and everything. Whatever idea has been percolating…now’s the time! Submitted musicals must be written after March 19, 2020 to be eligible.  

Winning submissions will receive a cash prize, through the generous and enthusiastic support of the Alhadeff Family Charitable Foundation.

Please note this will be a blind review process and therefore all scripts and demos submitted should not include writer information.

Other information

• All writers are eligible to submit (US and International)
• One submission per writer
• Digital submissions only
• This is for brand-new work only, written after March 19, 2020
• Questions can be emailed to ciera@namt.org