Monday, January 22, 2024

Reviewing 6 Flavors of Emptiness (The Great Seal)

 A Meditation on the Great Seal

The following are six different "flavors" of emptiness that are taught by the different schools of classical Indian Buddhism.  They are culled from different texts in the lineage of Tsongkapa the Great (1357-1419).  Please note that not all of them would be called true "emptiness," but rather "selflessness" in different classical schools.


Emptiness, Flavor #1

The lack of a self which is unchanging, whole, and independent. [According to the Independent group of the Middle-Way School, this is the gross lack of a self to the person.]

Something that never changes over time. the things we think will last for a while, never last. When you talk about emptiness, something is not there. Things you thought would stay for a while, do not.


Emptiness, Flavor #2 

The lack of a self which is self-standing and substantial. ["Substantial" can mean a lot of different things; here it refers to the lack of a "driver" or "director" of the five heaps over the five heaps.  According to the Mind-Only School, this is the lack of a self to the person.  According to the Independent group, this is the subtle lack of a self to the person.]

 No one is in charge; you don’t have the control you think you have. You are not even the boss of your body. 


Emptiness, Flavor #3

The fact that a visible object and the valid perception which grasps the visible object are devoid of any separate substance. ["Devoid of any separate substance" means: "It is not true that they come from a separate karmic seed; rather, they both arise from the same karmic seed."  According to the Mind-Only School, this is the lack of a self to things.  According to the Independent group, this is the gross lack of a self to things.]

If you have the understanding that you don’t have the control that you thought you had, and you understand that things don’t last, then you have just reached Buddhism, (abhidharma, vinaya schools). Every expression of emptiness is empty of something....

 The objects that you perceive in your mind are flowing from you; like a tree trunk that has branches. The tree trunk is like the mind flowing through time, and the branches that split off the trunk, is the mind observing something, and the thing you are observing. 


Emptiness, Flavor #4

The fact that the fact that any particular thing is called what it is is something which is devoid of existing by definition. [Put simply: The fact that things are called what they are is not something which is automatic.  According to the Mind-Only School, this is also the lack of a self to things.] Things are not what you call them automatically, a rose by any other name should smell the same. Any experience you have, like music, is a personal experience. things are not given the name that they are given by themselves. Good music is not applied to things from the things side. Otherwise everyone would like the same music. Duh.


Emptiness, Flavor #5

The fact that objects are devoid of existing from their own side through any unique identity of their own, rather than existing simply by virtue of having appeared to an unaffected state of mind. [According to the Independent group, this is the subtle lack of a self to things, or real emptiness.] 50% 50% thinking all stuff is being created by two forces; things are in a certain way from their own side, and I take it as good, bad, and so on. Half of reality is coming from its side and the half of the reality, how the parts are organized is coming from me (lower MW)


Emptiness, Flavor #6

The fact that objects are void of existing from their own side through their own identity, rather than existing simply through names [words] and terms [thoughts].

[According to the Consequence group of the Middle-Way School, this–and only this–is emptiness, and there are no separate degrees of emptiness (although emptiness can be divided according to the object that has it: the person or "things," meaning the person's parts).  This interpretation is the ultimate one accepted by Lord Buddha; the realized being Nagarjuna; Je Tsongkapa; Khen Rinpoche; for all of tantra; and moreover by anyone who has seen emptiness directly.] 100% comes from you, even the raw data is coming from you. The secret teachings don’t make sense to a person who hasn’t reached worldview #6. This is the world view for all of the diamond way teachings.

-From VCZ

Saturday, January 13, 2024

American Fiction and Origin: Thoughts on Intellectual Art

Really taken by AMERICAN FICTION and ORIGIN. Two movies w/ a premise deeper than emotions. Not perfect technically, but trying to say something big about caste systems, literature genres, searching for universal links between seemingly disparate cultures. 

2 types: art that leads with emotion which may later on evoke inner exploration/intellectual discovery, or art that begins with intellectual question which can lead to emotional responses later on. I like both but prefer art that begins with a provocative intellectual question/premise. Even if the art is aesthetically lacking in some elements, let me get my mind going first and then I'll add the emotions later on. If the grand statement of the work is 'ppl are sad' or 'some times family is mean,' or even 'racism bad' or 'yay nostalgia'... I'm probably going to be bored. I know the world is mean and ppl sad. I know that adults long for childhood things. I know that racism and poverty are bad. Rather than saying 'racism is bad' can the art get specific? This one particular Latino artist is trying to succeed against racism by doing blank. Rather than say 'yay nostalgia' how can childhood memories be used as more than a crying couch? 

Intellectual art can be high or low brow. SCARY MOVIE is very funny low-brow comedy b/c of the satirical commentary about the horror genre. When I saw SCARY MOVIE in a theatre ppl were falling out on the floor with laughter. Literally. (And I mean literally 'literally' and not literally metaphorically as it has come to mean due to Twitter.) Ppl were literally falling out of their chairs and not just b/c the jokes were funny. The jokes were about something. Misogyny, homophobia/ homoeroticism, obsession w/ women keeping their virginity, blk ppl being disposable in horror and in the culture, and all of that having to do with small-town America, high school America, suburb America. All these things are wrapped in jokes made me ppl slide, slip, fall out of their chairs with laughter.  It was stupid gags mixed with George Carlin observations. So it doesn't just have to be Goddard or Kurosawa to be art that starts with a provocative question. 

One person or group is fighting their way out of their box by doing blank...and along the way they encounter terrors, laughs, racism, bigotry, whatever, horror monsters, but at least there's a proactive thesis being enacted by a protagonist instead of a just a bland 'chicken soup for the soul' sermon. 

Just have to say that as the intellectual movies about stuff, aka AMERICAN FICTION and ORIGIN, are getting drowned out by the PR lacquered works that don't really say anything besides 'gimme an award.' 

Just have to say that since I have spent the bulk of last 8 yrs working in tv writers rooms with showrunners who plot episodes on big ideas and not just emotional punches. 

Just have to say that for all the ugly stepchildren of the awards season who lack the stylists and PR wind machines AND are still trying to change the world with provocative ideas.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Memory is Present Awareness

 "Recollection is awareness and not necessarily memory." - Vimalakirti 

Thinking about this quote today. Recollecting is an active present moment thing. That's why memories shift over time b/c they are not passive leftovers we're just pulling out of the fridge to reheat. Our emotions to these memories are also in flux. That's why an embarrassing thing from childhood can some times be a source of amusement, charm or hilarity years later. A child is mortified at splitting their pants in front of the class and the same child becomes an adult laughing with their friends or realizing that was the day they met their future wife, and therefore is so grateful for that embarrassing moment. The events, the emotions, our collection of senses that we gather into a 'memory' are all actively shifting. 

The so-called bad recollections that turned out to be goldmines, the good memories that turned out to be grenades waiting to explode in my face, the mundane details that become weighted with poetry and meaning. In the last months of my dad's life, I can recall so many tiny things that now have so much meaning. They were mundane things, meals, clothes, looks, gestures, noises. And the silences. The silences that felt like pauses but actually spoke volumes. And now they have so much weighted importance. A simple smile can have more meaning than Shakespeare. Because the smile changes every time we recall it.

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Get What You Want: January 2024

 1. THEATRE SOUTHWEST ANNUAL READERS THEATRE MATINEE

DEADLINE: Jan. 5th, 2024

WEBSITE: https://tswhouston.com/


Theatre Southwest is NOW accepting short plays for its Annual Readers' Theatre Matinee!


Selected plays will be read and voted on by the audience in attendance and the Audience Favorite will receive a $100 cash prize!

  • Scripts will be accepted via snail-mail and email.

  • Scripts entered should be in PDF format for email. Printed entries should be in standard play format and bound in a 3-hole punch folder or with brads.

  • Limit of 2 entries per playwright of original works that are unpublished, and unproduced.

  • ALL scripts should be numbered with title, list of characters, brief synopsis of play and

  • playwright's contact info on title page. 

  • No Monologues or one man/woman plays will be accepted.

  • ALL genres of plays will be accepted.

  • ALL plays should be able to be read within 5 to 10 minutes, no longer, no exceptions. If using

  • standard play format a good gauge would be if the play's text is 4 to 11 pages long (excluding

  • title page).

  • Please make sure the play you are submitting is conducive to Readers' Theatre, simple stage

  • directions, story mostly expressed through dialogue, not action.

Approximately 8-12 plays will be selected to be given a performance level read, and the playwrights selected will be informed prior to the event.


Please email scripts to: heaton_it_up@hotmail.com



To learn more about Theatre Southwest of Houston, Texas please click on the link below to visit their website: https://tswhouston.com/



2.TERRENCE MCNALLY NEW WORKS INCUBATOR

DEADLINE: January 15th/500 apps

WEBSITE: rattlestick.org/terrence-mcnally-incubator-apply.


Applications are now open for the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator Cycle 2! Applications will close January 15th at 11:59pm or when 500 applications have been received. As a continuation of Terrence McNally’s singular legacy of mentorship, and his commitment to fostering bold new voices in the American theater, the incubator is designed to support ambitious early-career playwrights by giving them time and space to develop their work, professional mentorship, and access to a community of artists and work being developed at Rattlestick and Tom Kirdahy Productions. Playwrights chosen for the Cycle 2 will receive mentorship from a veteran playwright, an incubation period and workshop for submitted play, artistic support from Rattlestick Theater, and a $7500 award.


Questions? Contact us at tmincubator@rattlestick.org. 


Finalists are granted an interview with a selection panel, including representatives from Rattlestick and Tom Kirdahy Productions. In consultation with the Playwrights Advisory Panel, three playwrights will be awarded the Fellowship in April of 2024.

 

Only complete applications will be considered. Please review the Application Materials Checklist before submitting your application to ensure you have not missed any steps.




3. 2024 Latinx New Play Festival 

DEADLINE: January 15th, 2024

WEBSITE: https://lajollaplayhouse.org/latinx-new-play-festival/


The Latinx New Play Festival and La Jolla Playhouse are excited to open submissions to the 2024 Latinx New Play Festival, a weekend of new play readings by Latinx playwrights to be held in person at the La Jolla Playhouse. The festival will showcase four new Latinx plays by Latinx playwrights. The 2024 Latinx New Play Festival seeks to expand the presence of Latinx stories and artists on the American stage that spotlight the broad range of today’s Latinx experience. The festival will invite artistic directors, literary managers, and producers to attend a hybrid in-person and online weekend of readings showcasing the work of Latinx actors, directors, and designers. Past selections include work by Diana Burbano, Francisco Mendoza, C. Quintana, and Benjamin Benne.


Festival Details


Four scripts will be selected to be rehearsed and workshopped in person in La Jolla California October 2024, resulting in a live public reading at the festival weekend October 4-6, 2024. Combined rehearsal and performance will not exceed 29 hours. Each selected script will be assigned a Latinx or BIPOC director, dramaturg, stage manager, and actors (unless otherwise indicated by the script).


Eligibility


Festival submissions are open to self-identifying Latinx/e playwrights living in the United States. We welcome scripts in English and Spanish.


Plays must be unpublished, professionally unproduced, and not currently under option at the time of submission. University productions, workshop productions, readings, or other non-professional workshops/productions will not disqualify a script.


At this time, only full length, non-musicals, with cast size of 6 or less will be considered. Plays with music will be considered as resources allow (cast-size less than 6 and under, piano only). Solo pieces will also be considered. Submissions are limited to one script per playwright.


Selection Criteria


A selection committee of festival producers, festival readers, and La Jolla Playhouse Artistic staff will make recommendations and final selections. Selection will be based upon:


● Artistic merit including quality, impact, purpose, and aesthetics of the play


● Alignment with the La Jolla Playhouse mission of advancing theatre as an art form and as a vital social, moral and political platform by providing unfettered creative opportunities for the leading artists of today and tomorrow.


● Feasibility of a full production in mainstage seasons


Submission Procedure


All applicants must complete the following two steps:


● Complete this Google form with


○ Playwright name, email address, and phone number

○ A one paragraph synopsis of the script

○ Number of actors required

○ Any prior development work for this play

○ Playwright biography (100 word limit)

○ Character breakdown

○ Playscript



4. HRTS 2024 MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

DEADLINE: Jan. 31st, 2024

WEBSITE:  jhrts.org

HRTS is proud to be accepting applications for the 2024 Mentorship Program. Bringing our LA and NY participants under one combined initiative for the second year, our mentors will be able to choose their coast of preference, opening up the possibilities for who you can be paired with.


The goal of this program is to team JHRTS with HRTS Associate/Exec level mentors, some of the top executives in our industry.


Being selected as a mentee for this program also entails that you may possibly serve as a mentor for an HRTS Academic Member (a current college student).


This requires meeting with your Academic Mentee at least four times over the next seven months. We encourage members to see this opportunity as a means of supporting their professional development through guidance and support above networking and job placement.


The program begins in April 2024 and continues through December 2024. We have asked for a commitment of at least 4 meetings during this time (phone, zoom or in-person). As we continuously try to better serve our program participants, we are increasing our structure and communication throughout the program to help support the relationship building.


There are several steps to this process. Your application will be received and reviewed at the beginning of the new year. If you are chosen to move to the next step, you will be contacted directly for interviews. You will then be notified if we are able to match you with a mentor. 


HRTS aims to ensure all of our programs are as inclusive and supportive as possible. If you identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ or have a disability -- and/or would like to be paired with someone who is -- you are welcome to note this on your application.



5. HERE ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM

DEADLINE: Feb. 1st, 2024

WEBSITE: https://here.org/programs/harp/


One of the most robust residency programs in the country and serving as a national model, HARP provides a commission, developmental support, career planning, and an opportunity for a full production to cross-genre artists within a collaborative environment of peers working across disparate art forms – including theatre, dance, music, puppetry, visual art, and new media. Each HARP artist receives significant long-term support of $125,000, which includes $50,000 in cash and more than $75,000 in equipment, space, and services over 2-3 years to tailor each residency to each artist’s individual needs.


With the launch of URHERE (our new digital and outdoor platform), HERE has expanded our HARP cohort to include digital and outdoor artists. Selected artists will partake in a 1-2 year residency to create digital native and/or outdoor works that will premiere on URHERE. URHERE HARP residents will receive $50,000 ($25,000 in cash and $25,000 in equipment, space, and services) over 1-2 years. Through significant investment of time and resources, dynamic work within a strong community is created.


Throughout the year, we offer a window into the creative process of the artists in our nationally recognized HERE Artist Residency Program (HARP). Watch for RAW / Resident Artist Works to catch these fresh in-process works!


While in residence, the artist or team’s residency is linked to a specific project in development and an exploration of ideas and processes intrinsic to their artistic growth. HERE believes that artists must be in control of the work that they create. This control goes hand in hand with a responsibility to participate in all phases of their artistic projects from inception through all development stages to full production. HARP is designed to respond to the ideas and needs of its artists.


The artists must be proactive in bringing those ideas and needs to HARP and each other; they shape workshop and discussion offerings, create performances, and work with HERE staff to publicize and promote HARP events. We expect our artists to be both good citizens of the HERE community as well as ambassadors to the public.


Send any questions to programming@here.org or call 212-647-0202 x 320.


6. EAST VALLEY CHILDREN’S THEATRE PLAYWRIGHT SEARCH

DEADLINE: February 1, 2024

WEBSITE: https://evct.org/aspiring-playwrights/

East Valley Children’s Theatre is searching for aspiring playwrights to become a part of the theatre’s future seasons of performances. As an organization dedicated to providing enriching experiences for young audiences, EVCT recognizes the importance of nurturing new voices and fresh perspectives in the world of theatre. This call for playwrights opens doors for talented individuals to have their works showcased and celebrated on EVCT’s stage, captivating young minds and inspiring imaginations.

EVCT believes in the power of storytelling and understands that original plays have the ability to create unique and captivating experiences for audiences. By welcoming aspiring playwrights into their creative community, EVCT aims to foster a vibrant and diverse repertoire of performances that reflect the creativity, imagination, and unique voices of the next generation of playwrights.

Contest rules and prizes are listed below:

All plays must be submitted to East Valley Children’s Theatre no later than February 1, 2024.

Email submissions to: aspiring_playwrights@evct.org.

Playwrights must include a cover sheet with name, address, phone number, email address, and age.

Plays must be suitable for children to perform and for an audience of children. (Plays with small casts are not as likely to be chosen for performance; casts of 18 or more are preferred).

Plays must be 60-90 minutes in length. Shorter plays may be submitted but will not be considered for a seasonal theatrical production.

Plays and musicals must not have been previously performed. They must be original and unpublished.

Musicals must include a copy of the music in either manuscript or audio-recording format.

Playwrights are not required to pay an entry fee.

The first place entry will receive a $500 cash prize, a limited stipend for travel, and will be produced by East Valley Children’s Theatre in its upcoming season, if it meets all the criteria for performance. Second and third place winners will be announced and recognized. Travel stipend is dependent on the author attending the show, accruing travel costs and having a talkback with the actors.

Winner will be announced by April 1, 2024.




7. PLAYWRIGHTS REALM WRITING FELLOWSHIP AND SCRATCHPAD SERIES

DEADLINE: Feb 5

WEBSITE: https://playwrightsrealm.org/submit


→ WRITING FELLOWSHIP


The Writing Fellowship is at the heart of what we do: helping writers write. Four early-career playwrights receive nine months of resources, readings and feedback designed to help them reach their professional and artistic goals. The culminating event of the program is our INK’D Festival, which features public readings of each Fellows’ play.  Fellows are provided a $5,000 award.


To be eligible you must:

  1.  Live within commuting distance to Midtown Manhattan, and be able to make it to regular evening writers meetings, rehearsals, and events.

  2. Have a full length script that would benefit from a nine-month, intensive development  process.


Fellows develop a single, new play.

  • Monthly group meetings provide a collaborative space for writers to share and refine their work.

  • One-on-one meetings with Realm artistic staff support each writer's process.

  • Fellows collaborate with a director, design consultants, and actors for two readings.

  • Personalized professional development resources are tailored to the group - mentor opportunities, meet-and-greets, and professional seminars are designed to shed light on the business of theatre, and empower the Fellows to be active, informed participants in their own careers.

  • The culminating event of the program is the INK'D Festival, featuring a public (either in person or virtual) presentation for each Fellow.


→ SCRATCHPAD SERIES


Scratchpad Series jumpstarts The Realm’s relationship with early-career playwrights from around the country. Participants will receive dramaturgical support from the Realm and will spend a week in New York City for a developmental reading of their play with top-notch professional collaborators—director, cast, and The Realm’s artistic staff.   Playwrights will receive a stipend and if the playwright is based outside of New York, The Realm will also provide travel and housing support. 


To be eligible you must:

  1. Have a script that would benefit from dramaturgical conversation with The Realm and 15-hour developmental reading process reading. (Plays can be anything from a rough first draft to a play that is close to production-ready.)

  2. Be able to be present in New York City for a process of between 3-6 days, at a time agreed upon by both the writer and The Realm.


Playwrights may submit to both opportunities.



8. TOFTE LAKE RESIDENCIES

WEBSITE: https://www.toftelake.org/

DEADLINE: Feb. 5th, 2024


Individual ArtIST Residency- This year we are offering two Individual Artist Residencies. These residencies are focused on individual artists and/or small collaborative teams of all disciplines (literary, performing and visual arts) who wish to create work in the natural environment and in community with other artists. There is also time for play and rejuvenation - all in support of each artist’s goals, needs and interests. This residency is open to artists of any discipline, career stage, and geographic location who are over the age of 18.


Minnesota BIPOC artist residency- This week-long residency provides space for 6 BIPOC artists of any discipline to retreat and create in community. The residency balances personal worktime with group interaction and optional sharing of work or performance, as well as time for play and rejuvenation - all in support of each artist’s goals, needs and interests.

Artists must: Reside in the state of Minnesota

Identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, SWANA-Arab American, or an artist of color

Be over the age of 18


Minnesota BIPOC Arts Educators Residency

This week-long residency provides space for 6 BIPOC arts educators to center themselves and their work as artists first and get the well-deserved rest and rejuvenation they need. The residency balances personal worktime with community interaction and optional sharing of work and process - all in support of each artist’s goals, needs and interests.


Artists must:

Reside in the state of Minnesota

Identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, SWANA-Arab American, or an artist of color

Currently teach at a K-12 or higher educational institution


Minnesota FAMILY ArtIST Residency- This week-long residency for Minnesota parent-artists offers the opportunity for single parent artists and artists who wish to bring their spouse/partner and 1-2 children. The residency enables these artists to focus on their work while the child/ren enjoy age-appropriate, supervised activities onsite and in town. Daytime youth activities are supervised by a childcare professional for a portion of the days.

Artists must:

Identify as a parent artist

Reside in the state of Minnesota

Children must be between the ages of 6-13


9. WATER’S RISING FESTIVAL OF NEW CLIMATE ACTION PLAYS

DEADLINE: Feb. 12th, 2024

WEBSITE: gloucesterstage.com/waters-rising



Submission online


Gloucester Stage is seeking full-length plays with themes concerning climate change. Although coastal climate change is at the top of mind here, we are open to all plays tackling any theme of climate action.


Unproduced plays will take priority, but fully-produced work can also be submitted. 3 plays from the submitted pool will be selected by the Literary Team for the weekend of performances. Once selected, we will find a local director who shares a similar interest and aesthetic for the piece. Casting will be decided amongst the director, playwright, and GSC’s Artistic Director.


By pairing art with advocacy, we can deepen our connection to our earth’s future.

Each play will be paired with a climate expert(s) to keynote the talkback after each performance, addressing the themes of the theatrical piece, highlighting organizations that are taking action, and elaborating on how it affects Gloucester and the global landscape.



The readings will take place between Thursday, April 25 – Sunday, April 28, 2024. We would love to have the playwrights participate in the festival weekend, either virtually or in-person, so please note your availability when applying.



10. THE JEWISH PLAYS PROJECT

DEADLINE: Rolling

WEBSITE: www.jewishplaysproject.org/guide


AN IMPORTANT NOTE: SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN TO ARTISTS OF ALL 

BACKGROUNDS, DENOMINATIONS, FAITHS, CREEDS, RELIGIONS, and other IDEALS. 


SUBMISSION PROCESS: Fill out the Project Application Form and attach a play to the form as a PDF. You must submit your play with your name and other identifying information removed (we review all plays blind). We will consider submitted plays and musicals:

MUSICALS: Submitted musicals must include links to recordings of at least 3 songs to be reviewed. Please note, we review musicals on a different timeline than our other programming.


ELIGIBILITY:

 The following must be true of a submitted play or musical:

  • It contains significant Jewish themes, characters, content, or points of view.

  • It is in English, or primarily in English—we love plays that play with language as a theatrical tool, and plays that explore the differences in language. It just needs to be primarily accessible to an English speaking audience.  (We welcome translations.)

  • It is full length, meaning over around 75 minutes in length. (For a guide, that usually means 60 pages or more. We DO NOT review 10 or 20 minute plays.)

  • It has not had a full production in the NY Metro region or a major regional theater (LORT C or above).

  • It has never been published in any form.
    NOTE: We are most interested in submissions that embrace and depend on Jewish identity at their dramatic core, while avoiding stereotypical forms that rely on cultural or ethnic shorthands in lieu of dramatic development. This holds true whether dealing with the historical gravity of the Holocaust or employing stereotypical tropes for comic effect.


The JPP brings all the tools of new play development to bear on the plays we select: dramaturgical consultation and research; the involvement of collaborating artists - including directors, designers and actors - at all stages as needed; private and public presentations; and industry advocacy. We partner with great writers who not only have a great idea for a play, but have a heartfelt intention to write a Jewish play. To us, this means that during the development process, the writer is committed to making decisions about the progress of the play (or musical) that enhance and deepen the Jewish content, spirit, ideas and values in the work.



11. NATIVE VOICES PRODUCTION SUBMISSIONS 

DEADLINE: Rolling

WEBSITE: theautry.org/events/signature-programs/native-voices-annual-call-for-scripts


We accept scripts all year long. Do you have a full-length script that has been developed and produced that you would like us to consider for a future Native Voices production in Los Angeles? Please follow the Checklist for All Submissions below and in the Native Voices Script Submission form check the box for 2023 General Production Consideration.

Checklist for Call for Scripts

  • Please label script attachment as follows: PlayTitle_Author’s Last Name, First Initial (Example: MyNewPlay_Doe, J.doc).

  • All submissions must conform to a standard play-script format (one-inch margins, #12 Times or Courier font, all pages numbered).

  • Include a title page with full contact information (mailing address, phone numbers, e-mail address) and a draft or revision date.

  • Include a character breakdown at the beginning of your script.

  • Provide a biography of 75–100 words. Please label attachment as follows: Bio_Author’s Last Name, First Initial (Example: Bio_Doe, J.doc).

  • Provide a press ready photo of at least 300dpi. Please label attachment as follows: Photo_Author’s Last Name, First Initial (Example: Photo_Doe, J.doc).

  • Provide development history for the play. Label attachment as follows: DevHistory_PlayTitle_Author’s Last Name, First Initial (Example: DevHistory_MyNewPlay_Doe, J.doc).

  • To submit, fill out our online form and upload your submission materials here: Native Voices Script Submission Form


Please do not send treatments or outlines. Previously produced plays should be submitted under the 2023 General Submission for Production Consideration. Playwrights are encouraged to make multiple submissions (up to three per event), but selection will be limited to only one play per playwright, per event.



12. AUDIBLE EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS FUND

DEADLINE: Rolling

WEBSITE: https://www.audible.com/ep/audible-theater


In 2017, Audible launched a theater initiative, intended to radically increase access to exceptional plays and performances. A core pillar of the initiative is the Emerging Playwrights Fund, a program that invests in and nurtures self-identifying emerging playwrights, some of our most inventive, delightful, and provocative storytellers. Through the Fund, Audible aims to connect extraordinary performers with remarkable original work, amplifying new voices and harnessing the power and potential of audio to reach millions of listeners. 


The Fund specifically supports t he creation of original dramatic work, written with audio in mind, but theatrical in spirit. Audible is dedicated to commissioning, developing, and producing work that reflects the diversity of our members and our world. To accomplish this, Audible is committed to granting at least 50% of emerging playwright commissions to artists of color and women.


To be considered as an applicant for a commission, please submit all of the following to AudibleTheater@audible.com:


1. One full-length script for an original or adapted play (in English language only) that represents your voice ("Script"). The Script can be in any genre and may include one-acts and solo pieces; 

2. A short biography; and 

3. A brief statement about why audio plays appeal to you. 

If you have an idea for an original audio play, you are welcome to include a pitch or summary along with your statement (this is encouraged, but not required).


Any applicant over the age of 18 may submit a Script. Submissions are accepted year-round. Due to the number of Scripts that Audible receives, Audible will only consider one Script at a time from each applicant and will not consider resubmissions, including those that have been significantly revised. The Audible team evaluates submissions on a rolling basis, and applicants will be notified regarding the status of their submissions via email. Thanks in advance for your patience while we process your Script; our typical response time is 6-8 months.



13. THE STOCHASTIC LABS

DEADLINE: Rolling

WEBSITE: https://stochasticlabs.org/residencies/


The Stochastic Labs offers fully-sponsored residencies to engineers, artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs from around the world. Residencies include a private apartment at the mansion, co-working and/or dedicated work space, shop access, a $1,000 monthly stipend and a budget for materials.



14. THE FOUNDATION FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS

DEADLINE: Rolling

WEBSITE: https://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/grants/emergency-grants/


Created in 1993 to further FCA's mission to encourage, sponsor, and promote work of a contemporary, experimental nature, Emergency Grants provide urgent funding for visual and performing artists who:


  • Have sudden, unanticipated opportunities to present their work to the public when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of funding

  • Incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates


Emergency Grants is the only active, multi-disciplinary program that offers immediate assistance of this kind to artists living and working anywhere in the United States, for projects occurring in the U.S. and abroad.VEach month FCA receives an average of 95 Emergency Grant applications and makes approximately 12-15 grants. Grants range in amount from $500 to $3,000, and the average grant is now $1,700. We recommend that artists review all of our eligibility guidelines and FAQs before applying. You may also complete our Eligibility Questionnaire, but please note that the questionnaire is not a substitute for a thorough review of program guidelines.



15. THEATRE ARIEL OPEN SUBMISSIONS
DEADLINE: Open

WEBSITE: http://www.theatreariel.org/opportunities


Theatre Ariel is always seeking the next great Jewish play to present to our audiences. Theatre Ariel is looking for plays that engage with the rich world of Jewish life, thought and practice; plays where Judaism, Jewish identity or Jewish perspectives are significant or driving factors in the story (In other words, not plays where the characters ‘happen’ to be Jewish or that have a few yiddishisms or “Jewish jokes” in them, but plays where Jewish life/thought/history is integral or particularly relevant to the story.). Theatre Ariel seeks plays with casts of five actors or less.


You do not have to be Jewish to have your work considered by Theatre Ariel. 


All our performances are presented as salon-style theatre readings in people’s homes, following a long tradition of Jewish theatre. For the foreseeable future, we will be presenting in a hybrid model of both in-person and virtual performances. To have your script considered, please email the following to submissions@theatreariel.org: 


Brief cover letter introducing yourself and your play, as well as a short plot summary and character breakdown (indicating doubling, if any)

Ten minute excerpt from the script (if these are not the first ten pages, then please supply a brief explanation of where we are in the story when your sample picks up)


Theatre Ariel is committed to reading and responding to every submission we receive. Please allow three to six months for a response. Please forward any questions you may have to the same email address listed above.



16. THE DOROTHY ROSS FRIEDMAN RESIDENCE

DEADLINE: Rolling 

WEBSITE:  https://actorsfund.org/services-and-programs/housing-resource-center?mc_cid=1266183bf9&mc_eid=7436d341a2

and

https://actorsfund.org/sites/default/files/Friedman-Application-Revision-7-21-20.pdf?mc_cid=1266183bf9&mc_eid=7436d341a2


The Friedman Residence, located at 475 West 57th Street, offers affordable housing for senior citizens, working professionals, and persons with HIV/AIDS. All apartments are complete with dishwasher, washer, dryer, central heating and air conditioning. Many apartments have terraces and feature spectacular Manhattan views. The Friedman Residence also features 24-hour security.

Eligibility for The Friedman Residence is based on federal guidelines for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. An applicant’s annual income from all sources (employment, benefits, asset interest) must be more than $28,500 and less than $47,760. The annual income of a household of two should be at least $30,000 and cannot exceed $54,600.

Please note:
• Applicants receiving specific rental subsidies may also be eligible. • Full-time students are NOT eligible for residency.
• Assets must be evaluated in determining eligibility.

(Assets do not include personal property, such as: furniture, automobiles, and clothing.)

• No pets are allowed. The Friedman Residence is a building for adults. Households of two will be considered for a one-bedroom unit only if both members are either a person with HIV/AIDS or a senior citizen. The Friedman Residence is not able to accommodate households greater than two. Tenants who live in one-bedroom apartments are responsible for paying a monthly rent and electric charges.

SHARED HOUSING

Apartments at The Friedman Residence are comprised of two- and three-bedroom units. There are also a limited number of one-bedroom units; however, priority for these units is given only to persons with specialized medical needs. In the shared apartments, each resident has a private bedroom and shares a living room and kitchen with one or two other people. Some bedrooms feature private baths, while others feature shared baths with one other person. Tenants living in shared apartments must pay a monthly rent charge. Electricity costs are not charged for tenants who live in these (shared) units.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Once the Intake Office receives your completed application, it will be screened for eligibility and you will receive written notification of your application status. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and you may be notified that additional information is required for us to process your application. If your application meets the preliminary requirements for housing at The Friedman Residence, your name will be placed on our waiting list and you will be contacted when your name comes to the top of the list. As The Friedman Residence strives to maintain a commitment to all the populations that it serves, please be advised that apartments will be filled according to vacancies for seniors, persons with HIV/AIDS, and Low-Income working professionals. Please also note that waiting list status will depend upon the types of apartments available for each category and may be quite lengthy. We will do our best to accommodate you in a timely fashion as vacancies become available. Thank you for your interest in The Friedman Residence.

If you would like to receive an application by mail, please call the Breaking Ground Application Hotline at 1-800-324-7055 and leave a clearly understandable message with your name and correct mailing address, and an application will be mailed to that address.

If you have additional questions about the Friedman Residence or the application process, please contact the Intake Office at 212.246.2424, ext.-4, or send an email to AuroraIntake@breakingground.org


 

17. WILD CULTURE , WILD PROJECT

DEADLINE: Rolling

WEBSITE:  http://www.thewildproject.org/programs/wild-culture/


Wild Culture is a program where wild project partners with a cross-section of independent, downtown performance artists to help both professional and emerging theater performers nurture, broaden and advance projects that are in various stages of development. Wild Culture gives artists free or subsidized space at wild project’s 89-seat eco-friendly theater, a stipend, box-office split, tech staff, marketing and community outreach to sustain the innovative creativity of downtown performance and unburden independent artists from prohibitive production costs. The program generally grants each project limited engagements of one to three performances. Projects that wish to submit to Wild Culture should align with wild project’s mission to enrich and educate the community, explore issues relating to female, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ artist communities, and demonstrate a clear performance aesthetic.


Wild Culture adapts each partnership to the specific needs and artistic vision of the project. Wild Culture is an ongoing program throughout the year. If you have a project that might be suitable for a Wild Culture partnership, please email Producing Artistic Director Ana Mari de Quesada at adequesada@thewildproject.org to get the conversation going to partner with us.



18. NY THEATER FESTIVAL SPRING/SUMMERFEST

DEADLINE: Rolling

WEBSITE: http://newyorktheaterfestival.com/summerfest-festivals/


ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2024. 

We strongly believe that self producing a play or a musical can offer a very important tool for the growth of every playwright’s work. Once a playwright sees their work onstage, it provides an opportunity for the playwright to improve or modify their story. It’s also a great opportunity to invite people from the industry to see your production. People are more likely to go see a show than to read an unsolicited script, as some industry people receive on average thousands of submissions per month, and they understand that the journey for a show to be successful often goes through several productions.

Our team is completely dedicated to help get your work seen. We are always with you to help, from the first moment of your tech rehearsal to the closing of your last show.  You will never be left alone during the process. We will help you to choose some of the 85 set/furniture props we offer to dress your stage for your run, and give you a complete crash course on how to use the audio/light/video system, which are intentionally very user friendly. After we show you how to use the tools we provide and how to utilize the space, you will be able to rehearse your tech rehearsal with whatever plan works best for you and your production. A team member will be present to provide prime responses to every inquiry, as well as a telephone # you can call anytime during relevant hours throughout the run of your show. In 11 years and 19 seasons we have successfully hosted 1,200 plays and 300 musicals and rewarded with cash prizes over 300 artists who participated in our Festival. 


PRIZES:


We offer up to $8,000 in Prizes. $3,500 alone goes to the season’s best production (either a play or a musical) 




Thank you, Morgan Jenness. Rest in Peace.

 "You need to meet Morgan!" At different times throughout my early NYC yrs ppl would say that to me: meet Morgan Jenness. She was ...