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Tuesday, May 31, 2022

QUEER CAT PRODUCTIONS ARTIST OFFERING

Website

Deadline: June 5, 2022
Or when we receive 50 applications


QUEER CAT PRODUCTIONS ARTIST OFFERING: Application Portal
APPLICATION WINDOW CLOSES: June 5th, or when we receive 50 applications.

WHO CAN APPLY: Black queer and/or trans artists anywhere in the world!

HOW: Apply through this portal starting May 5th!

MORE INFORMATION: Go to queercatproductions.com/offering to read the full call for applications.

QUESTIONS: Can be addressed to hq@queercatproductions.com.

HOW DOES THE SELECTION PROCESS WORK?
This process was designed by the Manifestation Council in 2021: Genevieve Jessee, librecht baker, and Troy Rockett. The artists who will read submissions this year are: Genevieve Jessee, Chivas Michael, Rawiyah Tariq (additional readers may be added and announced on our website).

The process has three rounds. In Round 1, all Readers read all applications. Readers give a “yes” or “no” vote on whether each application should go to the next round (and briefly say why). Applications that receive a majority of “yeses” move on to Round 2.

In Round 2, Readers evaluate applications according to a rubric and select three finalists. The elements on the rubric are: 1) The application demonstrates a desire to generate work that is immersive and/or will leave audiences more connected to each other; 2) The application demonstrates a desire to generate work connecting to and/or elevating the humanity of the artist’s identit(ies); 3) The application demonstrates a desire to generate work that explores playfulness, curiosity, and/or haunting (in whatever way the artist defines it); 4) The application demonstrates a desire to generate work that has qualities of an evolving form, and/or expands or elevates the genre(s) the artist works in; and 5) I want to hear more from this artist.

In Round 3, Readers interview each finalist and choose one artist. Finalists will be compensated for their interview time at a rate of $22/hour for about 2 hours.

MORE ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY:

WHO ARE WE?
Queer Cat Productions is a theater company based in the San Francisco Bay Area. We create consent-forward, accessible, immersive theater and experiences that leave our audiences more connected.

We create playful, curious, haunted works of art that are queer, not just in content, but in vision, perspective, care, and collaboration at every level of the process.

We are committed to the spirit of play, as interactive and consensual; to curiosity about our world and each other; and to haunting: ancestry, fluidity, and resilience.

Learn more about us at queercatproductions.com!

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

A “primary generative artist” (creator), for example: playwright, solo performer, choreographer, musician/composer, lead artist for a collaborative artwork, etc.

A new artwork that falls under the Performing Arts umbrella (theater, solo performance, music, dance, etc.).

An artwork that seeks to answer this question: What encourages your personal playfulness, engages your curiosity about our humanness and how we connect with each other, and/or what haunts you and drives you to build work that makes space in and/or for the places where you feel that “space” is needed the most?

An artwork that engages with and interprets our mission.

An artwork that can be performed with hybrid elements for both an in-person performance in the San Francisco Bay Area at least once over the weekend of October 20-22, 2023 and an experience that is accessible worldwide.

WHAT ARE WE OFFERING?

Pay: A total of $8,000 to create, develop, rehearse, and publicly share the new work (paid in quarterly installments and according to Queer Cat Productions’ flat artist pay rate, which is $22/hour for 2022).

Other resources:
A budget for hiring collaborating artists (i.e. actors, designers, musicians, dramaturgs).

A budget for venue rental and materials.

A travel stipend for artists outside the San Francisco Bay Area.

Accommodations (i.e. ASL interpretation, flexible scheduling to accommodate childcare, and/or other accommodations you share with us).

Tailored creative support specific to your artistic needs (i.e. dramaturgy, feedback and brainstorming, mentorship, workshopping and/or other creative supports you share with us).

Connection to a community of Queer Cat Productions artists.

Our commitment to create a supportive environment for your artistic process.

WHAT ARE WE ASKING YOU TO COMMIT TO US IF YOU GET PICKED?
To be in residence as primary generative artist (creator) with Queer Cat Productions for one year. (Residency is virtual - artists can be geographically located anywhere.)

Creation of the new artwork.

Monthly preproduction meetings (with the option of more frequent meetings if desired by the artist) during development period, including check-ins with the Selection Committee Leader for support and accountability.

More frequent (weekly or biweekly) meetings during production period.

Monthly Company meetings with Queer Cat Productions.

QUESTIONS?
Go to queercatproductions.com/offering to view our FAQ! If you don't find the answer you're looking for, email hq@queercatproductions.com.

Monday, May 30, 2022

2022 Scranton Fringe Festival

Website

Deadline:  June 7, 2022 6PM EDT

SUBMISSION FORM

Scranton Fringe is an award-winning arts organization producing innovative work since 2015. Fringe is dedicated to creating a bold, engaging platform for thought-provoking art while striving to promote Northeast Pennsylvania as a viable creative environment. Inspired by the world's largest annual event, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the organization has grown into an incubator of unique creative work centered around the performing arts.

The past few years we have featured the COVID safe "Fringe Under Glass" project, but Scranton Fringe is thrilled to announce the return of the main festival, set to take place on stages both indoors and outdoors across downtown Scranton (PA) from Thursday, September 29th thru Saturday, October 8th, 2022.

Scranton Fringe is now accepting applications for proposed works of theater / performing arts and other types of creative projects from independent artists and cultural groups from across Northeast PA and beyond for the 2022 Festival.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

For 2022 we are extending our reach and creative call and encouraging any type of creative event/project to submit for consideration - outdoor walking dance tours, large indoor theatrical productions, public art installations, workshops. and much more. We wish to mark the return of our festival with a dynamic display of creativity, culture, and community!

We are looking for: creative projects that engage a wide range of community, new takes on old works; newly created theater pieces; quirky, unusual, vibrant, and creative theater; online/virtual works of the performing arts, cabaret; dance; puppetry; magic; musicals; immersive theater; circus; solo shows, children’s programming, Site-Specific performances, public art installations, creative workshops, and any other type of public creative programming.

The specific nature of each partnership for those who are invited to join the 2022 Scranton Fringe Festival will vary in regards to venue, technical support, scheduling, finances and more. Each artist/group offered a space within the 2022 Scranton Fringe Festival will (virtually) meet with Festival leadership and have an active role in crafting the details of their respective contracts.

FINANCES:
As stated above each partnership will have its own financial arrangements on a case by case basis. Typically, Scranton Fringe charges each project a set production fee (determined by # of performances / events, tech needs, etc.) and then returns bulk of ticket sales to said production/project. For 2022 we are taking a more flexible approach and will be working with each accepted production/project on a case by case basis prior to locking down contract details.

Scranton Fringe is proud to once again not charge any fees for applications/proposals.

COVID:
Please note per our safety policy at this time all artists, producers and volunteers who wish to present any work indoors during the 2022 Scranton Fringe Festival will be asked to show proof of vaccination before contracts are finalized. Festival audience safety guidelines will be finalized over the summer of 2022.

WHEN

The 2022 Scranton Fringe Festival will be held Thursday, September 29th thru Saturday, October 8th across downtown Scranton, PA (USA).

The below application will close on Tuesday, June 7th, 2022 (6 pm eastern). All submissions must be completed online via the below form. Please contact Scranton Fringe via email (info@scrantonfringe.org) if you have any questions!

Sunday, May 29, 2022

The Willow Tree Project

Website

Deadline: July 1, 2022

Northern Starz Center for the Performing Arts is proud to unveil our newest program: The Willow Tree Project!

Our mission is to create opportunities for people age 55 and up to participate in the performing arts, regardless of their previous experience. Through the stories we tell, we will honor the wisdom we gather as we age, and celebrate the experience of getting older.

We’re accepting submissions for our New Works Festival for plays by playwrights age 55 and up, which will run September 23-25 at Northern Starz Center for the Performing Arts in Ramsey, MN.

The Willow Tree Project is looking to further examine the experience of aging in modern America. We are looking for One Act scripts written by playwrights age 55 and up, taking on issues relevant to this constantly growing age demographic that can often feel overlooked in today’s society. Though we welcome submissions from around the country, we will prioritize the work of local and regional playwrights!

Submissions should be no longer than 60 minutes. You may submit more than one script. Submitted scripts will be considered for the festival, with 4-6 plays chosen for presentation as staged readings performed during the festival. The audience will vote, along with a panel of judges, for which script they want to see produced, and the chosen script will be produced as part of the 2023 Northern Starz season! The winning playwright will be paid royalties upon production.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions. All inquiries and play submissions should be directed to: submissions@northernstarz.org. Submissions are due by July 1, 2022.

Saturday, May 28, 2022

21st Annual PICK OF THE VINE

Website

Deadline: May 31, 2022

Little Fish Theatre is now accepting scripts for our 21st Annual PICK OF THE VINE short play production to be presented in January-February 2023.

There will be a $75 flat fee royalty payment to playwrights per play produced. (or $25 royalty if presented virtually)

Submission Procedure:

1. Only ONE play may be submitted per playwright. There is no submission fee.

2. Submissions accepted May 1- May 31, 2022. Submission deadline is midnight May 31, 2022.

3. PDF Submissions accepted via Google Form: https://bit.ly/37ptW5p-POV2023.

4. Plays must include contact info (name, phone number, email address, home city and state, country) on the cover sheet.

5. Plays will require no more than 6 actors.

6. Plays will run no more than 15 minutes, no exceptions.

7. Plays will have minimal set, costume, prop, and special effect requirements.

Timeline

We will notify semi-finalists via email by mid-September. Only those playwrights whose pieces have progressed to the semi-final round will be notified.

Playwrights whose pieces have been chosen for Production will be notified via email in November.

More information on Little Fish Theatre can be found at the links below:

Facebook: Facebook.com/TheLittleFishTheatre
Instagram: @LittleFishTheatre
Twitter: @lilfishtheatre
Website: littlefishtheatre.org

Roedde House Museum Playwriting Contest 2022

Website

Deadline: May 31, 2022
Vancouver Canada

The Roedde House Preservation Society is pleased to announce the launch of our Roedde House Museum Playwriting Contest 2022. Submissions are now open for the best original interactive play using the historic Roedde house building as the stage! Using the word “Haunted” as a theme, we encourage writers to create an interactive play that leads the audience through our heritage Queen Anne Revival style Victorian home on a journey of your own creation. 

The contest is open from March 1 2022 to May 31, 2022 with the winning submission being announced late June / early July 2022 via our website and social media.

The Winner will receive an honorarium of $400 (sponsored by Ghostly Vancouver Tours https://www.ghostlyvancouvertours.com/) as well as the opportunity for the play to be produced and run at Roedde House Museum during the Fall of 2022.

** This contest for the winning play is not a guarantee of production – this will depend on venue availability and/or audience demand and will be discussed with the winning contestant. Should the play be put into production the writer will receive royalties from the performances. **

Submission Requirements:
  • Play must be within a maximum run time of 60 minutes and up to 4 actors in the script
  • Can be an adaptation of an existing work (rights must be held by author) or an original work 

Judging Criteria:Space (How well does the play fit into the house?)
  • Quality of Drama
  • Does it honour the history of Roedde House and Vancouver? Does it have an educational component (*bonus)
  • Budget Conscious 
Please email your questions and submissions to us via coordinator@roeddehouse.org with the subject line“Playwriting Contest”.

Thursday, May 26, 2022

TYPE! seeks micro-plays

Website

Deadline: none listed

TYPE! isn’t TYPE! without the words to fill it. We are looking for compelling content to include in future editions. Here’s a guide to submitting…

  • #RuleOfSix ~ Tell us a story in six words
  • Fiction ~ 1,000 words or fewer
  • Flash Fiction ~ 400 words or fewer
  • Poetry ~ 200 words or fewer
  • Micro-plays ~ 1-2 pages long
  • Micro-films ~ 1-2 pages long
  • Illustrations ~ Please send black and white work only

If you have work you would like to submit that is not listed here, please get in touch and we may accept it! To submit illustrations, drop us a note and we’ll be in touch.

Please send in your writing via the submission form online.

Thank you for considering sharing your work. TYPE! is free to read so although we cannot pay for submissions or chosen work, we will work with authors to promote the piece and their other writing. We also require written confirmation that submissions are original work. 

Please note – due to the high number of submissions we receive we will only respond to those we wish to publish, however we do read EVERY submission. Submission also carries no guarantee of inclusion or feedback.

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

The Emerging Artists Theatre (EAT) NEW WORK SERIES (NWS) 2022

Website

Deadline: May 31, 2022

APPLICATION

The Emerging Artists Theatre (EAT) NEW WORK SERIES (NWS) is a three-week developmental program that provides theater artists of different disciplines the opportunity to present one performance of a polished “work-in-progress” with audience feedback. Most pieces selected for NWS will have never before been performed in front of an audience. Some selections will have been performed once or twice but will feature new material. We are not interested in seeing established pieces of theatre. We want to see something brand spanking new hit the stage for the first, or nearly the first time. We like to think of this series as an opportunity for artists to share an early draft of a new piece. There is no submission charge, and no obligation to participate if chosen. Plus participants receive 50% of the box office. Successful Fringe, NYMF, and Off-Broadway shows have been born out of this series, and Emerging Artists is excited to present a new round of opportunities to local artists for yet another year.

We are now accepting submissions for the following new works:
  • Solo Shows
  • Dance
  • Cabaret
  • Musicals (Short and Long)
  • Plays (Short and Long)
  • Subway Musicians
  • Storytelling Show
  • Sketch Comedy
  • Interactive
  • Other … Out of the Box
HOW TO APPLY

PART ONE: Read this page, our FAQ and Our TERMS AND CONDITIONS

PART TWO: Fill out the application form . You will be asked to provide information on the following:
  • How you heard about Emerging Artists Theatre’s New Work Series
  • Why you think your show would be a good fit
  • Show title, running time, and production history (if applicable)
  • Show marketing blurb (one sentence) and summary (less than 500 words)
  • Contact information, website, social media handles, and professional bio(s)
Hit SUBMIT to submit your application
GETTING ACCEPTED

If you are accepted into the New Work Series, there will be an information session/meet-and-greet on a date to be determined. There will be snacks.

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Diversionary Submission Guidelines

Website

Deadline: none listed

Diversionary is always seeking new, full-length LGBTQIA+ works for consideration. Please follow the guidelines below if you would like to submit your work. Because of the volume of submissions, those that do not follow the guidelines will not be considered.
What to include
  • a one-page synopsis, character breakdown, and playwright bio
  • a development/production history of the submitted work (including date written and any readings, workshops, and full stagings)
  • a ten-page sample of the work
  • three audio recordings of music, twelve minutes total, if it’s a musical
  • How to submit
Please send all of the above items as a single document in pdf format to frankie@diversionary.org. For music, please send the items in mp3 format or include a link to be accessed. No physical submissions sent to the theatre will be considered.

Submission FAQ

Find answers to common questions about submitting work to Diversionary Theatre. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact us below and we’ll be happy to help!

Is my work LGBTQIA+ enough to be considered?

Part of Diversionary’s mission is to tell the story of the LGBTQIA+ community, which we accomplish by considering works that have queer characters, themes, or are by queer playwrights. If at least one of these three applies, submit away!

My work is not full-length! Do you accept short plays?

We do not currently accept short plays for consideration. If you have an evening of short plays that are meant to be performed together as a unit, we can consider that as a full-length. Consider them as a whole and follow the same guidelines above.

How long will it take before I hear back from you?

We get a lot of submissions. It may take up to 12 months to respond and let you know whether we would like to see the full piece or not.

Should I follow up with you?

While your enthusiasm is very much appreciated, we are doing our best to respond in a timely manner and would prefer no follow ups after your initial submission. Rest assured, your submission will be reviewed as our scheduling allows, and we will be in touch. 

Can I resubmit work?

If you submitted a piece before December of 2014, please resubmit following the new guidelines. Once a work has been submitted in that format, please do not resubmit the work. If you have any uncertainty about the quality of your piece, we encourage you to attend a Wordplay Tuesdays meeting and get feedback from your peers and other professional playwrights so that you’re only submitting the most refined version of your piece to us. 

Will I get feedback on my submission?

While we wish we could give feedback to everyone who makes a submission, due to the volume of submissions and the limited size of our staff, we are unable to provide feedback. However, we encourage you to attend a Wordplay Tuesdays meeting which is a free workshop where playwrights come together and share their work and provide feedback, encouragement, and ideas on how to turn your work into the best version of your vision. 

What happens next?

We will be in touch regardless of if your piece is accepted or not. If we would like to see the full-length work, we will request it from you. Again, this could take up to 12 months, so please be patient when awaiting a response. Rest assured we will be in contact with you again to follow up.

We know the (often overwhelming) time and effort the submission process takes for playwrights, and we appreciate your hard work and wish you the best in all your endeavors. For that reason, we will be in touch regardless of our decision, as we respect your time just as you respect ours.

Thank you for considering Diversionary Theatre for your submission!

Monday, May 23, 2022

The Playwrights Group: Take advantage of our online offerings!

 


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 and/or video conference. See website for rates. 

 

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.

 

Weekly Zoom Workshop

 

Get feedback on a finished script or one you’re just getting started on. 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 way to keep yourself focused and to connect with other playwrights across the country. 

 

We meet (virtually) Thursdays from 7 - 9:30pm EST.  Check out our website for more details and rates — and arrange to sit in on a session and see for yourself.

 

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. 

 

Please visit our website for further Info and Rates: 

www.theplaywrightsgroup.com

 

Contact us at 

scripts@theplaywrightsgroup.com


Fresh Words call for submissions for Special Anthology titled 'Contemporary One Act Plays' (Volume 2)

Website

Deadline: May 25, 2022

Fresh Words is a new International Literary Magazine which aims at being a storehouse of best contemporary literature.  It  will publish 12 times a year. It will be available in both print (paperback) as well as eBook format.  

We are also publishing special anthologies on one act plays.  

Submission guidelines:

Maximum 3 submissions.

You can send one-act play (Maximum 15 pages for each work).

Also send a summary of the work.

All submissions to be sent to freshwordsmagazine@gmail.com

Please mention 'Submission for 'Contemporary One Act Plays' (Volume 2)' in the subject line of email.

Act One, One Act Festival 2022

Website

Deadline: May 30, 2022

July 6th - Aug 13, 2022

PLEASE NOTE WE HAVE A ROLLING SUBMISSION POLICY WHICH MEANS WE PICK PLAYS AS THEY ARE SUBMITTED SO WAITING UNTIL THE DEADLINE IS NOT ADVISED.

Act One: One Act Festival is now accepting plays for its 2022 festival. The Secret Theatre seeks to promote new work and emerging playwrights through our annual One Act Festival. We are delighted to be back after a 2 year hiatus due to Covid.

No fee to submit or produce. Please note we have increased the prize values!

• $250 Cash Prize for Best Play
• $100 Cash Prize for Best Director
• $75 Cash Prize for Best Actor
• $75 Cash Prize for Best Actress

• Each Play is guaranteed multiple performances [the exact number is decided once our final selection is made. Factors include the length of plays but is not usually less than 4 performance.

Guidelines:

• Plays must be between 10 – 20 minutes in length. Preference given to plays that have not been produced before. Timings must be accurate please overestimate if not sure. We will reject any play longer than 20 mins.

• Playwrights are responsible for selecting the director and cast. (We may be able to help you if you do not have a director but preference will be given to playwrights who can provide their own directors and actors.)

• Easy to produce. (If you have a play which for instance includes a swimming pool, a large amount of sets and props, or anything else too elaborate or is impossible to cast we may reject it.)

• Please submit plays in PDF or Word format only.

• We will divide selected plays into more programs, and selected Playwrights will be informed on a rolling basis.

Apply HERE: https://form.jotform.com/92725721858972

The Secret Theatre
4402 23rd Street
LIC, NY 11101
At Court Square on the E, M, G and 7 train. (Between 44 Rd and 44 Ave)

Sunday, May 22, 2022

2022 Marion Thauer Brown Audio Drama Scriptwriting Competition

Website

Deadline: May 28th 2022

Attention Audio Drama Scriptwriters: The 2022 Marion Thauer Brown Audio Drama Scriptwriting Competition is accepting adventure and comedy entries!

Greetings audio drama scriptwriters!

The MTB Audio Drama Scriptwriting Competition celebrates exciting aural storytelling with a $250 first prize and $100 second-place prize. Authors retain all script rights.

The focus for this, the tenth and final year of the MTB competition, is adventure and comedy scripts to engage and amuse audiences.

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

Please keep to one entry per author.

Scripts should run no longer than 30 minutes (approximately 30 pages of script)

The script should be your original work/story. Adaptation 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 appropriate for listeners of all ages by meeting the following conventions:

1) Avoid swearing, which includes “damn,” and “hell” and “God.” Failure to do so 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 or overly descriptive details.

Given the current world situation, please refrain from submitting dystopian/pandemic fiction. This isn’t to say the subject can’t make for compelling drama, but a goal of this competition is to foster scripts that provide an escape for audiences of all ages from this topic. It’s fine if things start out dire for characters to spur conflict, but try to leave them in a better place by you story’s conclusion. Or at least most/some of them.

Make sure your script is action/plot driven. To meet this criteria (and prevent repurposed stage plays) each script should have at least one location change.
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.

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Overtime Theater is seeking new works from LGBTQ+ playwrights for its 2022 New Play Development Series

Website

Deadline: May 28, 2022 1:59 PM 

The Overtime Theater in San Antonio, Texas is seeking new works from LGBTQ+ playwrights for its 2022 New Play Development Series in June. 

The chosen play will be given a staged reading at the Overtime Theater in celebration of National LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The script submissions window is open from March 18, 2022 until 11:59 p.m. May 28, 2022.

In light of Covid-19 protocols, the Overtime Theater is seeking plays that require one to five actors. Previously unproduced full-length and one-act plays are welcome, as well as longform monologues. The chosen play (or plays) will be given two rehearsals and one staged reading, which includes an audience feedback session.

The purpose of this program is to give new and seasoned playwrights an opportunity to further develop new works.

Plays that have been selected for a staged reading in the 2022 New Play Development Series include: “Coco Queens” by LaDarrion Williams, “Blurred Life” by Dawn Xavier-Franklin, “Lucky Numbers” by Hope Hommersand, and “The Reverend Dr. Paul(i) Murray by Ada A.

Devoted to producing new and original work, the Overtime is particularly interested in bold, innovative plays from across the LGBTQ+ spectrum that are both provocative and entertaining.

For environmental reasons, the Overtime Theater is unable to accept script submissions delivered by mail or in person. Only submissions in a Word document or PDF will be considered. Applicants should use the title of the play as the name of the document, followed by the full name of the playwright. One play per applicant. The Overtime accepts submissions from writers based in the U.S. or Canada.

The Overtime Theater, an all-volunteer organization, compensates playwrights with one equal share of donations to our tip jar at the end of the play’s one-night presentation.

Submissions should be sent to submissions@theovertimetheater.org. Attn: Jade Esteban Estrada, artistic director. Deadline is 11:59 p.m. May 28, 2022.

Friday, May 20, 2022

The No Sleep Horror Podcast seeks scripts

Website

Deadline: none given

We’d love to see more script submissions, as these have proven to work very well on the show. Scripts should ideally last between 20 and 40 minutes, and star 2 or more characters, with more being preferable. Please include a word count with your script, and a spoiler-free list of characters with speaking roles. If you’re new to scriptwriting and you’d like an example of how to structure and format an audio-only script, you can download an example.

Please make sure your script is written as an audio drama. We can’t adapt scripts written as a screenplay, or scripts that heavily feature visual cues. Anything not written in an audio drama format will not be accepted.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Please email us at submissions@thenosleeppodcast.com.

If your story is selected, you may be asked to work with the story editor on edits or tweaks to ensure your story is as perfect for the show as it can be.

Feel free to introduce yourself and say hello, but things like cover letters or CV’s aren’t required.

Please be considerate of other authors waiting for a response. Choose one or two of your best works and submit those via an attachment in a single email. Please don’t send link-dumps, or refer us to an entire anthology of your work. Similarly, please don’t send rapid-fire submissions. Ideally wait a few weeks between submissions. This is a polite request and not a rule however, and if you have a burning desire to send another story over in the meantime, go for it.

Stories can appear elsewhere. Previously published or performed stories are fine, as long as you hold the rights to grant usage to The NoSleep Podcast. However, stories which have not already previously appeared in audio form will have priority.
Please do not re-submit stories that have already been passed on. If we think a story could work with certain changes or rewrites, we’ll reach out to you and let you know. This applies to all stories, including holiday specials.

If you’re submitting a story for a holiday special (Christmas, Halloween etc) then say so in the subject line of the email. This is super important! If you don’t do this then there’s a good chance it’ll get overlooked for a specific episode.

Only submit your own work. We can’t adapt stories without the permission of the author.

If for some reason you’ve decided to withdraw your submission, let us know immediately. Due to the extremely fast turnaround time, a story might be put into production on the same day it’s accepted. By submitting a story, you’re granting us permission to adapt it.

We cannot provide a personalized response to every author individually. Similarly, requests for writing advice or critiques will probably go unanswered. However, even if a story is rejected you will hear from us saying so as long as the submission falls within our guidelines.

If your story submission has been posted online at any point, please provide us with a link so we can share the text version with our listeners. Secondly, when including a word count, please include the exact word count rather than an estimate. Thanks!

Due to an ever-increasing volume of submissions and a number of documents which are almost impossible to format, we are now requesting the following formatting requirements for submissions going forward:

No tabbed indents.
If you need to remove tabbed indents from your submission document, an easy way to batch remove them is find/replace ^t with nothing in the replace field.

Documents where you’ve created tabbed indents by pressing space bar a bunch of times will be automatically rejected.

Please spend some time on editing and proofreading your document.
We get dozens of submissions a month with mistakes so obvious that you couldn’t fail to miss them on an editing pass, leading us to believe that these editing passes aren’t being done. Obvious things like sentences ending half way through, nonsense typos that aren’t real words etc. Sometimes we find these in the opening paragraph.

Keep the header/footer blank.

Stick to one font and don’t use fancy title fonts or similar.
We format the documents to Calibri 14 so it’s a waste of your time. If your document is already Calibri 14 then we’ll love you more.

Keep the prose left aligned.
Nobody wants to read a 4000 word center aligned story.

Only use one space between words.
We get submissions with two, three or even four spaces between words at random and it’s an absolute pain to fix if the amount of spaces fluctuates. If we have to spend hours deleting spaces from your document, it won’t be considered.

Give the document a sensible file name.
Title – Author is ideal. Make it as easy as possible for us to search for, find and assess your story. HotSexySubmission.doc might seem funny at the time, but it’s less funny when your story gets overlooked because we can’t recall the filename to locate it!

Give your story an extra editing pass for superfluous commas and run-on sentences.
These are the bane of our lives as editors of an audio production because excessive commas can be extremely disruptive to the voice actors. If your 150 word paragraph is one sentence long with twelve commas, it shouldn’t be. This is the single biggest issue that takes up our editorial time and we’d like to see more authors making a concerted effort to fix this stuff up before submitting. You don’t need to guide the reader by the hand to quite the degree some people do with commas, they’re capable of parsing sentences with only the most mandatory of commas in place. Go through your story and remove any commas that don’t absolutely need to be there when you’re writing for audio.

If you post your stories to Reddit, please remove the Reddit formatting before sending it in.
Your submissions shouldn’t be rife with asterisks and underscores framing a bunch of words. Likewise, please edit things like ‘I’m posting this on Reddit because’ or even ‘I’m typing this’ or similar unless it’s mandatory to the plot (for eg it’s framed as something that’s been written up and is then being read by another person). If you want your story to be adapted on the podcast then it should be from the perspective of being spoken aloud. We do audio drama adaptations, not narrations. There are many great horror narrators out there but it’s a different medium and requires different presentation.

Remember that somebody has to do all these things.
You might have a reason why you use three spaces between words, or center align, or have a complex and unintuitive filename, but someone has to fix it. If it’s left to us to fix thousands of typos, superfluous spaces, tabbed indents etc then that’s (much, much) less time we have to focus on selecting stories and giving people opportunities to be on the show. If it’s something generic that the editors can fix, it’s something you can fix before you send it in. The great thing about digital is that you can save as many copies of a file as you want. If you want your prose version to have tabbed indents, that’s great! Save another copy without them to submit to places who don’t want them. If it’s in your muscle memory to double space between words and you just can’t break the habit, cool! But you’re also able to find/replace double space with single space. If you don’t have time to proofread and edit your story in general, then… actually there’s no excuse for that, it just means you’re only doing part of your job as a writer.

If you forget to do any of this, don’t worry!
Unless it’s incredibly obvious that you’ve made zero effort, we’ll still consider your story. You don’t need to send in six revisions fixing things.

This only applies to submissions going forward.
If you’ve already submitted something filled with tabbed indents or something then we might frown at it but we won’t hold it against you. Please don’t send in revisions of existing submissions.

When you’re submitting somewhere, you want to do everything you can to make it as easy as possible for the editors to accept it. Everything we get submitted has to be edited and adapted into a uniform script type for our voice actors. If we have two equally great stories and one has been submitted with care in the presentation and the other hasn’t, and will take hours longer to edit, then we’re going to go with the former every time. If we have to spend 10-15 minutes just preparing your document for you so it’s readable for assessment then we don’t have that 10-15 minutes to spend making an awesome podcast.

Unless it’s obvious that you’ve flagrantly ignored our submissions guidelines, you will hear back whether it’s an acceptance or a rejection. We’re in a place where we’re very on top of things and nothing is slipping through the cracks. If you haven’t heard back then it’s because we have nothing to tell you right now. As soon as your story’s been selected or rejected, you’ll know. Especially with flash fiction; if you listen to the show, you’ll know that our flash fiction episodes only happen generally once a season, so we’re simply unable to be constantly assessing the hundreds of flash fic submissions we get a week. Now that flashfic submissions are temporarily closed this is less of an issue, but if you have a pending flash fiction submission then please be patient.

Please include the phrase ‘I’m bracing myself for The NoSleep Podcast‘ in your submission email.

Sunday, May 15, 2022

Paradox Theatre Works’ second annual New Works Festival Showcase 2022: THE LIVING ROOM

Website

Deadline: June 1, 2022

Submissions are now being accepted for Paradox Theatre Works’ second annual New Works Festival Showcase 2022, entitled “THE LIVING ROOM”. 

Seeking original short plays 10 minutes in length that have not been produced in the Chicago area before, from playwrights from across the globe. This year’s festival is focused on scenes that occur in “The Living Room”. 
  • There are requirements to the plays so please read the rules carefully.
  • Only 9 entries will be selected. 
  • The winning entries will be produced by Paradox Theatre Works and provided a venue, audience, directors and actors to perform your play live at our “The Living Room” New Works Festival Showcase 2022 in October. 
  • The production will be in front of a live audience and recorded. It will subsequently be posted after the production on our website.
Seeking original monologues and original spoken word pieces. There is no submission fee. There will be 2 prizes awarded. There is no fee to submit nor to be produced if chosen.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
  • Scripts must be original.
  • Scripts should stay between 8 and 10 minutes.
  • Each play must take place in The Living Room.
  • Your available set will consist of one coffee table, one rug under the coffee table, two accent chairs and one sofa. 
  • Your play must be limited to between two and four characters.
  • Scripts that copy the exact plotline of existing movies, plays, TV series, and books will not be considered. 
  • No more than five submissions allowed per playwright.
  • Please include a cover sheet for your submissions. This is requested by the play reading committee. Submission cover sheets should have Play title, author’s name, place of residence, mobile number, e-mail that is checked regularly, and an author bio of approximately 75 words. You are welcome to include a brief play synopsis here as well. 
  • The first page of the script should provide the name of characters and brief description of personality.
  • Selected plays will be fully produced live onstage with a video posted on our website after the end of run.
  • We reserve the right to cast plays with the best actor for the work. Actors portraying characters may not be able to match every physical look, attribute or identity. Plays must be typed in 12-point font, pages numbered, double-spaced and sent in PDF format. 
  • Deadline June 1, 2022
  • Send email using subject line: 10 Minute Play Submission
  • Send the email to: ParadoxTheatreWorks@gmail.com
  • $50 prize for the play voted Audience Favorite and $50 prize for the play voted Jury Favorite will be awarded after the final show. 
  • Questions can be addressed to the email above or visit www.paradoxtheatreworks.com for more info.
Additionally,
  • The playwright may submit up to 5 plays.
  • We prefer plays that have never been produced anywhere but require plays never produced in the Chicagoland area. 
  • Submissions will be confirmed after receipt within two weeks. 
  • The 9 Plays selected to be produced will be announced on our website in August 2022 and those playwrights emailed at that time for further instructions. 
  • The 2 winning playwrights of the $50 prizes will be listed in a final email to all of the 9 chosen entrants along with a video link to the production. This info will be also available on our website in November.
  • There are no fees associated with this production to any of the playwrights.

Stories Found submission guidelines

Website

Deadline: None given

Got a funny story to share? We’re actively seeking featured storytellers for the Stories Found podcast!

Each episode features weird, funny, and mostly true stories from… writers, playwrights, storytellers, and YOU.

What We’re Looking For

We want your off the wall, absurd, and hilarious stories. The odd situations that you stumbled into the middle of, your weird encounters with other humans, or your embarrassing, but cathartic moments. We want to hear all about it!

Look, it’s been a long pandemic and we’re trapped at home in Austin, Texas, and we’re tired of hearing our own stories. SEND US YOURS!

We love stories, but we’re also happy to accept your funny 10 minute plays, sketches, poems, etc. If it’s funny and can be recorded, we want it.

Send it to submissions@storiesfound.com


How Does This Work?

1. Submit your story to us at submissions@storiesfound.com

2. If your story is a great fit, we’ll reach out and tell you how awesome and funny you are.

3. Record your story.You can record your story on your own and send us the file (we can help!)
OR, we will help you record the story, play, or sketch via an audio-only Zoom session.
OR, If you have a recording from a prior performance, we can use that too (as long as you own the rights) and will be happy to get it podcast-ready for you.

4. We’ll set up a time for a short recorded interview about you and your story.

5. That’s it, you’re famous now.

Talking It Out Virtual Arts Festival seeks short plays, one-acts & full-lengths

Website

Deadline: May 31, 2022 11:59 EST

Submissions for plays for the upcoming 2022-2023 season of the Talking It Out Virtual Arts Festival in support of mental health awareness will be accepted this May for Mental Health Awareness Month beginning May 1st at 12am EST. Please read below for more details.

This year, we will be accepting submissions for short plays, (less than 20 minutes) one-act plays, (20-40 minutes) & full-length plays (60-120 minutes) of all genres, including comedy, drama, sci-fi, horror, experimental, etc. 

The one requirement - in terms of subject matter - is that all plays should deal with the topic of mental illness. (i.e. anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, etc.)

Depending on the length and quality of the submissions received, our November 2022 performance will feature between 5-6 short plays, our March 2023 performance will feature between 2-4 one-act plays, and our July 2023 performance will feature 1 full-length play.

There is no submission fee, and playwrights are welcome to submit as many plays as they wish.

Plays that have received a previous reading or production are eligible, as long as they are unpublished.

Tickets to the festival will be free, but we will be accepting donations. Half will be donated to a non-profit organization dedicated to direct action & relief for those struggling with mental illness, while the other half will be evenly distributed amongst the participating artists.

Our submission deadline is May 31st at 11:59pm EST. 

Playwrights will be notified by July 31st at the very latest if their play is selected for inclusion in the festival.

Playwrights who are interested in submitting should send each submission via email to Literary Manager Angelo Lorenzo at talkingitoutfest@gmail.com under the subject line "Talking It Out Play Submission - INSERT PLAY NAME HERE". 

Please also provide us with a brief synopsis & approximate run time of your play(s) in the body of your email.

Saturday, May 14, 2022

Carlo Annoni International Playwriting Prize 2022

Website

Deadline: April 30, 2022

The deadline has been moved forward by a couple of weeks to
Deadline: May 15, 2022

Carlo Annoni International Playwriting Prize accepts plays on any topic affecting the LGBTQ+ community, and the promotion of diversity in love, society, politics and culture.

We dedicate the 2022 Carlo Annoni Prize to all those individuals that fight to see their right to love respected both in Italy and in the world, and to those experiencing discrimination because of their identity.

No majority will ever be able to abolish a minority’s feeling of diversity from their consciousness (Pier Paolo Pasolini)

Two plays (one in English and one in Italian) will be awarded the amount of 1.000 Euros each.

Special mentions might be given to:
  • BEST COMEDY
  • BEST SHORT PLAY: a special mention will be given to a short play of a maximum of 10 minutes length
  • NEXT GENERATION: A special mention will be assigned to a play chosen by a jury of under 25s

Plays must be submitted via email at info@premiocarloannoni.eu by 30th April 2022
For info, jury details and regulations, please check
http://premiocarloannoni.eu/guidelines/?lang=en
No participation fee is required.

We are happy to consider plays that have already been performed.

The award ceremony will take place in September 2022.



Break A Leg Reading Series / Short Play Competition

Website

Deadline: May 31, 2022

Submissions accepted electronically at breakaleg.plays@gmail.com.

Break A Leg has opened submissions for our:

One Act Slam Reading Series / Short Play Competition.

Make us Laugh! - Make us Cry! - Win $100!

ONE ACT SLAM DETAILS:

We are looking for short plays (no musicals/no one person shows/no child roles under age 15) that have not yet been produced or published. 

One Acts 5-10 pages (8-10 minutes) accepted from May 3rd to May 31st, 2022. A cash prize of $100 will be awarded to the winner of the One Act Slam by audience vote as part of a live reading taking place in Midtown NYC in September. 

In the Subject of the email please put the title of the play and the reading series to which you are submitting.

Submission Details for the One Act Slam 2022:

Plays must still be in the development / reading stage, with no prior fully staged / off book performances. Plays will be performed on book.

Due to the high volume of scripts received, WE ARE LOOKING FOR ONE ACTS 5- 10 PAGES (8-10 minutes) ONLY – PLAYS FOR OTHER CATEGORIES that don’t fit the one act criteria (Art of Science, Historically Speaking, Etc.) / FULL LENGTH PLAYS WILL NOT BE READ

Scripts 5-10 Pages submitted for the recent Delicious Comedy Call for Submissions are automatically being considered for the One Act Slam. PLEASE DO NOT RESUBMIT THEM.

Submissions accepted electronically at breakaleg.plays@gmail.com.

In the Subject of the email, please put the title of the play and the reading series to which you are submitting.

Include your full name and phone number.

Attach plays in PDF form

Characters should be human or be able to be played by a human (no real animals). No child characters that cannot be portrayed by an adult. No Musicals. 

Characters Ages 40+ are encouraged

Due to the number of scripts we receive and the limited size of our staff, we are not able to respond personally to every play or to offer feedback.

Resubmissions of plays previously sent for consideration should be for updated drafts only, and please include the date of your original submission.

A cash prize of $100 will be awarded to the winner of the One Act Slam by audience vote as part of a live reading taking place in Midtown NYC in September.

At this time, we do not compensate playwrights outside of NYC for travel / accommodations to see the live reading, but we do take a lot of pictures and post on social media.

For any further questions, please contact the Literary Manager at: Breakaleg.plays@gmail.com.

Friday, May 13, 2022

The Courtship of Winds submission guidelines

 Website

Deadline: none given

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

We are interested in short verse plays and one-act plays.

The Courtship of Winds publishes poetry, fiction, short dramatic pieces, essays, photography, art, and short pieces of music. Please submit no more than six poems at a time. Prose should generally not exceed 10, 000 words. Simultaneous submissions are fine, provided the author immediately withdraws any work accepted elsewhere. Please withdraw work only through Submittable, indicating in the "reason" field if you are withdrawing part or all of your submission.  Courtship does not publish previously published work.  Authors retain all rights to their work.

Please use Submittable for all submissions. Please do not submit work in a particular genre more than once in a six-month period.Work is considered year-round for two issues.  You should expect a response within six months. We regret that we cannot currently pay for accepted work.


Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Left Coast Theatre Co.'s newest anthology reading - "Unheard Voices"

 Website

Deadline: May 22, 2022 11:59 PM

This will be an anthology of 6 or 7 pieces written by and for members of queer communities who have been underserved by the broader/mainstream LGBTQ+ movement. Are you trans, non-binary, QTBIPOC, bi, pan, ace, aro, demi, neurodivergent, have a disability, or are part of any community that has been underserved by the LGBTQ+ community? We want to hear your stories!

Please submit your script by 11:59pm on Sun, 5/22

Chosen scripts will be part of a staged reading in August and will be considered for a full production in 2023.

Full submission details can be found on our website.

We ask for submitters to fill out the following form to submit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMsBSqPg7qzfGxSXOSRjC3P-ecsx8mafefuMDAiKD9R2iyWw/viewform

Play Requirements:

  • Play must not have been previously produced in the San Francisco Bay Area
  • Plot must concern those who have been underserved by the broader/mainstream LGBTQ+ movement.
  • No more than four (4) characters
  • Simple and minimal set pieces and props
  • No more than 15 pages, or the equivalent of 10-15 minutes in length. Please do not submit longer scripts – they will not be read

Scripts must be submitted in the following format

  • 1” margins on all sides
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
  • Stage directions in parentheses and indented 2.5” from the left and 1” from the right
  • Character names indented 3” from the left
  • Dialogue is not indented either on the left or the right
  • Include complete contact information on the front page as noted. This will allow us to notify you whether your play has been selected
  • Include a one-paragraph synopsis of the plot of the play as shown in the template

Unheard Voices is a development project. The script you submit should be the one you want performed at the reading, but the playwrights selected will have the opportunity to do some rewriting before the final production.

There is no limit on the number of scripts any one playwright may submit; however, each script must be submitted separately.

9th Annual Christopher Hewitt Award

Website

Deadline: June 15, 2022

A&U Magazine is currently accepting entries for the ninth annual Christopher Hewitt Award. Named in honor of A&U’s first literary editor, the award showcases outstanding responses to the AIDS pandemic and the realities of individuals living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in the genres of fiction, poetry, drama, and creative nonfiction.

Prize: $75
Entry fee: None
Submission deadline: June 15, 2022
Judges: Winners will be selected by the following judges, by category.
Poetry: Philip F. Clark
Fiction: Raymond Luczak
Creative Nonfiction: Jay Vithalani
Drama: Bruce Ward

Publication: Winners and named runners-up will be published in upcoming issues of A&U.

How to Submit: Email Word (.doc or .docx files) of your work to Editor in Chief David Waggoner by emailing mailbox [at] aumag [dot] org. Please indicate in the subject line that your submission is for the Christopher Hewitt Award; include your name and genre in the subject line as well. Your name or any other personal identifying information should not appear on your manuscript. Multiple submissions are accepted, but please submit each separately.

Guidelines: All submissions must be HIV/AIDS-related and previously unpublished. All styles are welcomed. Writers may submit more than one work.

Fiction and creative nonfiction should be 1,200 words or fewer, double-spaced. Reasonable exceptions will be considered.

Drama may be an excerpt from a longer work or a ten-minute play (1,400-1,600 words, no more than ten pages, Dramatists Guild format). For drama excerpts, include, on a separate page, a synopsis and a full cast of characters.

We reserve the right to excerpt longer pieces for print, in consultation with the author; works in their entirety will be printed on the web.

Rights: We secure first North American serial rights and electronic archival rights (posting on the Web and in digital issues).

If any genre lacks a clear winner, fewer than four awards may be given. All entries will be considered for publication.

Monday, May 9, 2022

BMI Workshop for Librettists

Website

Deadline: June 1, 2022

There is no fee to apply for or participate in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.

Musical Theatre Bookwriting Basics

This nine-month course explores the fundamentals of writing book for the musical theatre.

Drama Desk Award winning bookwriter Adam Mathias (he/him) unlocks the toolkit for musical theatre librettists. Through lecture, discussion, and assignments students learn how to apply the fundamentals of playwriting to the craft of creating musicals. As a class, writers deep-dive into the DNA of the musical theatre canon — from the Golden Age through today — dissecting what works and why and then applying it to their own work.

Applicants should have a book-musical project in mind to develop over the course of the year; this musical could be anywhere from an early concept to an early draft.

The course runs September through May in New York City, Covid restrictions permitting. Prospective members should live in the city or be able to commute weekly.

Librettists Workshop

After completing the Bookwriting Basics program, writers may apply to join the established Librettists Workshop group. Not all writers who apply will be invited to join.

Applicants must submit two writing samples, at least one of which must include comedic content.

Either or both samples could be:a 10-page or longer excerpt from a script or other genre
a complete one-act
a full-length script

Any of these may be in-progress, produced and/or published material.

Scripts from genres other than playscripts or musical theatre scripts are also acceptable; however, theatrical comedy scenes are preferred to stand-up or sketch material.

In addition, writers must include a bio or resume.
Schedule

Musical Theatre Bookwriting Basics — Tuesdays 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Librettists Workshop — Mondays 6:15 - 8:15 p.m.

All sessions take place at the BMI Offices in lower Manhattan from September through May. All prospective members must arrange to live in the greater New York City area or be able to commute weekly September through May. Please do not apply if this is not possible for you.

Applications must be submitted by June 1st.

Sunday, May 8, 2022

New Voices: Playwriting 2022

Website

Deadline: May 9, 2022

New Voices is fueled by the ideas of student playwrights, who are tasked with writing one‐act plays or musicals in response to an open‐ended question. Shows are selected by the “New Voices Board,” consisting of Olney Theatre administrative staff and student

Program leaders. Playwrights are invited, but not required, to participate in any of the other five pathways.

The deadline for writing submissions and Writers’ Profile Form is May 9th.

Writers: your job is to write a one-act play or musical that reads a minimum of 10 minutes in length and a maximum of 30 minutes in length. Plays must be written in script format with dialogue, stage directions, etc. No stories written as narratives will be accepted. From all of our writing submissions, 3-6 one-acts will be selected to be produced in this year’s program. Your show must respond to this prompt:

Tell us about a time when a situation or event made you change your perspective on a major aspect of your life.

We urge you to be as creative as you can. Think outside the box, and write about what is important to you.

Email writing submissions to teencouncil@olneytheatre.org. The email’s subject must read “Last Name, First Name: Writing Submission” and contain a PDF of your script.

Additionally, please submit the writers’ profile form online. Any one-act submitted without the accompanying form will not be considered.

Writers’ Profile Form:

https://forms.gle/JieerN8z37SDwCHN8

Submit by May 9th, 2022.

Barely Seen submission guidelines

Website

Deadline: none given

-Submit as many ten-minute or one-act plays as you like, (Up to two for Write Bites) including previously published or produced plays in a Word or PDF file to barelyseeneditor@gmail.com. Make sure to title your email (Last Name)_(Play), and please note that any plays Barely Seen has already published won't be considered for publication a second time.
 
-Any style/theme of play is allowed, but plays that include inappropriate content won't be published.
 
-All ages are welcome to submit work. If submitting to the Featured Poet/Playwright of the month, please include a headshot and a bio in the body of your email stating your name and a little bit about you.
 
-If you would like to be published under a pseudonym or nickname instead of your given name, please include your preference in your note.

-I will try to get back to you within two weeks; if I haven't contacted you by then, send me another email checking up on your submission. I might have received your file and just not been able to get to it yet.
 
-If you want to be considered for Featured Writer of the Month and/or Write Bites, make sure to send in your plays by the 22nd of each month.

-If you have any questions about the submission process, please feel free to reach out to me at barelyseenquestions@gmail.com.

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Chain Theatre Play Festival 2022

Website

Deadline: May 22, 2022

APPLICATION

Please read carefully before filling out your application.

PARTICIPATION

Plays are chosen for the Chain Play Festival based on originality, inspiration, and innovation. The background or experience of the playwright is taken into consideration, but submissions will be judged on the quality of the play. All themes or genres are welcome. Full Length Play runtime must be shorter than 2 hours. One Act Play runtime must be no shorter than 10 minutes and no longer than 1 hour. Shows will be performed in person for a vaccinated audience.

Every show will have the ability to LIVE STREAM for at least one performance.

Chain Theatre is curating the event, not producing it - each production is responsible for staffing their own director, design team and cast.

All shows must be Non-Union. We plan on streaming performances.

You will assign a contact person for the piece; that person will be considered your play’s producer should it be part of the Festival.

Though we will be doing overall festival promotion, you are responsible for the marketing of your piece.

All members of your production team and cast must be vaccinated to participate. We will need proof of vaccination at the organizational meeting should you be accepted into the festival. Preferred proof of vaccination will be through the New York State Excelsior app available on your phone.

For further information of current COVID protocols at the Chain Theatre please visit: https://www.chaintheatre.org/covid-19-guidelines

APPLICATIONS

The deadline for submitting to the 2022 Chain Play Festival will be May 22, 2022. There are no submission or participation fees for the Chain Play Festival. Applications may be downloaded from our website. Complete the following application and you will be directed to information on submitting your play.

After completing the application form you will need to email a PDF (no Word, Pages, or Final Draft files, please!) of the script, and a brief cover letter explaining your goals for the play.

Applications ask for a contact name, address, phone, and email. Show contacts will be the one contact point between Chain Theatre and your production. The email given will be the sole email address that Chain Theatre will use to contact you regarding acceptance, any issues regarding participation, and festival communications.

We will need an estimated running time of your piece that will be factored into the programming. As such, we will enforce this time limit. If during your dress rehearsal or performance the play runs significantly over, we may insist that you revise or forfeit your participation in the festival and any ticket split revenue.

Applications that are not complete will not be accepted. No materials will be returned.

ACCEPTANCE

Notification of acceptance status will be sent by email on or about May 28, 2022.

There will only be a maximum of 4 Full length shows included in this festival. One Act Plays will have an easier time getting accepted.

If you are accepted into the festival, your email will inform you of the time and location of the organizational meeting to be held on May 31, 2022.

 IT IS REQUIRED AND MANDATORY THAT SOMEONE REPRESENTING YOUR SHOW BE AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. 

This meeting is where you will receive your performance schedule and meet your fellow participants. If there are known conflicts to your scheduled performances, this is a great opportunity to work out alternate dates with Chain Theatre and your fellow participants. The most complex scheduling issues are much more easily solved talking face-to face with everyone in the room.

Everyone must be vaccinated. There will be no exceptions for any reason. All Chain staff on site will be vaccinated as well.

Each accepted ONE ACT show will be given 5 free hours, FULL LENGTH shows will be given 10 free hours of rehearsal space at one of the Chain Theatre rehearsal rooms. Availability and scheduling of these hours is at the Chain Theatre’s discretion. They must be used to rehearse the show in the festival and cannot be gifted, sold or used for other purposes. Additional rehearsal hours/locations are the production’s responsibility. If you choose to rehearse at one of the Chain Rehearsal studios you can book subsidized rehearsal space for this production for $10 an hour.

Each accepted show will receive a code for ticket tracking. Each show will receive 20% of the net box office for every ticket purchased using their code. (Code use for online sales is mandatory to receive this box office split. No exceptions.)


SCHEDULING

The precise number of shows is TBD, based on number of submissions and running lengths. Each One Act show will be guaranteed at least three performances and each Full length show will be guaranteed 4 performances with a possible one show extension. However, depending on the schedule there may be more. Performance blocks will be at 7 and 9pm during the week and will run throughout the weekend between 12-9pm.

There will be limited time between shows for changeovers. Keep in mind that when you are striking or setting up your show, another show is also likely striking or setting up. Minimalism rules. PLEASE FACTOR THIS TIME INTO YOUR TECHNICAL PLANS. Houses will be opened 5 minutes before the start time and will start promptly.

VOTING

In person voting will be collected by paper ballot provided on site.

BOX OFFICE and TICKETING

Chain Theatre handles all aspects of ticketing and box office. Tickets will be $20.


TECHNICAL

You will need to keep the technical requirements of your show very simple. The Chain is equipped with a full light board and sound system, however the board will be shared by several shows and we will maintain a standard rep lighting plot. Keep light and sound cues as simple as possible. No show will be able to refocus lights. Each company will have only one cue-to-cue technical rehearsal in the venue which will be run by a Chain Theatre hired PSM. Storage space/dressing room space is also limited and will be shared by all shows. You will be given a small, unlocked area to store your props, set pieces, and costumes, which must be completely cleared at the conclusion of your performances.


Any additional equipment your show requires should be listed on your application and approved by Chain Theatre. Chain Theatre has the right to disqualify any shows that bring in unapproved technical elements. If approved, this equipment will be provided for your show by you. Chain Theatre assumes no liability for this equipment; it is your responsibility.

PUBLICITY

Chain Theatre will publicize the festival and coordinate overall press relations, including interviews and critic attendance. You may be asked to submit publicity photos and PR materials. You are also responsible for publicizing your own show through your own press releases, mailers, handbills, busking and/or posters. Should a critic accept your invitation to see a performance, this information must be forwarded to Chain Theatre so we may coordinate this. Chain Theatre will provide a blanket press kit to help all shows promote.

EXCLUSIVITY

If you are accepted to the Chain One Act Festival, part of our agreement prohibits the performance of your show anywhere in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut any time from acceptance into the festival through December 2022. Please keep this restriction in mind when accepting other invitations to perform your show during these months, particularly before you have received acceptance status notification from Chain Theatre.

WHAT TO DO NOW

1. Choose your show.

2. COMPLETELY fill out the application form.

3. REVIEW your completed application to make sure it is complete and correct.

4. Ensure that the PDFs of your script and cover letter are included in your submission email.

Please do not send under separate cover. If there are technical issues, contact us at info@chaintheatre.org to discuss them.

5. Include the title of your show in the subject line of the email and on all relevant materials.

Should they become separated, this is how we will reunite them.


CONTINUE TO APPLICATION

If you still have questions, we are available to help you in advance of the deadline at info@chaintheatre.org. You may want to print and keep or bookmark these instructions and your original application for your reference.

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