Monday, July 25, 2016

Protest at a Convention

Voting for Hilary. Don't need convincing. I know what's at stake.

BUT I don't like the conventional wisdom that states it's important to have a convention where everyone falls in line and cheers for the same thing. ZZZZ. Party conventions used to involve actual caucus, rancor, yelling, fighting, dealing, strong-arming, protests. And we did just fine with hashing things out. We have become more concerned with the optics of how something looks rather than what is actually going on. And this is how cable news and TV has made us more obsessed with the image of conformity rather than the messy process of democracy; the two things are actually completely separate. A political convention is a not a high school class photo. And maybe if people actually yelled and screamed and didn't have 'cheer whips' to orchestrate crowds like a tv sitcom audience things wouldn't feel so neat. Conformity for the sake of an image is more insidious and evil than rabble rousers and unreasonable screamers. And this holds true for both parties. Ted Cruz should be allowed to say what he wants without having his life (and wife) threatened.

Sandernistas at the DNC

Disclaimer: not condemning Sanders or Clinton, just trying to understand. 

When you promise people a revolution and get them to believe in something that had little chance of happening, you can't pull back and be like 'j/k people. Thanks for giving up a year of your life but let's no support the same ol' same ol that accused of being compromised' Words matter. There is a diehard faction of Bernie Sanders supporters who really did think this was going to be a revolution and they believed Clinton was the worst thing ever. They thought they were going to change the entire system through one candidate. And now they're being told they should just go back into the melting pot. In addition to that every move Clinton has made since cinching up the nomination has only confirmed the fears of some diehards who think she's going to blend back into the middle, which is double-down on with the VP nomination. And then the DNC emails confirmed conspiracist in addition to the on-going gripe about Superdelegates. So now we are here and fractured. And unlike the GOP, Dems care about free speech than showing a unified front. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Get What You Want: July 2016

1.
The Amoralist ‘Wright Club
Deadline: July 16th
Website: http://www.theamoralists.com/write-a-play
During their one year residency in 'Wright Club, each club author creates two new one-act plays in a workshop production process modeled on The Amoralists' method. These plays are presented to the public in “dangerously” staged readings at the bi-monthly public forum we call ‘Wright Night, and they are followed by a daring conversation wherein authors speak openly about their work, exploring the successes and shortcomings of the plays.


Between these public presentations, ‘Wright Club authors attend meet-ups and workshops twice per month where they engage in peer support, artistic activities, and discussion groups lead by cross-disciplinary artists ranging from emerging and mid-career artists to established professionals.


‘Authors leave the program with two new plays, a bevy of new collaborators, and a new way of seeing themselves and their processes. 'Wright Club’s foremost emphasis is the development of the playwright as theatremaker. There are no dues or fees for 'Wright Club.




Applications due July 17, 2016.


Questions? Feel free to reach out to WrightClubNYC@gmail.com.
2.
EST/Youngblood
Deadline: July 13th


*Award:* Membership. *Fee:* N/A. *Restrictions: *Applications are open to
New York City resident playwrights under 30 years old.

Youngblood is Ensemble Studio Theatre's OBIE-winning collective of emerging
professional playwrights under the age of 30. Youngblood provides artistic
guidance, peer support, regular feedback and a fertile production
environment, which allows our member playwrights to hone their skills and
explore their craft. Membership includes attendance at all weekly meetings, monthly (or more frequent) performances, readings and retreats.
3.
Estrella Mountain Community College: Seeking One-Acts
Deadline: July 24th
Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale, Arizona. This Fall they are producing several one-acts in rep. They have a sizable and diverse company of actors and one of the major focuses for the upcoming school year is going to be new plays.
In short, they are seeking One-act play submissions to be produced as part of their Fall programming. There will be a stipend for selected plays.
Please e-mail submissions (and questions!) to: George.Lopercio@estrellamountain.edu
Deadline for submission is July 24, 2016.
4.
Blue Ink Playwriting Award
Deadline: August 31st
The winning play will be selected by Producing Artistic Director, Gwendolyn Whiteside, and the Ensemble. The winner of this annual competition will be awarded the Blue Ink Playwriting Award of $1,000 and receive a staged reading at American Blues Theater in Chicago. There is a $5 administrative fee. Please follow these guidelines in preparing your manuscript:
- This contest is restricted to plays written in the English language. Worldwide submissions are accepted.
-Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays written in English. Translations, musicals, and children’s plays are not accepted.
- Playwrights may submit only one (1) manuscript per year.
- Plays that have been professionally produced or published are not eligible. Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production will be considered.
- Plays may not be under option or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission.
- American Blues Theater reserves the Right-of-First-Refusal to produce the World-premiere of the winning manuscript for (1) year beginning with the public announcement in March 2017.
-Plays must be sent as a Word document or pdf file to blueink@americanbluestheater.com.
- Send the $5 administrative fee to: American Blues Theater, 1016 N. Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60610 or pay online here.

5.
Theatre LiLA
Deadline: July 10th
Theatre LILA, an Equity theatre company in Madison WI, is accepting submissions from playwrights and poets for our upcoming original work entitled The BED: a Theatre LILA invention. We are seeking short scenes ranging from five minutes to maximum of thirty minutes.  We will not be accepting monologues. We are also seeking all styles of poetry, spoken word and original songs.
Writers should know that the entire scene will be set around a large four poster bed. Submitted works must revolve around this set piece only plus props. This is a highly theatrical play-space and we encourage artists to consider LILA’s style of storytelling (see our portfolio at www.theatrelila.com) when submitting. Previously produced works may be submitted.
Your cast may not exceed 8 actors. We are a company dedicated to presenting plays that represent our community and are seeking a diverse collection of voices from all cultural backgrounds, races and ages. We love to get inventive and say ‘YES’ so we encourage you to be fearless in your ideas.
All selected scripts will be combined to create the world premiere of The BED.  This collage-like production will be produced by Theatre LILA in March, 2017.  Writers will receive a small stipend, a pair of complimentary tickets to the production and acknowledgement in press, website and playbill materials.
Submissions are DUE JULY 10th, 2016.  Please email your submission in a PDF format to theatrelila@gmail.com.  Subject line should read ‘The BED-(your last name)’


6.
33 ⅓ Book Proposal
Deadline: open
Website: https://333sound.com/how-to-submit/


33 ⅓ is a prestigious book publishing company that focuses on albums. It’s been around since 2003 and has gained a fairly good reputation, pays their writers a small advance, and offers a healthy percentage from book sales. You write a proposal for an album you want to cover, write a chapter, give a table of contents, and go. It’s great for the music lover who is also a great non-fiction writer able to give solid critique, cultural analysis, and understanding of where an album fits in the trajectory of music.


If you would like to submit a proposal for a 33 ⅓ volume, please submit ALL of the following to333submissions@gmail.com. The word/page counts below are not exact but should point you in the right direction of what we are looking for. Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Submit the content below in one single document as either .doc, .docx or .pdf. No .rtf files will be accepted. Please put your name, album and artist in the subject line of the email.
Proposal requirements:
1. Your professional CV/resume, including full contact details + a short biography (25-50 words).
2. A draft annotated table of contents for the book. This should include chapter titles and a brief 50-500 word summary of each chapter. If you plan on deviating from a chapter structure, please explain why in 500 words.
3. A draft introduction/opening chapter for the book, of around 2,000 words.
4. A concise description of the book (up to 250 words). This needs to be clear, informative and persuasive. It should be suitable for use as the book’s blurb. It should be written so that people who are unfamiliar with the album will understand what this book is about.
5. Your analysis of the most relevant competing books already published (or forthcoming) about the artist in question or the scene surrounding that artist – and how your book will differ. Are there any films or film projects in the works? 200 words or less.
6. At least 500 words about yourself and why you are qualified to write this book. Why are you the best person to do it? How you would help Bloomsbury Academic market your book? Please list websites/forums/listservs you’d contact directly; any artist involvement you might expect; any college-level courses on which you think your book could be used, and so on.
7. Which existing 33 1/3 books or other types of music writing you like or dislike. Why? 500-1000 words.
8. Describe the audience for your book. What are the fans like? Describe your target market. How large is this market? 200 words.
9. Please list the amount of time it will take you to complete your manuscript.
10. Do you have any feedback? How is the series doing so far? What could we do better? Not required.
Upon submission you will receive an auto-reply message. Unfortunately we are not able to respond to each submission individually, but we will reach out to you as soon as we can if we would like to move forward with a project.
Just in case you need a refresher, here are the other books in the series and here are the ones currently contracted to come out in the next 3 years.


7.
Yale Drama Series Prize
Deadline: August 15th
website: https://yup.submittable.com/submit


The Yale Drama Series is seeking submissions for its 2016 playwriting competition. The winning play will be selected by the series' current judge, distinguished playwright Nicholas Wright. The winner of this annual competition will be awarded the David Charles Horn Prize of $10,000, publication of his/her manuscript by Yale University Press, and a staged reading at Lincoln Center Theater.


There is no application form or entry fee.
Please follow these guidelines in preparing your manuscript:
1. This contest is restricted to plays written in the English language. Worldwide submissions are accepted.
2. Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays written in English. Translations, musicals, and children's plays are not accepted. The Yale Drama Series is intended to support emerging playwrights. Playwrights may win the competition only once.
3. Playwrights may submit only one manuscript per year.
4. Plays that have been professionally produced or published are not eligible.  Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production or that have been published as an actor’s edition will be considered.
5. Plays may not be under option or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission.
6. Plays must be typed/word-processed, page-numbered, and in standard professional play format.
7. The Yale Drama Series reserves the right to reject any manuscript for any reason.
8. The Yale Drama Series reserves the right of the judge to not choose a winner for any given year of the competition and reserves the right to determine the ineligibility of a winner, in keeping with the spirit of the competition, and based upon the accomplishments of the author.


ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS:
The Yale Drama Series Competition strongly urges electronic submission. By electronically submitting your script, you will receive immediate confirmation of your successful submission and the ability to check the status of your entry.


Electronic submissions for the 2016 competition must be submitted no earlier than June 1, 2015 and no later than August 15, 2015.


If you are submitting your play electronically, please omit your name and contact information from your manuscript.  The manuscript must begin with a title page that shows the play's title, a 2-3 sentence keynote description of the play, a list of characters, and a list of acts and scenes. Please enter the title of your play, your name and contact information (including address, phone number, and email address), and a brief biography (optional) where indicated in the electronic submission form.


If you would like to submit an electronic copy of your manuscript please go to:

8.
Stella Adler: Ensemble Plays and Playwright-in-Residence
Deadline: July 29th
Website: www.stellaadler.com/cultural-center/playwrights-division/play-submission/
Seeking new, full-length ensemble plays for young actors with casts that have a majority of female characters or gender neutral characters. One or more play may be selected for a student production (this is a curricular project for full-time acting students). Plays must be new, unproduced works and require minimal set, props, costumes.
Completed applications must include a required application form and a full-length play.
Please note: Your play submission should be “blind”. The cover page should ONLY include the title of your play. Your name should not be anywhere on the blinded script. This copy will be shared with the committee of play readers who will not know the authors of the plays they are reading.
Completed applications must be received by Friday, July 29, 2016.
Please click here to complete a web form application AND then e-mail a PDF of your play submission to community@stellaadler.com with subject line ENSEMBLE PLAY
Please note: Paper applications will not be accepted.
A SEARCH FOR A PLAYWRIGHT-IN-RESIDENCE
The Stella Adler Studio of Acting is seeking applications from female playwrights for the 2016-2016 Harold Clurman Playwright-in-Residence program. This is a collaborative residency that is mutually beneficial to the mission of the studio and the playwright. We are seeking playwrights who:
– self-identify as female
– are in their early careers
– are unpublished
– have not yet had professional productions other than those using the showcase code
– have a vested interest in working with a community of artists
– are interested in engaging in a discussion about how the studio can support and challenge their work
While this is a merit-based residency search, we are particularly interested in diversity – diverse writers, voices, viewpoints, perspectives. The studio is interested in co-designing a residency with the playwright that will support and challenge their process. The course of the residency is not regimented, but may be described as “playwright’s choice” within the resources and capabilities of the studio. Past participants have chosen some of the following:
1) a series of readings on a play written during the course of the year
2) a series of readings on a variety of plays/pages
3) writing a new work for an ensemble of graduate-level actors
4) a showcase production
The resident will engage in a discussion with the Artistic Director and other staff to explore what activities might be most helpful to their process during the year. Residencies typically begin in September and culminate in June.  Resident playwrights receive a $1000 stipend and have access to the Studio’s space, members of the Clurman Lab Theatre Company, and student actors for readings and workshops.
Completed applications must include a required online application form AND a full-length, polished but unpublished play (a full-length play is one that constitutes a full evening of theater; a 90-minute one act play is acceptable). Playwrights must read and agree to the Letter of Agreement before applying. By applying for this residency, playwrights confirm that they have read and agree to the Letter of Agreement.
Your play submission should be “blind”. The cover page should ONLY include the title of your play. Your name should not be anywhere on the blinded script.  This copy will be shared with the committee of play readers who will not know the authors of the plays they are reading.
Please do not include any of the following anywhere on the script: synopsis, development history, representation. We ask this because readers are seeking a play based on artistic merit and we want artistic merit alone to be the influencing factor for a script’s advancement.
Completed applications must be received by Friday, July 29, 2016.
Please note that applicants who advance to the final round of consideration may be asked for a second work sample.
Applicants will be considered for the playwright-in-residence position as well as:
– participation in the First Breath New Play Reading Series (Spring/Summer 2017)
– participation in the Teen Program Ten-Minute new play program (Summer 2017)
Please click here to complete a web form application AND then send a PDF of your play to community@stellaadler.com with subject line PLAYWRIGHT-in-RESIDENCE. Please note: Paper applications will not be accepted.
9.
MTC’s David Calicchio’s American Playwright Prize
Deadline: July 30th


Norton J. “Sky” Cooper established the Emerging American Playwright Prize award at Marin Theatre Company in 2007 in honor of David Calicchio’s lifelong career as a playwright and in support of Marin Theatre Company’s commitment to the discovery and development of new and emerging American playwrights. The Calicchio Prize will be awarded annually to a professionally unproduced playwright for a new work that shows outstanding promise and a distinctive new voice for the American theatre. The play selected as the Calicchio Prize winner will receive 2 public staged readings at Marin Theatre Company as part of the theatre’s annual New Play Reading Series. The playwright will receive a $2,500 award, as well as travel and accommodations for the MTC rehearsal period (25 hours).
  • Submissions must be unpublished, original full-length plays in any genre.
  • Musicals, translations, individual one-acts, and any play submitted in a previous year for the Sky Cooper or David Calicchio Prizes are not eligible.
  • The submitting playwright may not have received a full-scale, professional production prior to submission (plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production are eligible).
  • Playwrights must be citizens of the United States.
  • Only one submission per playwright is allowed each year; you may submit the same play for both prizes.

10.
Ars Nova Play Group
Deadline: July 31st
Website: https://arsnovanyc.wufoo.com/forms/m18aja2a1hd4ztj/


This vibrant and eclectic group of emerging playwrights gathers twice a month at Ars Nova to share new work and get feedback. The group offers members the chance to develop their plays with peer support, form collaborative relationships and build a strong sense of community within Ars Nova. In addition, members receive dramaturgical support and artistic matchmaking advice from the Ars Nova artistic staff and development opportunities through public readings and workshops.


Play Group is a two year residency in which members become a part of the Ars Nova Resident Artist community. In addition to biweekly meetings where members share new work and receive feedback from their Play Group peers, members also receive dramaturgical support and artistic match-making advice from the Ars Nova artistic staff; invitations to Ars Nova shows, Resident Artists mixers, and to see the work of Play Group alums around the city; two Play Group writing retreats; and the opportunity to further develop and showcase one of their plays in a weeklong workshop that can culminate in a public reading.


Criteria
All playwrights who identify as emerging are eligible to apply. In selecting new members, we will take into account the strength of the submitted play, what the writer stands to gain from membership at this point in her/his career and the overall balance of voices and styles within the group. Writers of all genders, races and abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.


How to Apply
Please click HERE for the application form. Applications require one full-length play, a resume, two professional references and a personal statement describing what the playwright hopes to gain from membership. Applications for Play Group 2017 will be accepted beginning June 30th and must be submitted by midnight on July 31st to be eligible for consideration.  

11.
National Park Service: Artist-in-Residence
Deadline: July 26th
Website: NPS


Resident artists spend 30 days living in a historic cabin in Zion National Park. They explore and surround themselves in the sights, sounds, textures, and wonders of Zion to find inspiration for their work. Each artist conducts two public presentations on their work and residency experience. Date, time, and location of these presentations will be announced closer to each artist's residency.

DETAILS

Artists must submit application materials and art samples exactly as indicated. Insufficient or excess materials are causes for applicant rejection, as is an artist's proposed use of a work already in progress. Your application packet will include a combination of a digital CD/DVD and hard copy materials as directed below. Mail application materials to:
Coordinator, Artist-in-Residence Program
Zion National Park
Springale, UT 84767

Applications must include:

  • Completed and signed Application and Contract form
  • Resume with list of professional works and social media and websites you manage for your artwork (no more than two pages)
  • Statement of purpose for residency (no more than one double-spaced page). Please explain what you hope to accomplish during your residency at Zion National Park, how the stay will contribute to your artistic development, and what you will contribute to benefit the park.
  • Samples of artistic work. Do not send originals. Samples of work will not be returned.
  • Non-refundable application processing fee of $35. Payable by credit card or check. Make check payable to Zion Natural History Association.

12.
12 Peers Theater
Deadline: August 1st


12 Peers Theater is accepting unsolicited submissions of new full-length plays to be recorded and released monthly on a podcast about and featuring new plays. In an effort to maximize exposure for playwrights and assist them in securing full productions, 12 Peers Theater will record and release readings of new plays to be aired on our Modern Myths Podcast throughout 2017.


We understand that there are many forms of theatrical storytelling, but here are a few guidelines that will help you determine if your play is right for us. We will not consider plays that have had a major AEA production; plays that have had productions in smaller professional, semi-professional, community, and educational settings are acceptable.


We will only accept full-length plays; no one-acts, collections of one-acts, or musicals. Due to recording limitations, plays should be able to be performed with no more than 6 actors (doubling permitted). As a company we are drawn to plays with themes of social and cultural identity, plays that are politically, socially, and ethically relevant, and plays with mythic themes. We are also drawn to plays with a clear sense of dramatic action, an excellent use of language, and a creative use of theatrical resources.
If you would like to submit, please send your play, a brief synopsis, and a biography to Matt Henderson, 12 Peers Theater’s Literary Manager, atmhenderson@12peerstheater.org by August 1st, 2016. One submission per playwright, please.

13.
Park Playhouse Seeking Musicals
deadline: July 31st
website: http://www.parkplayhouse.com/


Park Playhouse Inc. in Albany, NY, is seeking submissions for new musicals by unpublished and emerging composers, lyricists and librettists.


Submissions will be considered for possible inclusion in upcoming first annual new musical festival in New York’s Capital Region.


Submissions may be workshopped through a staged reading or concert production as part of new annual festival, and may be considered for full-scale professional productions in future seasons.


The ideal submissions will be full length (at least 90-minute) musicals of either one or two acts, and will not have been produced in a professional setting to date. All genres and subject matter are welcomed.


Please send brief description of piece, PDF of libretto/score, and any links to examples/recordings of music from the piece.


Submissions selected for workshop and development will be notified before the fall season.


Please send materials by email to Owen Smith, Producing Artistic Director of Park Playhouse and Managing Director of the Palace Performing Arts Center, at owen@parkplayhouse.com


Or send hard copy materials/recordings to: Park Playhouse, Attn: Owen Smith, 19 Clinton Avenue, Albany, NY 12207. Submissions accepted through July 31, 2016.

14.
Image Theater: Naughties
Deadline: August 31st
Website: http://www.imagetheater.com/


Image Theater of Lowell, MA (www.imagetheater.com) is seeking submissions of short plays, sketches, songs, or monologues for our “adult only” evening of original works to be performed on Saturday, November 12, 2016.


We are looking for sexy, silly, scandalous pieces, limit four characters or less, single set… have fun, because that’s what this evening of theater is all about!


To submit your play, monologue, or song, please send your work in a WORD format, along with full contact information on the cover page. Songs may be sent in Mp3 format, but lyrics should be included separately, along with sheet music.


Heading of submission: “ Naughties 2016”


Submission deadline: August 31st, 2016 no exceptions


E-mail your submission(s) to: imagetheater@comcast.net, attention Jerry or Ann.

Image Theater is a not for profit theater company that has produced the original works of playwrights since 2005.

EVIL endings

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