Deadline: May 1, 2026 11:59 PM EDT
Submissions can be 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 Oswego Players were established in 1938 as a non-profit community theater organization dedicated to live theater productions and theater education for New York State residents. Consistent with those goals, a playwriting contest was established to promote the creation of original, one-act plays by contemporary authors.
PLAYWRITING CONTEST GUIDLINES
PLAYWRITING CONTEST GUIDLINES
The contest is FREE and open to playwrights 18 years and older residing or attending college in the state of New York.
All plays must be based on original concepts (no adaptations of any works or no verse plays), unpublished and unproduced.
Only the first 100 submissions received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, May 1, 2026, will be considered for this year's contest. The Oswego Players, Inc., is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, damaged, postage due or illegible entries.
Playwrights can submit one play per contest year.
By submitting a play, playwrights grant permission to Oswego Players, Inc., to produce said play at the organization's discretion with no remuncration to the playwright beyond the contest cash prize. While it is the intention of the organization to produce the winning play, it does not guarantee a staged production.
The content, theme, and time-period of the play are at the discretion of the playwright.
Since a live production of at least one of the prize winners is planned, simplicity is highly recommended:
Since a live production 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 minutes.
Written so it can be staged with minimal set, props, lighting and sound effects, and limited period costume design.
The play should require no more than eight actors. One actor playing multiple parts is acceptable.
Written so it can be staged with minimal set, props, lighting and sound effects, and limited period costume design.
The play should require no more than eight actors. One actor playing multiple parts is acceptable.
All entries must include a cover page which includes the name of the play, name of the playwright, and a street address, phone number, and email address.
Provided there are enough entries, the following cash prizes will be awarded:
- 1st Prize: $250.00 - 2nd Prize: $150.00 - 3rd Prize: $75.00
- 1st Prize: $250.00 - 2nd Prize: $150.00 - 3rd Prize: $75.00
The prize-winning authors automatically give permission to the Oswego Players, Inc. to make copies of the script for rehearsal purposes.
Submission of an entry will constitute agreement by the playwright to the terms described herein.