Deadline: September 13, 2024
Welcome to the 5th Annual SOOP to NUTS Short Play Festival original short-play competition at our 530 Studios in Pelham, NY (28 minutes from Grand Central Station!)
FESTIVAL DATES: November 8th – 23rd, 2024 at The 530 Studios, 530 Fifth Ave, Pelham, NY.
PRIZES: 1st place: $500, 2nd place: $250, 3rd place $100.
NUMBER OF PLAYS: There will be 24 plays chosen as semi-finalists each receiving two performances (one evening / one matinee); 6 plays will be chosen for the final evening of competition.
LENGTH: one-act plays between ten and thirty minutes (no more or less!).
PARTICIPANTS: submissions may be made by any *playwright, age 18 or older. (*SOOP does not discriminate based on gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation)
FEES: there is no fee to submit, but if chosen, there is a $85 registration fee to participate.
FORMAT: plays should be submitted in English, in standard stage-play script format, saved as PDF file and submitted through our STN submission form at the bottom of this page.
SUBMISSION LIMITS: Playwrights may submit only ONE play (please send us your best work!)
Original works ONLY! Plays may have maximum of 4 cast members, with minimal sets, costumes and props. No children’s/young adult plays. No musicals.
CASTING / REHEARSAL PROCESS: If chosen, you will be responsible for all staffing (casting, director, etc) and rehearsing of your piece. SOOP can recommend actors/directors, if need be, but we make no guarantees that we can staff your piece! You are responsible for all rehearsals – SOOP will provide each play selected one free rehearsal slot in our studio space (schedule TBD), in addition to the required tech in the final week.
SOOP can provide small set pieces (chairs, tables, small loveseat, etc) as well as some more detailed props. A list will be made available to all participants. That said, we do ask that you keep ALL these requirements to a MINIMUM. Lighting will be a simple wash (lights up-lights down), sound cues can be used if provided – once again, MINIMAL and SIMPLE!
REVIEW / JUDGING PROCESS:All plays will be reviewed by SOOP administrative staff and the 24 semi-finalists will be chosen. These will be chosen on a rolling admissions basis between July 15th and September 13th, with registration due once accepted! Once all spots are filled and confirmed, we will no longer accept new submissions. DEADLINE (space permitting) is 9/13/24.
Each of those selections will receive two performances during the first weekend (Nov 8 – 10) OR the second weekend (Nov 15 – 17).
Each evening’s audience will vote anonymously and the cumulative vote from both performances of each piece will determine our *6 finalists. (*Highest amount of votes from each set of six will determine the first four finalists, then one each from the next highest vote from each weekend will determine the fifth and sixth finalist).
The six finalists will perform on the final night of the festival (Nov 23rd) and will be judged by a panel of theatre professionals comprised of playwrights, actors, directors (TBA). Past Judges have included TONY winner Cady Huffman, Sirius Broadway Radio personality Christine Pedi, Broadway actors John Treacy Egan and Kate Shindle, Broadway Producer Tracey McFarland