Deadline: July 7, 2023 11:59 PM
Theatre Lab, the professional resident company of Florida Atlantic University (FAU), is now accepting applications for The 2023-24 Fair Play Initiative: a commission and development program for LGBTQ+ plays and stories. The upcoming season will mark the fourth installment of Theatre Lab’s Fair Play Initiative (FPI), a commission and development program for LGBTQ plays & stories, established and maintained through the generous support of the Our Fund Foundation.
For the 2023-24 edition, Theatre Lab will, again, commission one full-length stage play inspired by LGBTQ+ stories, experiences, and history, and provide the playwright with a $4000 award, a week-long virtual development process, and a second week-long, in-person development process and staged reading at our annual New Play Festival (March 8-10, 2024). As with all plays from this program, all future productions and publications will note “commissioned by Theatre Lab & the Our Fund Foundation as part of the Fair Play Initiative”.
Theatre Lab invites interested playwrights to submit proposals for a commissioned work. Applications are open from June 20, 2023 through 11:59pm on July 7, 2023. Interested playwrights should email a bio (200 words or less), a brief summary of their proposed play (200 words or less), and 3 pages of sample work to theatrelab@fau.edu using the subject line: 2023 FPI APP.
After a review of the submissions, the successful candidate will be identified and the commission awarded no later than 8/15/2023, along with an initial stipend to begin the work. The selected candidate will demonstrate a lengthy history of supporting and engaging with the LGBTQ+ community and a deep understanding of the issues, stories, and concerns within the community.
A first draft of the script will be delivered by November of 2023. Upon delivery of that draft, the playwright will receive their second stipend. An artistic team will be assembled, including a director, dramaturg, stage manager, and cast for the virtual development week by early January.
In January-February of 2024, the play will receive a week-long development in the virtual world. This will provide the playwright approximately 10-15 hours of rehearsals with a director, dramaturg, and actors to hear their play for the first time and begin the work of rewrites.
The final stipend will be paid after the in-person development week, featuring 15-20 hours of rehearsal with a director, dramaturg, and actors and concluding in a public reading during Theatre Lab’s annual New Play Festival - the first weekend in March 2024. The playwright will be present for the entire rehearsal process, the reading, and take part in a post-show discussion with the audience about the play and the process. Theatre Lab will then retain “right of first refusal” for a world premiere production during or before the 2025-26 season.
If you have any questions please email theatrelab@fau.edu. No phone calls please.