Deadline: July 29, 2025
Anchorage Alaska
Submit episodes electronically to dblock@midnightsuntheatre.org.
Writers must include a “treatment” of how the work will be expanded in future episodes (No more than 250 words.) Please use Open Office, Microsoft Word or PDF format.
The mission of Serial Bowl is to produce well rehearsed performances of well written episodic one acts where writers have opportunities for rewrites and edits while collaborating with teams of Directors and Actors, with the possible end result of a much longer piece of work.
How Does Serial Bowl Work?
• Teams of a Writer, Director and Actors rehearse well written pieces of episodic theatre that have a tantalizing “hook” which provides for a later continuation of the piece.
• The “one acts” are produced and performed over the course of a Friday and Saturday night.
• Audience members vote on which pieces will move on to the following episode.
• Writers of episodes selected to return write the next installment of their piece.
• Repeat this process leading up to a final performance which will see the top two winning serials performed in totality with a concluding final scene.
How does a show move on?
• The audience will vote on the pieces they would like to see continue to the next event through an online application that audiences access via their phones at the conclusion of the full performance,
• Round 1: 6 - 8 short (12-15 minute) performances. Four will be selected to continue to
Round 2.
• Round 2: Four previous winners perform. Each piece is composed of the original episode from Round 1, plus an additional episode. Combined they should be 20- 30 Minutes. Two will be selected to continue to Round 3.
• Round 3: Two previous winners perform. Each is now 45-60 minutes long which includes all of the previous performance with a continuation that finalizes the work. The Audience will vote one last time, selecting the Serial Bowl Champion!
Writers
Submit a FIRST EPISODE using the following instructions. Subsequent episodes will be requested if your script is voted to continue.
The Basics
• The first Submission should be 12-15 minutes long.
• Limit your play to no more than 4 actors.
• Scenes should anticipate very simple technical requirements - Props should be simple and few. VERY few. “Costume” should be limited to modern day clothing, other clothing actors might own personally or an extremely limited number of costume elements that might be added for effect (a crown, animal ears, etc) but NOT full costuming. Staging will allow for a table and chairs and two entrances. Do not expect anything more than a rep light hang (wash and 1-2 center specials) with no color options. Sound effects should be limited. This should be about the writing and acting, not tech.
• Your piece should be formatted for the stage, IE., no screenplays, short stories, etc. It should be printed (not hand written) in standard play format. Pages must be numbered. While it is not the only format out there, San Jose State offers a good guide based on the old CPF format at https://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/docs/handouts/Scriptwriting%20Format.pdf
Additional
• You may submit plays from any genre. Remember though, this is episodic theatre. Characters should be the primary focus followed by plot. If you are thinking of writing something that is a “statement,” make sure it can carry for a duration.
• Each episode should have a compelling angle to it that will cause audiences to want to see additional episodes. A good “cliff hanger” at the end of the episode is a typical method.
• Audiences should be able to enjoy any episode as a standalone work, but scenes should also be “open ended” enough that they may continue to a next Episode.
• The pieces do not have to be “for purpose” scenes. That is, the piece might be something you've written previously. Please make sure you own the rights to produce any previously written works.
• This will be an all ages performance with suggested age of High School age and up.
Consider this in your writing. Also consider your wish to be voted to come back. Language and topic material should be chosen appropriately.
• Each scene will be preceded by a selection of Bumper music. If you have a specific music requirement, please specify in your script, otherwise a piece of music will be chosen for you.
• Writers should be available to the producer should there be questions about their work.
• You may send multiple submissions. An Author may have more than one work in production at a time.
• You own your work. However, by submitting your play to this production you agree to allow the producers royalty free production rights for the duration of the Serial Bowl season. If your work goes on to bigger and better things, we hope you mention Midnight Sun Theatre's Serial Bowl as one of your initial performances. Writers are expected to write all episodes of their work. If a writer cannot continue or is unwilling to continue a successful series,
Producers retain the right to move forward with creative control of the concept for successive performances during the Serial Bowl season.
• Writers are expected to participate in the promotion of the event through social media.
• We expect Writers will conduct themselves at all times in a manner that positively reflects on the event, their work and the producing company.
• You may submit plays from any genre. Remember though, this is episodic theatre. Characters should be the primary focus followed by plot. If you are thinking of writing something that is a “statement,” make sure it can carry for a duration.
• Each episode should have a compelling angle to it that will cause audiences to want to see additional episodes. A good “cliff hanger” at the end of the episode is a typical method.
• Audiences should be able to enjoy any episode as a standalone work, but scenes should also be “open ended” enough that they may continue to a next Episode.
• The pieces do not have to be “for purpose” scenes. That is, the piece might be something you've written previously. Please make sure you own the rights to produce any previously written works.
• This will be an all ages performance with suggested age of High School age and up.
Consider this in your writing. Also consider your wish to be voted to come back. Language and topic material should be chosen appropriately.
• Each scene will be preceded by a selection of Bumper music. If you have a specific music requirement, please specify in your script, otherwise a piece of music will be chosen for you.
• Writers should be available to the producer should there be questions about their work.
• You may send multiple submissions. An Author may have more than one work in production at a time.
• You own your work. However, by submitting your play to this production you agree to allow the producers royalty free production rights for the duration of the Serial Bowl season. If your work goes on to bigger and better things, we hope you mention Midnight Sun Theatre's Serial Bowl as one of your initial performances. Writers are expected to write all episodes of their work. If a writer cannot continue or is unwilling to continue a successful series,
Producers retain the right to move forward with creative control of the concept for successive performances during the Serial Bowl season.
• Writers are expected to participate in the promotion of the event through social media.
• We expect Writers will conduct themselves at all times in a manner that positively reflects on the event, their work and the producing company.