Deadline: June 15, 2025
The Oswego Players were established in 1938 as a non-profit community theater organization dedicated to live theater productions and theater education for Oswego area residents. Consistent with those goals, a playwriting contest was established to promote the creation of original, one-act plays by contemporary authors.
The contest is FREE and open to any playwright who is 18 years or older and resides (or attends college) in the state of New York.
- All plays must be based on original concepts (no adaptions of any works or no verse plays), unpublished and unproduced.
- The Oswego Players reserves the right to produce and perform any of the prize winners.
- The content, theme, and time period of the play are at the discretion of the writer.
- Since a live production of the of at least one of the prize winners is planned* simplicity is highly recommended:
- One act, single set, with a run time of 20 to 30
- Written so it can be staged with minimal set, props, lighting and sound effects, and costume design.
- The story should not exceed eight characters due to the potential unavailability of actors.
- All entries must include a cover page which includes the name of the play, name of the playwright, and an updated address, phone number, and email address.
– 1st Prize: $250.00 – 2nd Prize: $150.00 – 3rd Prize: $75.00
Submissions must be received by June 15th of the contest year and sent either electronically to osweplay@yahoo.com or through the mail, Donald J. McCann Memorial Playwriting Contest, P.O. Box 183, Oswego, NY 13126.
The writers of any of the prize winners automatically gives permission to the Oswego Players, Inc. to make copies of the script for rehearsal purposes.
Submission of an entry will constitute agreement by the writer/author to the terms described herein.
* Consistent with the organizational goals of the Oswego Players, Inc., it is their desire to produce a live stage production of the winning entry within a year of its selection. However, the organization reserves the right to opt out of this provision due to unforeseen, extenuating circumstances.
Submission of an entry will constitute agreement by the writer/author to the terms described herein.
* Consistent with the organizational goals of the Oswego Players, Inc., it is their desire to produce a live stage production of the winning entry within a year of its selection. However, the organization reserves the right to opt out of this provision due to unforeseen, extenuating circumstances.