**FEATURED CONTEST: WOODWARD/NEWMAN PRIZE**
Deadline: December 1st
Website: www.newplays.org/opportunities/submissions/woodward-newman-award/
The Woodward/Newman Award is an exclusive honor offered by Bloomington Playwrights Project, started through the support of Joanne Woodward, Newman’s Own Foundation, and the Newman family, celebrating Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward’s tremendous history of work on stage and screen.
It presents the best unpublished play of the year with a cash prize of $3,000 and a full production as part of BPP’s Mainstage season, along with travel reimbursement. Submissions for the 2021-22 competition must be submitted by Dec 1, 2020.
Guidelines for Submissions
We are currently accepting submissions for the 2021-22 Woodward/Newman Award. The winner and finalists will be announced by June 2021. The winner will be awarded $3,000 and a full production.
For details check online: https://www.newplays.org/opportunities/submissions/woodward-newman-award/
1. EST SLOAN PROJECT
DEADLINE: December 1st
WEBSITE: http://www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org/est-sloan/submissions/
The EST/Sloan Project commissions, develops and presents new works delving into how we view and are affected by the scientific world. These plays examine the struggles and challenges scientists and engineers face from moral issues to the consequences of their discoveries. The Project is designed to stimulate artists to create credible and compelling work exploring the worlds of science and technology and to challenge existing stereotypes of scientists and engineers in the popular imagination.
Commissions will be awarded to individuals, groups and creative teams for full-length and one-act plays and musicals. Commissions range from $1000 to $10,000. Commission amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis, as are deadlines for drafts, finished work, and research support (if appropriate). Extant, full-length works may be submitted and are judged on a script-by-script basis by the EST/Sloan Project staff. Rewrite commissions for existing scripts range from $1,000 to $5,000.
Commissions are also available for regional theaters who wish to sponsor a local project focused on science and technology, either by commissioning a new script or developing an extant piece. Regional commission amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis, ranging from $2,000 - $5,000.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
The EST/Sloan Project is open to a broad range of topics related to the issues, people, ideas, processes, leading-edge discoveries, inventions, and/or history of the "hard" sciences and technology.
HARD SCIENCES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
Mathematics, Physics (geological, nuclear, theoretical, etc.), Biology (evolution, zoology, animal behavior, ecology, molecular, genetics, etc.), Chemistry (industrial, biochemistry, etc.), Neuroscience, Anthropology and Archaeology
TECHNOLOGY INCLUDES:
Computer Science, Software Development, Computer Development, Engineering (civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical, aerospace, vehicle design),Space Research
NEW COMMISSIONS
Individuals, creative teams and theatre companies interested in receiving an EST/Sloan Project commission should submit the following as their application for a grant:
A one- or two-page description or a simple outline/synopsis of the project. This document should describe the actual story being explored and include in the description of the story how the science being portrayed would be inherently dramatic in the piece. Focus on plot and character development, and, as it ideally will in the finished play, how the science comes out through plot and character. A resume or biography of each collaborator involved.
If you are interested in applying, there will be a free workshop on November 30th, sign up here:
A free-wheeling, far-ranging discussion between scientists and playwrights about science, story-telling, and what makes plays work. Our annual Artist Cultivation Event is a great opportunity for any playwright interested in developing a play about science & Technology. Those who attend will receive an extended deadline of January 1, 2021 for this year's EST/Sloan Commission Applications.
This year's panelists include Jad Abumrad (founder/co-host of RadioLab), Carla Ching (Fast Company, 2014 EST/Sloan mainstage), Danielle N. Lee (biology professor & science blogger), Brian Nord (FermiLab researcher & astrophysicist), & Charly Evon Simpson (Behind the Sheet, 2019 EST/Sloan mainstage). The panel will be moderated by Naomi Lorrain (Behind the Sheet actor & Schoenberg Center researcher).
2. THE BLACK PRODUCERS FELLOWSHIP
DEADLINE: December 1st
WEBSITE: https://form.jotform.com/202608481209150
Wavelength Productions and The Black TV & Film Collective have partnered to present a collection of short narrative films inspired by the Black experience of education in America. We're awarding six Black producers with a $25K production grant, in kind production support and critical career mentorship. These films will be produced as part of the Black TV & Film Collective’s Black Producers Fellowship. Each awardee will be actively supported as a Black TV & Film Collective Producing Fellow. Through the fellowships, they will advance their projects through the critical development, prep, production, post and delivery phases. Along the way, you’ll participate in roundtables with industry leaders, including producers, financiers, distributors and festival programmers, as they offer learnings, access and mentorship to level up in your career and better prepare yourself, not only for this opportunity, but also your next. Learning sessions will cover topics including leadership, emotional intelligence, team building, financing strategy and more. The fellowship is a critical professional development and mentorship component for Black producers seeking long term financial sustainability. This level of support is routinely not concentrated on Black producers and we are happy to be a part of changing that dynamic
So much of who we are as a society is shaped by the education we received as individuals. It’s no secret that the experience of education in America is vastly different for Black students and their families. We seek scripts inspired by this truth. Some of us now watch our children, nieces, and nephews whose experiences today are vastly more complex than those we experienced, even a few short years ago. In the face of the systemic racism embedded within the system, what hasn’t changed is our resilience, fearlessness and creativity. In each submission, we encourage a narrative story filled with authenticity, creativity, unique vision, and bold storytelling. We seek to be entertained, inspired and informed.
Eligibility: The fellowship is open to Black producers throughout the U.S., however production must take place in NYC. Producing teams are also welcome to apply. Applicant must have at least three producing credits (from associate to producer. Credits may include shorts, web series, features, docs…etc). Producers may NOT be the director of the project, however producers may be the writer of the project. Ability to attend mandatory bi-weekly virtual fellowship meetings starting in January 2021. Commitment to complete and deliver the short films by September 2021. Current BTFC membership at the Advanced Support level or commitment to join the BTFC if selected.
There are three parts to the application: Personal Information, Essay, Supporting Documentation.
– Script: A well written narrative short film script inspired by the Black experience of education in America (up to 10 pages). Be creative.
– Bios & Resume: For both producer and director
– Artistic Statement
– Work Samples: For both producer (2 samples, up to 10 mins each) and director (1 sample, up to 10 mins)
– What has drawn you to producing? What goals do you have for your career? Limit 300 words
– Why would this program be especially beneficial and impactful given where your career stands now? How did you develop your team? Limit 300 words
3. MAISON BALDWIN RESIDENCY DEADLINE: December 1st WEBSITE: https://www.lamaisonbaldwin.fr/st-paul-de-vence-writer-in-residenc
Shortly before James Baldwin passed away, he told close friends in Saint-Paul de Vence that he dreamed of seeing his beloved house made into a writers' colony. This medieval village, with its uncommon light, its majestic mountaintop placement and surrounding countryside, has for centuries attracted artists, architects, alchemists and thinkers, great minds intent on changing the world. Here is where Baldwin wrote some of his most enduring books, including If Beale Street Could Talk, Just Above my Head, and his sole book of poetry, Jimmy's Blues. Writers in residence are offered a room in the village center to pursue their current creative project. While in residence, they will contribute to the literary culture of Saint Paul de Vence by offering a community event or creative public program. They are hosted at La Maison Baldwin Residence for Writers, a house in the historic center of St. Paul de Vence located directly across the street from the village church. The home features a 3rd-floor bedroom suite with a sunny terrace overlooking the tiled roofs of the village and the valley beyond. Residents might also be assigned a charming artist cottage inside a private sculpture garden, made available to the program through a partnership with the city of St. Paul de Vence. Breakfast and dinner every day is included in the fellowship, as is a $700 travel stipend.
This fellowship is open to emerging writers working in the spirit of James Baldwin. Eligible to apply are poets, playwrights, essayists and fiction writers with no more than one full-length published book, produced film, or professionally staged production (in other words: short films, staged readings, chapbooks and one-act plays don't count).
To apply, send a cover letter, a brief bio and writing sample of ten pages to residency@lamaisonbaldwin.fr with the subject line "2021 Residency Application." In your cover letter, please affirm your status as an emerging writer.
4. THE MANY VOICES FELLOWSHIP DEADLINE: December 3rd WEBSITE: https://pwcenter.org/programs/many-voices-fellowships
The Many Voices Fellowship is intended to support early career Black playwrights, playwrights of color, and/or Indigenous playwrights who demonstrate extraordinary potential, artistic vision, and a commitment to spending a year in residence in Minnesota developing their work with the Playwrights' Center in community with other fellows. The fellowship is additionally supported by a professional theater artist mentor.
Many Voices Fellows will receive an $18,000 stipend and $2,500 in development support. Fellows spend a year-long residency in Minnesota (July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022), working in an individualized and hands-on way with the Playwrights' Center artistic staff—some of the most experienced and connected theater professionals in the country. Beyond the financial stipend, the value of fellowships is more than doubled with the year-long support the Playwrights' Center adds through workshops with professional directors, dramaturgs, and actors and through the connections the Center makes between playwrights and producers of new work. This holistic and customized combination of financial support, connections with other artists, and professional connections is career-changing for most playwrights.
Applicants must reside in, and have the legal right to work in, the U.S. during the fellowship term. Applicants may not have had more than one play fully produced by professional theaters at the time of the application. (Note for 2020: If you had a production that was canceled or postponed due to COVID-19, that does not count when determining eligibility. Even if the play technically opened before cancellation, you do not need to count that production, so you will still be eligible for this fellowship. Please be sure to mark cancellations or postponements clearly on your resume.) Fellows commit to spending the fellowship period in Minnesota and actively participate in the Center's programs. Housing and travel are not provided. Playwrights may not receive more than two Many Voices Fellowships. A previous Many Voices Fellow applying for a second fellowship must submit a different play than the play that accompanied the previous successful application. Recipients may not receive other Playwrights' Center fellowships during the year.
Each application will contain the following pieces:
-Application Form (including contact details, eligibility, and demographic information)
-Playwriting Resume
Please mark clearly which productions (if any) meet the criteria for being "fully produced by a professional theater." Professional productions are defined as productions for which the author and primary artists (actors, directors, and creative collaborators) were reasonably compensated and that received at least ten public performances each. Ten-minute or one-act plays and university, college, secondary school, amateur, and Equity showcase/waiver productions are not considered full professional productions. Productions that open after December 3, 2020 do not count. (Note for 2020: If you had a production that was canceled or postponed due to COVID-19, that does not count when determining eligibility. Even if the play technically opened before cancellation, you do not need to count that production, so you will still be eligible for this fellowship. We want to make sure that the pandemic does not negatively impact your ability to apply for this program. Please be sure to mark cancellations or postponements clearly on your resume.)
-1 page Artistic Statement and Goals. This is a one-page artistic statement and description of your goals for the fellowship year. While contextualizing your current artistic life, please describe your artistic goals for the fellowship year. The fellowship offers time to write and develop work with professional collaborators—and the opportunity to utilize the many and varied resources of the Playwrights' Center, including career support, connections with artistic leaders, and teaching and community engagement. In what specific ways would this fellowship impact your artistic growth? How prepared are you to fully take advantage of this opportunity? This statement, along with your script, should help provide insight into your vision as a theater maker.
-Full-length play script. A full-length play typically runs at least one hour in performance. All script submissions must be written only by the applicant—no co-written submissions will be accepted. Scripts for musicals may be submitted by the book writer only. The submitted script must be a complete draft that represents your best playwriting.
-Two letters of recommendation: Please request two letters of recommendation from individuals who are familiar with your work as a playwright. Letters must be received by the application deadline: December 3, 2020.
Questions may be addressed to Artistic Programs Manager Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org.
5. MCKNIGHT NATIONAL RESIDENCY AND COMMISSION DEADLINE: December 10th WEBSITE: https://www.mcknight.org
The intent of the McKnight National Residency and Commission is to support an established playwright from outside of Minnesota who demonstrates a sustained body of work, commitment, and artistic excellence. The Recipient of the Residency and Commission will create a new play which will be developed with the Playwrights' Center through a series of workshops and will culminate in a public reading of the play.
Recipients will not move to Minnesota but will have opportunities to engage with local artists and the Playwrights' Center staff and fellows throughout their term (July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022). One of the goals of this program is to create dialogue between Minnesota-based artists and those outside of the community. Benefits include: A $15,000 commission, up to $12,250 in workshop funds to support the development of the play, and a public reading. Applicants must reside in and have the legal right to work in the U.S. Applicants must be nationally recognized playwrights who have had at least two different plays fully produced by professional theaters at the time of application. (Note for 2020: If you had a production that was canceled or postponed due to COVID-19, that does count when determining eligibility. Even if the play was canceled before opening, you may count that production, so you will still be eligible for this fellowship. Please be sure to mark productions that were canceled/postponed as professional pRecipients may not receive any other Playwrights' Center fellowships or Core Writer benefits during the grant year.
Each application will contain the following pieces:
-Application Form (including contact details, eligibility, and demographic information)
-Playwriting Resume
Please note clearly which productions listed on your resume (if any) meet the criteria for being "fully produced by a professional theater." Professional productions are defined as productions for which the author and primary artists (actors, directors, and creative collaborators) were reasonably compensated and that received at least three public performances each. Ten-minute or one-act plays and university, college, secondary school, amateur, and Equity showcase/waiver productions are not considered full professional productions.
Submit a play that is representative of your work. A full-length play generally runs at least one hour in performance. Co-written work will not be accepted, and musicals may be submitted by the book writer only.
-2-3 page Project Proposal. This proposal should explain the project you intend to create if you receive the commission. The evaluators are looking for a project that is relevant, compelling, original, and that could reasonably have a first draft finished within the year. Please also detail why you would like to develop this piece with the Playwrights’ Center and your interest in engaging with the community here.
-One letter of recommendation. Please request one letter of recommendation from an agent or theater professional. Letters must be received by the application deadline: December 10, 2020. You will be sending a request through the application portal below.
Questions may be addressed to Artistic Programs Manager Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org. An information session about the application and program will be held on Thursday, November 5 at 12:30 p.m. CST on Zoom. A recording will be available after the session. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
6. PERFORMANCE AIRSPACE RESIDENCY: 2021-2022
DEADLINE: December 13th
WEBSITE: abronsartscenter.submittable.com/submit/178919/performance-airspace-residency-2021-2022
With support from The Jerome Foundation, a cohort of 4 early career movement-based performing artists are annually invited to participate in our Performance AIRspace Residency. For this annual residency, Performance AIRspace Residents Receive:
$5,000 Commission for a new work to be presented at Abrons as part of our 2021-2022 Presenting Season.
200 hours of full subsidized studio space in any of our performance studios (excluding Studio G-05) and theaters.
1 week Production Residency in the theater prior to premiere
Studio visits with curators, artists, and cultural workers
Cohort meetings with resident artists
Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants must be based in New York City and living within 5 boroughs at the time of application submission and during the residency period.
Applicants working in movement-based practices that are interdisciplinary in nature are encouraged to apply. Collaborative groups are invited to apply but will receive the same commission fee as an individual artist. Collaboratives can only submit 1 application; Collaboratives that submit more than 1 application for the same project will be disqualified from the review process.
Applicants must identify as early career artists. (Please see below for Abrons’ and Jerome Foundation’s criteria for “early career artist.”)
Applicants must apply with a project proposal that has not yet premiered in its final form in New York City. Applicants who prefer a Fall 2021 presentation date must apply with a project that is in its final stages of development. Applicants who prefer a Spring 2022 presentation date may apply with a project that is in its earlier stages of development.
Applicants who are enrolled in degree-granting programs or be students during the grant period are not eligible to apply.
As a program of the historic Henry Street Settlement, Abrons Arts Center is committed to the belief that artistic practice is key to a socio-politically engaged and healthy society.
7. THE LANFORD WILSON NEW AMERICAN PLAY FESTIVAL
DEADLINE: December15th
WEBSITE: semo.edu/theatreanddance/lanfordwilson.html
The Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival honors new American plays that provide dynamic performance opportunities for college-aged actors. The festival endeavors both to recognize playwrights for their outstanding work and to provide a resource for universities across the country to identify dynamic plays with robust roles for college-aged actors for production at their institutions.
Seeking plays that have:
A cast of primarily (or exclusively) characters in their teens and twenties.
A mid- to large-sized cast (i.e., at least five actors, preferably at least ten).
Significant representation (in both number and quality) of roles for female-identifying actors.
Dynamic, fully-drawn roles to challenge student actors.
Thematic values that will speak to college-aged artists and audience members.
The festival also places a value on plays that have the potential to provide performance opportunities to actors from under-represented groups. Plays should not have had a previous full production. Workshops and readings are fine. Finalists for the festival’s top prize will receive airfare and housing to participate in the Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival on the campus of the Jeanine Larson Dobbins Conservatory of Theatre and Dance at Southeast Missouri State University in the summer of 2021. Staged readings of the finalists’ plays will be presented as part of the festival, and the winner of the prize will be announced at the end of the week-long event.
The winning play will receive:
A world premiere production in the 2021-2022 Dobbins Conservatory of Theatre and Dance theatre season.
Consideration of the play for publication by Concord Theatricals, the world’s most significant theatrical company, comprising the catalogs of R&H Theatricals, Samuel French, Tams-Witmark and The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection.
A meeting for the playwright with new play acquisition staff at Concord Theatricals.
Submissions for the Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival should be submitted by to: Kitt Lavoie, Artistic Director, The Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival: lanfordwilsonfest@semo.edu
Please include “Lanford Wilson Festival Submission” in the subject line.
Submissions should include PDF copies of:
Complete script
Brief synopsis of the play (100-250 words)
Character breakdown, including ages
Author(s) bio (100-250 words)
List of previous readings and workshops (if applicable)
8. OOB SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL
DEADLINE: December 15th
WEBSITE: https://oobfestival.com
Short plays and musicals can be no longer than 15 pages and have a max run time of 15 minutes (ideal run times are between 8-13 minutes). If submitting a musical the page limit should reflect the libretto.
Writers may submit only 1 play, including plays they have co-authored. Producers (writer’s groups, theatre companies, universities, etc.) may submit up to 15 plays accredited to their organization, but can only submit one play by an individual playwright.
Script submissions will be accepted in digital format only, via Submittable. Each nomination must submit a separate application form. Conglomerate entries on one application are not acceptable. Plays must be written in English (non-English words or phrases within the context of the play are allowed).
Plays must be typed, and in no less that 10-point type, in conjunction with formatting listed in the Submission Formatting Guidelines. Note that cover pages or additional cast size pages are not required and will not be counted against the 15 page limit. Playwrights previously published by any Concord Theatricals company, including Concord Theatricals, Samuel French, Inc., Tams-Witmark, Rodgers & Hammerstein, or The Musical Company, are not eligible for submission into the Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival. This includes winners of previous Samuel French Festivals. If a play was submitted to the Festival in a previous year but was not chosen for production, it may be resubmitted for the 2021 Festival. Poetry and short story readings will not be accepted.
Concord Theatricals in its sole and absolute discretion, shall select plays for participation in the 2021 OOB Festival from among all entries, and its decisions are final. Concord Theatricals reserves the right to remove any selected play from participation if the play, its producers, and/or its authors are not in compliance with the Application and/or the Competition Guidelines, and/or if the additional documents are not timely signed and returned. Production of selected plays shall be at the sole cost and expense of the Producer, and no royalties or other payments are or will be owed by Concord Theatricals.
9. KERNODLE NEW PLAY AWARD
DEADLINE: December 16th
WEBSITE:fulbright.uark.edu/departments/theatre/callboard/kernodle-new-play-award.php
The University of Arkansas Department of Theatre administers the Kernodle New Play Award, a national playwriting competition named for George R. Kernodle, beloved U of A theatre professor and author of "Invitation to the Theatre". The award recognizes full-length plays that invite the audience’s imagination and are inherently theatrical.
Please Note: ONLY playwrights whose work has been solicited, agent submissions, and playwrights who currently reside in, or are originally from, Arkansas are welcome to apply. Please fill out our online form, indicating who solicited your work/agent affiliation, or your ties to Arkansas.
For all submissions, please follow the process below.
Submission Materials:
Complete the Online Submission Form, where you will be asked to provide:
10 page sample from the script you are submitting
A brief synopsis and history of the script
Author Bio
Full-length manuscript (70+ minutes)
All documents should be in PDF format and uploaded to our Online Submission Form
Plays submitted in previous years will not be accepted.
Plays must be unpublished and cannot have been professionally produced previous workshop OK). No plays for young audiences, or musicals please. Adaptations are considered only if rights are clearly secured or source material is in public domain.
One submission per writer
Announcement of Awards: April/May 2021
10. BIPOC Writers Fellowship: Adapting Books for the Screen
DEADLINE: December 18th
WEBSITE: https://www.writersroom5050.com/fellowship-details
The Writers Room 5050 in partnership with Level 4 Press is proud to introduce its 12-week adaptation lab: Adapting Books for the Screen. The Level 4 Press catalogue and vast IP library, spanning various genres, is providing the books to be adapted for the screen.
The fellowship will focus on adapting a book into a screenplay, the release of fictional feature films for theatrical, streaming, and television movies-of-the-week (MOWs). In the process, BIPOC writers will learn the highest industry standards for developing, writing, financing and producing an adapted feature film project. Each fellow will adapt one Level 4 Press book of their choosing into a feature film screenplay.
The Writers Room 5050 and Level 4 Press are working with top executives, writers, representatives and guest speakers to provide mentorship, feedback, and firsthand industry knowledge.
The BIPOC Writers Fellowship includes but is not limited to:
• A 12-week lab taking you from book-to-screenplay
• Mentorship on creating and crafting your script
• A $750 Writer Stipend to all participants and accepted writers
• Expert development notes and assessments by industry professionals
• A 'table read' with professional actors
• Script Sales and Career Strategy instruction
• Pitch deck and high-end marketing collateral created for the project
• Live Industry Event to pitch your new script and meet high-end industry decision-makers
• For those scripts optioned, setup or sold, there will be financial participation
Submission Requirements:
• BIPOC Writer: Applicants must be of BIPOC heritage/ethnicity (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color)
• Script Submission: Writers must submit a completed screenplay (90 to 120 pages) for consideration
• Application Fee: An Early, Regular or Late application processing fee will apply.
****Application Fee:
- Early Submission Fee - $40.00
- Regular Submission Fee - $50.00
- Late Submission Fee - $60.00
11. UCROSS FOUNDATION/THE BLANK THEATRE
DEADLINE: DECEMBER 21ST
WEBSITE: theblank.com
This award represents a unique collaboration between the prestigious Ucross Foundation in Wyoming, where artists from all disciplines have been supported by residencies since 1983, and The Blank Theatre in Hollywood, which has been developing new plays and new artists since 1990. The Future of Playwriting Prize will be given annually to an early-career playwright who personifies the future of theatre — someone whose voice will shape theatre for decades to come, and who will bring new thoughts and views to the American theatrical conversation. The winner will be awarded a $5,000 cash prize and an all-expenses-paid, two-week residency at Ucross’s ranch at the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains. The residency includes transportation, accommodations, meals, and the opportunity to commune with other visiting artists. The winner will also receive a professionally produced staged reading in The Blank Theatre’s Living Room Series new play development program. Two additional finalists will each be awarded a $500 cash prize.
ELIGIBILITY
Inclusion and diversity are vital to the future of theatre; therefore, playwrights from all backgrounds and genders are urged to apply.
We encourage application by playwrights who may not have had access to advanced or graduate writing programs.
As this is an emerging playwright award, writers who have had Off-Broadway, Broadway, or major regional theatre productions will not be considered.
Since the focus is on American theatre, playwrights must reside in the United States.
Winning writers must be between 21 and 30 years of age as of April 1, 2021.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Submissions are open now, and the deadline for applications is December 21, 2020.
Writers must submit:
Resume including creative/educational background.
A personal artistic statement that describes (A) Who you are and what has brought you to this place - your influences and life experiences. Also, what you hope to gain personally from an uninterrupted two-week residency at Ucross. (B) The concept for a new play (a full-length you have not yet initiated) that you would like to begin or work on while you are there - what themes, characters or stories do you want to explore? (C) How do you see the future of theatre, and what is your role as a playwright in it? Your artistic statement should be 1000 words or less. PDF form only, titled FirstName_LastName_STATEMENT
One short play of ANY length not to exceed 45 pages. Please submit only a complete short play, not a sample from a full length play. PDF form only, titled FirstName_LastName_SHORT (e.g., Sally_Jones_SHORT).
One full-length play (60 to 120 pages). PDF form only, titled FirstName_LastName_FULL ( e.g., Sally_Jones_FULL).
One submission only per playwright. Please do not submit multiple applications to include different scripts. We want to see what you consider your best work. Plays and other submission materials must be written in English. Translations, musicals, adaptations, and children's plays will not be considered. All scripts must be typed in standard playwriting format. Page numbers must appear with the first page of dialogue as page 1.Scripts must contain a character breakdown and time/place setting.
SELECTION PROCESS
The first 300 submissions will be considered. If 300 valid submissions are received before the end of the application period, additional entries may not be accepted,
12. IRONDALE ON WOMEN FESTIVAL 2021
DEADLINE: December 21st
WEBSITE: https://irondale.org/on-women-festival
During the month of March, when women are celebrated and honored all around the world, Irondale hosts the On Women Festival, giving female-identifying artists the platform to celebrate their own experiences. Created in 2018, each iteration of this festival has been different and unique, just like the creators and the shows that are part of it. For next year’s festival, we have the challenge of re-imagining how to offer good theatrical experiences to our audiences, that are relevant to today’s world, and that are safe for everyone involved. And we must do things differently as well, to make sure we’re uplifting and empowering the voices of marginalized artists. The 2021 edition will be a hybrid format, with in-person performances, live and pre-recorded videos, and Irondale will work closely with a diverse group of artists to help curate the festival and moderate the Artists Exchangepanel discussions.
WHAT WILL THE FESTIVAL LOOK LIKE?
MAINSTAGE: two different theatrical productions that will be selected with the assistance of a diverse group of curators. The plays will be performed and recorded at The Space at Irondale (with the possibility of a limited live audience for the recordings) and streamed online at specific dates and times, followed by virtual talkbacks with the creative team of each production.Selected Shows will be compensated with a $1,000 fee. (Accessibility: Closed captions)
NEW MEDIA STORYTELLING: this category is open for video submissions of short pieces (between 10-25 minutes) that present elements of theatrical storytelling. All videos will live on an online platform and the audience will vote on their favorites. This category will not be curated but we will offer four money prizes (1st, 2nd and 3rd places for Popular Vote, and Curator’s Pick). We want to make sure we’re giving an alternative for people who don’t feel safe leaving their homes, or artists who are developing work using new media, or even artists who are in different places in the world.
ART BUFFET: live online performances that are flexible in style and genre such as, but not limited to, improv, music, performance, scripted monologue. All content must be original (or an original adaptation), and artists may choose to perform solo or with one other person. These performances will be curated and we’ll select up to 10 pieces.
ARTISTS EXCHANGE: lead and moderated by our Guest Curators, each one of the three conversations will have a theme or topic for discussion, and guest panelists. Audience members will be invited to participate by asking questions or sharing opinions.
We are looking for female-identifying artists that show great passion for their work, and that are able to coherently justify why their work is so important now. Irondale makes no distinction based on ethnicity or cultural background. Do you want to be part of the festival? Read the Submissions Package and submit your work! If you have any questions, please contact onwomen@irondale.org.
13. GHOSTLIGHT ENSEMBLE
DEADLINE: December 30th
WEBSITE: http://www.ghostlightensemble.com
Ghostlight Ensemble is seeking short scripts (a maximum of 15 minutes) that are geared toward young audiences. Priority will be placed on scripts that are ethnically and culturally diverse, and written by writers of color and/or LGBTQ writers. This is open to playwrights in any geographic area, though writers in the greater Chicago area will receive priority.
Selected plays will be produced in June 2021 as part of the second annual Make/Believe festival of theatre for children under our Nightlight banner. (Learn more about the 2020 festival here.) We are planning for a virtual performance, which means the pieces will be filmed and made available to audiences in any geographic area, but only for a limited time; and tentatively for live performances. A note on virtual performances: After the performance dates, the pieces will not be shown in full again without the playwright’s permission, although Ghostlight reserves the right to use excerpts of the performances in future promotional and marketing videos.
Requirements
A maximum of 3 actors per script. There are no restrictions, however, on the number of characters. Please note, that while some directors have chosen to use child actors in past pieces, the intent of this festival is to perform for children, not with children.
Plays must be adaptable to virtual and live performances.
Must fit our mission.
Geared toward children 10 and under. Please, NO scripts about high school students.
All props, set pieces and costumes must be easily made at home by actors (and children watching who want to stage their own productions at home).
Pieces can be previously produced, but cannot have a production running concurrently with Make/Believe.
Electronic submissions only, please. Submit cover letter with full contact information, short bio, brief synopsis of script including development and production history (if applicable) and full script to Maria Burnham at scripts@ghostlightensemble.com. Please use the following format in the email’s subject line: Nightlight Script Submission: [play name] - [playwright name]
14. THE PULITZER PRIZE
DEADLINE: December 31st
WEBSITE: https://www.pulitzer.org/page/drama-submission-guidelines-and-requirements
Columbia University, on the recommendation of the Pulitzer Prize Board, annually awards a Pulitzer Prize in Drama of $15,000 "for a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life."
Please note the amended eligibility for the 2021 Award. Eligible works include full-length dramas that opened in the United States between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. For the 2021 award, eligible entries may also include plays that were scheduled to be produced in theatres in calendar 2020 but postponed or cancelled due to the pandemic, and plays produced and performed in places other than theaters, including online, outside or in site-specific venues, during the year.
The Pulitzer Prizes honor contemporary creative work. Dramatic works previously submitted for the award and revivals are not eligible. If submitted for the 2021 award, unproduced plays scheduled for production this year should include some confirmation of their cancellation or postponement, submitted with the play script. Alternatively, such works may be submitted instead in a later year, when a production is realized. While full-length dramatic works produced and performed in places other than theaters during calendar 2020 will be eligible, a script and production details will still be required for entry.
In general, but especially in these cases, we strongly urge a recording of the performed work be included with the submission. The creator(s) of a dramatic work should determine when it is ready for award consideration, as it may be submitted only once. If necessary, eligibility will be determined on a case by case basis. All other criteria for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama will remain the same.
Please follow these entry procedures:
Complete the online entry form (including PDF upload of the required playscript) and pay a non-refundable $75 entry fee by credit card.
A video recording of the production is strongly urged to be included with the entry but is not required. If a recording is submitted, it will be used only to assist the judging process. Whenever possible, the recording should be provided as a web link on the online entry form. All video links must remain active and accessible until the Prize announcement in mid-April. Any login credentials should be listed on the label of the uploaded item or emailed to pulitzer@pulitzer.org at the earliest convenience.
Alternatively, an mp4 video may be uploaded with an entry, although its resolution may not exceed 480p. Please provide a link if you want to submit high-definition video.
Entries should be made in advance of the December 31, 2020 deadline.
The award is announced during the spring.
15. OUT OF THE BOX THEATRICS
DEADLINE: December 31st
WEBSITE: https://www.ootbtheatrics.com/home
Out of the Box Theatrics (OOTB) is an Off Broadway Non-For-Profit committed to lifting the voices of marginalized communities through the stories we tell. OOTB also produces site specific theatre in order to provide a more intimate and challenging experience to our audiences’ expectation of theater.
In 2021, OOTB and Weathervane Theatre will collaborate on a week-long residency program with stipend, transportation, and lodging provided. We are seeking submissions of works in the developmental stage to receive rehearsals and a full staged reading. The Weathervane promotes a message of acceptance, diversity, and inquiry through varied programming designed to reach the diverse, and often underserved, population of the region.
Location- Whitefield, NH. Dates- June 6th-13th, 2021
If you would like to be considered for the RESIDENCY please send the the following information:
Work Sample - No more than 15 pages. (maximum of 2 separate works)
Artist Statement- (Please provide your personal mission statement- what inspires you to tell the stories you tell?)
Resumé
Summary of production history (if applicable)
Website (if applicable)
For residency: any relevant videos related to your submission (optional
Please send all submissions to Producing Artistic Director- Liz Flemming liz@ootbtheatrics.com and cc Director of New Works- Jorge Donoso jorge@ootbtheatrics.com.
16. THE DRAMA LEAGUE NEW YORK DIRECTING FELLOWSHIPS
DEADLINE: January 3rd, 2021
WEBSITE: dramaleague.org/programs/directors-project/fellowships/Fall-Directing-Fellowship
Founded in 1984, The New York Directing Fellowships bring extraordinary early-career stage directors into an extended program of creative advancement, industry-focused development, professional assistantships, and an opportunity to present their work to the field as part of the Off-Off-Broadway festival DirectorFest, the nation's preeminent festival highlighting rising directorial talent. The Fellowships nurture artistry, open doors, and usher in a maturation of skills and talent, preparing a director to work professionally at the highest levels the field can offer.
NOTE: These Fellowships are currently slated to begin in May 2021, with periodic events over the course of the following twelve months until April 2022. Due to the ongoing complications of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dates and components of this Fellowship may be delayed, altered, changed, or removed to protect the health of the Fellow and the ability of the American Theatre as it returns to live performances. Applicants are asked to be flexible, should these changes have to occur.
COMPONENTS
PROFESSIONALS WEEK: Professionals Week is an intensive immersion in the professional theater. Fellows will attend performances, participate in seminars and workshops with prominent industry professionals, and participate in discussions designed to prepare directors for the demands and expectations of the field.
DIRECTING INTENSIVE: Fellows will participate in the Directing Intensive, an extended directing workshop under the guidance of a mentor director, and experienced professionals. The Intensive will also include pre-production activities and workshops leading to DirectorFest.
DIRECTORFEST: The New York Directing Fellows stage one-act productions as part of DirectorFest, The Drama League's annual festival dedicated to the art of professional directing in the United States. The festival takes place in New York City for an audience that includes artistic directors, producers, interested industry professionals, and others. DirectorFest is the culmination of a two-week rehearsal process, and utilizes professional casting directors, designers, and production personnel. Post-production, the directors meet with theater professionals for an in-depth discussion of their work.
SCHOLARSHIP PRIZE: The scholarship prize amount will be determined in April. For the 2020 cycle, the scholarship prize amount was $7,500 for the 14 active weeks of the fellowship, paid in installments. The amount of the scholarship prize will be disclosed prior to acceptance. Taxes will be deducted from the scholarship prize in accordance as determined by federal, state and local law.
Housing and Round-Trip transportation is provided for the following activities:
Professionals Week (for Directors living more than 25 miles outside of New York City)
Directing Intensive (from New York City to location)
DirectorFest and Related Activities (for Directors living more than 25 miles outside of New York City)
17. CIRCLE OF CONFUSION WRITERS DISCOVERY FELLOWSHIP
DEADLINE: JANUARY 5, 2021
WEBSITE: http://www.circleofconfusion.com/fellowship/?fbclid=IwAR2QAVJ3xBCa2juNjBhulL_TzH-yGNZ6eVxWskPiTULCz0f53-iw1azd1no
Circle of Confusion will establish an ongoing fellowship program to nurture and assist in accelerating the diversity of voices in our industry. Circle of Confusion’s core mission has always been discovery, and we have been fortunate enough to have identified and promoted many talented writers, directors, actors and creators from all walks of life. It is based on this tradition and fundamental strength of the company that Circle of Confusion is launching the program. The excitement of film and television has always been the joy that great storytelling brings to audiences around the globe. By promoting voices that have been historically excluded, the Fellowship will enrich both the professional lives of the Fellows and the dynamic quality of the entertainment industry.
THE FELLOWSHIP
Circle of Confusion will provide an immersive introductory experience to the world of professional screen and television writing to a diverse group of aspiring writers who have not yet been employed or represented by the industry. The Fellows will each be given a $10,000 stipend by way of a first look deal with Circle of Confusion Television Studios. Twice per year, the program will select six to eight writers for a six-month fellowship which closely replicates the writer-manager dynamic. Each Fellow will be assigned a mentor who will educate and guide them by way of script development, career advice, and support. While the Fellowship cannot guarantee the sale of the pilot or specific employment, by the end of each Fellowship session, each Fellow will have developed a submission-ready television pilot, been afforded multiple opportunities for industry networking, and generally equipped with the essential tools for their success as writers in the entertainment industry. The Fellowship is open to applicants of all ethnicities, races, cultural backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations, and ages.
MENTORSHIP
Our mentors will include Circle of Confusion literary managers and other senior industry professionals, offering general business advice and script development within the duration of the Fellowship. In the first four months, each Fellow will develop an original pilot script with their dedicated mentor. The pilot scripts will be reviewed by the Fellowship’s Advisory Board (composed of established members of the film and television community with an expertise in content evaluation) and then submitted to relevant industry professionals, with the explicit goal of using the last two months of the Fellowship to arrange general one-on-one Zoom meetings with producers and executives. Throughout the entire Fellowship session, the mentor will be available to guide the Fellow through each step, assisting the Fellow in their development of writing and storytelling skills, pitching skills and navigating the meeting process.
PROGRAMMING
The Fellowship program will begin in March of 2021 and include informational panels, speakers and workshops with industry professionals. Additionally, Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in several practice/mock-general meetings in preparation for their final professional meetings.
Applicant Qualifications:
Have never worked or held representation in the entertainment industry as a writer
Must have two storytelling samples, with at least one being a pilot script draft to further develop alongside a mentor during the Fellowship
Application Materials:
Fellowship application
Personal statement
Brief questionnaire
Two samples of narrative storytelling (The development sample must be a pilot script. Other writing samples may include but are not limited to pilot scripts, feature screenplays, short stories, personal essays, produced short form content, slam poetry, plays, audio-drama scripts, etc.)
For questions & more information, send email to: fellowship@circleofconfusion.com
18. SESAME STREET WORKSHOP
DEADLINE: January 10th
WEBSITE: https://sesamewritersroom.org/
Sesame Workshop Writers’ Room is a writing fellowship from the creators of Sesame Street. And we’re looking for YOU! Fresh new writing talent from underrepresented racial backgrounds. Emerging storytellers who are selected to join the Writers’ Room will receive hands-on writing experience guided by Sesame Street veterans and other media industry leaders. Each participant will develop and write a pilot script for their own original kids concept. Past fellows have gone on to develop their own original content with Sesame Workshop, as well as write for Sesame Street and various programs at Nickelodeon, Disney, DreamWorks, and more!
-Up to 8 writers from underrepresented racial backgrounds will be selected
-Includes eight, three-hour sessions on creating original children's content
-Learn from industry writers, producers, agents and executives
-Complete at least one original script during the program
-Up to two participants will have the opportunity to receive creative development deals and further mentorship
Eligibility Checklist
-Participants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
-Participants must be 21+ years old
-Must come from an underrepresented racial group
-No extensive media writing experience, such as having written more than six episodes for a network or cable scripted/narrative series
-Participants must be able to attend all eight weekly sessions which will be held from May to July.
19. MCKNIGHT FELLOWSHIPS IN PLAYWRITING
DEADLINE: Jan 14th, 2021
WEBSITE: https://pwcenter.org/programs/mcknight-fellowships-in-playwriting
The McKnight Foundation, a family foundation based in Minnesota, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. The McKnight Fellowship in Playwriting recognizes and supports mid-career playwrights living and working in Minnesota who demonstrate a sustained body of work, commitment, and artistic excellence. The fellowship, which runs July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022, includes: a $25,000 stipend, an additional $2,500 to support a play development workshop and other professional expenses, and $1,400 in travel funds. Applicants must reside in and have the legal right to work in the U.S. during the fellowship term. Applicants must have been continuous residents of Minnesota since January 14, 2020, and must maintain residency in Minnesota during the fellowship year. Applicants must have a minimum of one work fully produced by a professional theater at the time of application. Recipients of 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 McKnight Artist Fellowships in any discipline are not eligible. Full-time students are not eligible. Staff and board members of the McKnight Foundation and the Playwrights' Center and their immediate family members are not eligible. Fellowship recipients may not receive any other Playwrights' Center fellowships, grants, or Core Writer program benefits during the grant year. If a recipient is a Core Writer, the Core term will be extended by one year. Applicants may only apply for one McKnight Artist Fellowship each year in any discipline.
Each application will contain the following pieces:
-Application Form (including contact details, eligibility, and demographic information)
-Playwriting Resume: Please note clearly which productions listed on your resume (if any) meet the criteria for being "fully produced by a professional theater." Professional productions are defined as productions for which the author and primary artists (actors, directors, and creative collaborators) were reasonably compensated and that received at least three public performances each. Ten-minute or one-act plays and university, college, secondary school, amateur, and Equity showcase/waiver productions are not considered full professional productions. Productions that open after January 14, 2021 do not count.
-Artistic Statement: Use this statement to describe your artistic goals and vision as a theater maker. This is also an opportunity to provide context for the play you submitted and discuss how it fits into your larger body of work and how you envision your work developing.
-Full-length play script: A full-length play generally runs at least one hour. All script submissions must be written only by the applicant—no cowritten submissions will be accepted. Scripts for musicals may be submitted by the book writer only. If you have previously received a McKnight Artist Fellowship, this script must have been completed after that fellowship year.
-References: Please list two individuals who are familiar with your work as a playwright and who we may contact during the evaluation process.
Questions may be addressed to Artistic Programs Manager Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org.
20. THE BLACK LIST & GOOGLE ASSISTANT STORYTELLING FELLOWSHIP
DEADLINE: January 15th
WEBSITE:
www.blcklst.com/partnerships/opportunities/90#:~:text=The%20Black%20List%20is%20pleased,that%20highlights%20contemporary%20stories%20and
The Black List is pleased to partner with Google Assistant to present the 2020-2021 Black List & Google Assistant Storytelling Fellowship, which will provide financial and creative support in the development and execution of a new original feature film script or pilot that highlights contemporary stories and perspectives from historically underrepresented communities.
Up to five writers will receive $20,000 each for the purpose of supporting those writers for six months as they work to draft their new feature screenplays and/or teleplays. During the course of those six months, the Black List and Google Assistant will also pair each fellowship recipient with a screenwriting mentor.
Pitches should be contemporary in nature and avoid violence and/or illegal activity as the premise of the story. Completed scripts can include the natural helpfulness of technology in everyday life, but shouldn’t be focused around technology or from a dystopian view. At the end of the Fellowship, each recipient would provide Google with a copy of their new draft along with a report addressing how the grant has been used to advance their work.
THE SELECTION PROCESS
Opt-ins will be open until midnight on Friday, January 15, 2021. On Monday, January 18, 2021, up to 15 writers will be invited, based on the strength of their scripts as determined by the Black List, to submit a one-page personal statement and professional resume. Those materials will be due on Friday, January 22, 2020. From those submissions, up to five (5) writers will be selected by the Black List and Google Assistant to receive the 2020-2021 Storytelling Fellowship.
21. THE NEUKOM INSTITUTE LITERARY ARTS AWARD FOR PLAYWRITING
DEADLINE: Jan. 15th
WEBSITE: https://sites.dartmouth.edu/neukominstitutelitawards/how-to-enter/
The arts have always had strong creative connections to the sciences, including computational science. Acting as a gadfly for the good, provocateur and satirist when the sciences overreach, but also far-seeing prophets of scientific potential. The arts are among the areas that computational sciences has transformed, not only through its impact on modes of production of artwork, but also as a formative influence on its themes and motivations, notably in the fields of speculative fiction as well as the dramatic arts. To that end, the Neukom Institute is proud to announce three prizes for creative work in the arts.
Submission Requirements:
Full-length plays and other full length works for theater addressing the question “What does it mean to be a human in a computerized world?”
Submissions must include
An anonymized (blinded) copy of the piece
Playwright resume/bio
Production history of the piece
1 page statement of purpose that answers the following questions:
A. How does your piece address the theme of exploring humanity in our computerized, digital world?
B. What are your goals for this piece in its current form?
C. The winning piece will receive two readings: one at VoxFest at Dartmouth College in July 2021, and the second at Northern Stage in White River Junction, VT, during the 2021/2022 season. How would you use this two-part development process to achieve these goals?
Questions? Email Emma Orme at vox@voxtheater.org
Playwrights can submit using this form.
Honorarium
Each award comes with an honorarium of $5,000. The winner of the Neukom Institute Literary Arts Award for Playwriting will also receive two readings: one at VoxFest at Dartmouth College in July 2021, and the second at the New Works Now Festival at Northern Stage in White River Junction, VT, during the 2021-2022 season.
22. HELEN WURLITZER FOUNDATION RESIDENCY (TAOS, NM)
DEADLINE: January 18th
WEBSITE: https://wurlitzerfoundation.org/apply
To apply for an artist residency, submit an application form (below) along with the application fee and required work samples.
The annual deadline for applications is January 18th to be considered for a residence grant the following calendar year. Online applications must be received, and mailed applications must be postmarked, by January 18th. Grantees will be notified of their fellowship awards in June. For more info read the FAQs online.
Online applications received between now and 11:59PM MST, Jan. 18 2020 will be considered for residency grants in 2021. Supplemental work samples sent via mail must be postmarked by January 21st!
23. PLAYWRIGHTS CENTER CORE WRITER PROGRAM
DEADLINE: January 21st, 2021
WEBSITE: https://pwcenter.slideroom.com/#/login/program/57618
The Core Writer Program is a three-year appointment designed to support a diverse group of playwrights who demonstrate a sustained body of work, commitment, and artistic excellence. The program is available to emerging and established writers nationally and offers significant resources intended to further a playwright's career.
The Core Writer program gives 25-35 of the most exciting playwrights from across the country the time and tools to develop new work for the stage. All Core Writers receive play development workshops with the Center, in collaboration with prominent directors, actors, dramaturgs, and designers. All writers are paid for their workshop time. Core Writers are eligible to be included in our formal season of public readings: the PlayLabs festival and the Ruth Easton New Play Series.
Core Writers are also promoted by the Center and provided opportunities through an extensive network of colleges and universities, cultural institutions, and producing theaters. Each term is three years; Core Writers may reapply for additional terms.
Applicants must reside in and have the legal right to work in the U.S. It is not required for an applicant to have had professional productions in order to apply. However, please note that this program is highly competitive and is designed for committed professional playwrights who are pursuing playwriting as their primary career. Students enrolled in a full-time educational program are not eligible. The Core Writer term will be July 1, 2021-June 30, 2024.
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