Deadline: June 30, 2025
Email a Word or PDF file of your script to producer@westchesterplays.com. We will respond that we have received the script. All communications will be via email. Read the format section above for what to include.
Westchester Civic Theater (WCT) is holding another round of our 8x10 Play Festival. It will include 8, ten-minute scripts that are new. We hope one (or more) will be written by you!
WHO KILLED THE DIRECTOR?
Your job as the writer is to come up with a 10 min play using the characters provided in the opening as well as any other characters you feel you may want to add to enhance the play and solve the crime as to who killed the director and why. One catch, the opening of your play must have a character start your play by saying, "This is what happened."
At the start of the show, the attached scene: view here will provide the setup your play will be one of the 8 short plays that follow.
GRACE GODPLOP, 20's, young and a bit naive when it comes to the theatre world, originally from the south and acts like a Southern Belle. Many eyes are on her due to her charm and looks.
DONALD SPEAR, 50's, older actor and a bit of a grump, seems to be stuck doing Community Theatre and wants to some day breakout, he does not suffer fools
MORRIS CATROPHY, also in 50's, this guy IS a fool, nice man but clueless to the point where others think he cannot be that dumb
DEBBIE LITTLE, 50's-60's, loud mouth and intelligent but puts her foot in her mouth too many times, is never afraid to speak her mind and one not to mess with
KAT CROTHERS, older than 40, female, all business and no pleasure make this person a dullard
JOHNNY NICER, 30's, works with the lights and has the hots for Grace, he knows his job well and hopes to someday break away from lighting and maybe direct his own show one day
You must incorporate the theme but feel free to color outside the lines.
From script submission to performance - the process:
Phase 1: Script Submission - Due by June 30
Requirements
Ten Minutes - This is about 8 pages of dialogue in 12 pt font. While we will read all scripts, if they are much over 8 pages they will not be considered for production.
Subject Matter - Write the best story that incorporates the theme in some way.
Cast Size - No requirement. If your script is on the convention hall floor, know that we'll add in extras as appropriate to pass by in the background.
Playwright Location - We don't care where you're from. Have an amazing script, submit it!
**Format - PDF or Word. On the title page include your Name, location and email address. Do not include your name on the script pages.
Never Performed Material - We want scripts that have never been performed with set, cast and all the drama. If it went through a stage reading or two, okey doke.
Set - When writing your script, know that we have limited space, tech, and no projection. Single set works best but if things need to come in and out, that's cool we'll figure it out. We use chairs and simple items to represent the area.
You can submit as many scripts as you'd like! More the merrier
**SPECIAL OPTION - Feel like submitting 3, 2-3 minute scripts that are vignettes telling one story? Do that. We will weave each of the 2 minute scripts in-between the other 7 scripts. You can submit them in one document.
Scripts remain your property. If selected, we will produce them, perform them, take production pictures, and record them in production. The pictures will be shared and the recordings will live on our YouTube page. Beyond that, they are yours.
We look forward to reading your scripts!
Phase 2 - July 1 - July 20, 2025
We have an awesome group of people who will read all the scripts to determine which are the best fit for WCT and the production. Keeping to the ten minutes is critical! This team will reduce the submitted scripts down to 15-20. These scripts will enter Phase 3 - director matching.
Phase 3 - Script/Director Matching - July 21 - 30
8 Scripts, 8 Directors
The narrowed down selections will be shared with 8 directors (director spots still open). The directors will read the scripts and determine which they would like to direct. The core WCT team will do some fancy analysis of the 8 director's responses and complete the final matching. From there...on to casting.
Phase 4 - Three Performances
Friday, September 5, 7:00pm
Saturday, September 6, 2:00pm
Saturday, September 6, 7:00pm