GET WHAT YOU WANT: May 2022

 

1. PARAMOUNT WRITERS MENTORING PROGRAM
DEADLINE: May 1st, 2022
WEBSITE: https://www.paramount.com/writers-mentoring-program

There are many different paths writers can follow to get their first foothold in being hired in television. As part of its ongoing commitment to create additional access for writers of diverse backgrounds Paramount's Office of Global Inclusion has launched a different kind of writers program which highlights one of those paths. The focus of this eight month program is on opening doors: providing opportunities to build relationships with network and studio executives and show runners; to support new and emerging writers in their efforts to improve their craft; and to develop the interpersonal skills necessary to break in and succeed. The Writers Mentoring Program is not employment and there is no monetary compensation. It is, instead, a structured program of career development, support, and personal access to executives and the decision-making processes, with the goal of preparing aspiring writers for later employment opportunities in television. Each participant will be teamed with an executive mentor. A Paramount network or studio executive with whom they will meet on a regular basis, to discuss their work, get creative feedback on their material and get advice and support in furthering their career. Once a week, for 16 weeks participants will be invited to a small workshop-style meeting with various Paramount show runners and other industry professionals. Speakers include executive producers, agents, managers, development and current executives and show runners. The purpose of these gatherings is for participants to gain a better understanding of how the business works from many different perspectives as well as creating the opportunity to make critical networking connections. Another important part of the program is the opportunity for each participant to spend time observing in a writers room. Each participant will have help in creating a rigorous career action plan and there will be on-going support in evaluating and achieving those goals. Another important benefit of the program is the development of a close-knit peer support group that will sustain participants through the program and beyond. The Paramount Writers Mentoring Program helps aspiring writers to understand the unwritten rules of breaking in and moving up. It is a combination of mentoring and networking opportunities. Program opportunities such as mentoring, workshops, and observing can be scheduled around participants’ existing work commitments. In order for a participant to get the most out of the Program a meaningful commitment of time and effort are required. It has been found that in order to derive the greatest benefit from the program, participants should be available to 1) attend a once a week (evening) workshop and 2) attend meetings or observe in various situations for a minimum of five full days (not necessarily in sequence) over the course of the eight-month program. The primary focus of the Paramount Writers Mentoring Program is to provide access and opportunities for talented and motivated diverse writers. Aspiring diverse writers with a strong desire to write for Paramount television series are encouraged to apply. You must be 21 or older to be eligible. Finalists will be notified in mid September 2022 (or such later date as may be determined by Paramount). The program is scheduled to begin in October 2022 and continues through April 2023.

 
2.FESTIVAL OF XIII
DEADLINE: May 1st, 2022
WEBSITE: https://www.brockport.edu/academics/theatre_music/festival_of_ten.html

The Department of Theatre and Music Studies at SUNY Brockport is pleased to announce its 13th Biennial Festival of Ten-Minute Plays.

Brockport’s Festival of Ten began in 1999, and every two years since then audiences have enjoyed these performances consisting of 10 ten-minute plays. Our Festival of Ten has grown over the years and now has an International reputation, with playwrights from as far away as Australia. For each festival we accept 500 submissions, ultimately selecting ten to produce. Plays can be submitted beginning March 15, 2022, until May 1, 2022, or until we reach 500 submissions.

All plays will be submitted online. Submitted plays should have the name of the playwright removed.
Each script must have a running time of 7–14 minutes.
Only original scripts allowed.
Maximum of two scripts per playwright.
Plays that have been read or performed in any manner for a paying audience prior to submission are not accepted.
Plays written by current  Brockport Department of Theatre and Music Studies faculty and staff (full and part-time) are not accepted.
Entries will be acknowledged via email.
Only the first 500 scripts received will be considered.
The top ten scripts will be produced in fully realized productions as part of the SUNY Brockport’s Festival of Ten XIII (February/March 2023).

Finalists will be notified by November 30, 2023. If you are unsure how to format your play, view this website for an example. If you have questions or need more information, please email festivalof10@brockport.edu.


3. APPALACHIAN FESTIVAL OF PLAYS AND PLAYWRIGHTS
DEADLINE: May 1st
WEBSITE: https://bartertheatre.com/appalachian-festival-of-plays-and-playwrights/


Six plays are chosen from the submissions to be given public readings by Barter’s company.
The playwrights are given travel, housing, and a stipend for the week. Each play will be given 6-8 hours of rehearsal time.  The directors are instructed to direct for clarity not effect.  Our goal for the reading is that script/story/relationships are illuminated.  These readings are about getting your story out there. After each reading, a panel made up of three regional theatre professionals will give a few thoughts on the piece with the AFPP director moderating the discussion.  After that, we engage with the audience for their comments so that playwrights can get feedback from three separate groups: artists, panelists, and audience.

Playwrights have found this to be a very useful step in developing their plays, as well as a nice little vacation/writer’s retreat with a chance to meet other playwrights, make new friends, and enjoy the beauty of Southwest Virginia!

Plays must be written by an Appalachian playwright (currently living in a state that contains the Appalachian Mountain Range— which, for our purposes, run from New York to Alabama.)
OR  The plays must be set in the Appalachian region.

Plays must be unpublished and must not have had a full professional production.
Plays must be full length.
Plays must be submitted electronically.

Please send play and a brief synopsis to:  apfestival@bartertheatre.com


4. WB TELEVISION WORKSHOP
DEADLINE: Opens in May 1st, deadline unclear
WEBSITE: https://televisionworkshop.warnerbros.com/writers-workshop/

For over 40 years, the Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop has been the premiere writing program for new writers looking to start and further their career in the world of television. Every year, the Workshop selects up to eight participants out of more than 2,500 submissions and exposes them to Warner Bros. Television’s top writers and executives, all with the ultimate goal of earning them a staff position on a Warner Bros.-produced television show. The Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop consists of three components, all geared towards preparing the writer for a successful career in television writing.  The 2021-2022 Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop will run October 2021 – March 2022, with meetings on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California, one evening a week from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Full participation is mandatory.


5. AURAND HARRIS MEMORIAL PLAYWRITING AWARD
Deadline: May 1st
Website: https://www.netconline.org/aurand-harris-memorial-playwriting-award

This award was created in 1997 to honor the late Aurand Harris (1915-1996) for his lifetime dedication to all aspects of professional theatre for young audiences.

A panel of judges named by the NETC Executive Board will administer this award. A staged reading of the prize-winning scripts will be held along with the Annual Excellence in Theatre Awards ceremony.

The contest is open to all playwrights and is for new full-length plays for young audiences. No musicals nor plays targeted at adult audiences
All plays will be submitted online to harris-award@netconline.org
Plays submitted to the contest must not have been previously published, submitted to NETC’s Gassner Playwriting Contest, or previously produced by a professional or Equity company; Plays submitted which have had workshop productions or staged readings are eligible and encouraged.
Plays submitted to this contest may have been submitted to another playwriting contest, and may have previously won a prize or an award in another contest. However, such plays must not have been published or professionally produced and must not be under option for publication or professional production.
Playwrights may submit only one play to the contest in one year.



6. THE SIXTH FESTIVAL
DEADLINE: May 1st
WEBSITE: http://thesixthfest.org

The Sixth Festival is calling for play submissions for Off-Broadway readings happening June 2 - 12. One night will be short plays (10-30 minutes) and one night will go to a single full length. The Sixth Fest is a fringe festival in its second year inviting events of all types to draw attention and inspire action to stop the end of the fucking world.

In our first year we had 25 events from over 80 presenters in Chicago and online, from urban gardening in underserved communities to poetry to panels to yoga to a pageant for kids, with the knowledge that everyone of every walk will be needed to avert the climate crisis.

The venue: Theatre 80 is an Off-Broadway theater located at 80 St. Mark's Place in Manhattan's East Village neighborhood. It will be underwater after we reach 4 degrees of warming which we are on course for by 2100. Due to the pandemic, this historic location is in a fight to keep from shuttering.

Submission details:
Plays, like all our events, do not have to be about climate change, at least in what immediately comes to mind with that. Ice caps and disappearing forests and weather are the symptoms. Humans are the cause. Some things stories could be about: children being nice to each other; farming; migrants; butterflies; the fact that our government is controlled by private interests or runs on tribalism; globally or locally racist, exploitative systems that pretend human beings and the planet are dispensable--just to name a few. An aim of the festival is to show climate change is much different than the boxes we have it in, and affects and is affected by everything. Plus, if Rihanna can play her regular playlist for climate, we can all do the same.
Send a PDF of the whole play to submissions@thesixthfest.org with either "Short 80 Submission" or "Full Length 80 Submission" in the subject line, depending on play's length.
One play only. Plays that have been produced before accepted.
No fee. Produced by the festival.
Plays must include at least one occurrence of the words "climate change" or "climate crisis."
$200 for full-length winner. $50 for shorts.


7. 2022 RIPPED FESTIVAL
DEADLINE May 2nd
WEBSITE: https://americanbluestheater.com/#

We’re now accepting short play submissions for the 2022 Ripped Festival online library!

The Living Newspaper Project began in 2009 with a series of staged readings of short plays based on the 1930s WPA era program “The Living Newspaper” and Federal Writers’ Project, enabling artists such as Ralph Ellison, Susan Glaspell, Zora Neale Hurston, Eugene O’Neill, Studs Terkel, and Richard Wright. Since our inaugural 2009 launch, we’ve presented 21 events and utilized 610+ artists that feature short plays ripped from today’s headlines.

In 2013, we expanded our staged readings into the sold-out, one-night-only, annual event – The Ripped Festival. All proceeds of these annual events benefit our free arts education program, including “The Lincoln Project” in Chicago Public Schools. In addition, we showcase short plays from CPS students who’ve completed our course.

Due to the 2020-2021 pandemic and industry shutdown of live events, we presented The Ripped Festival as an online library, featuring 30 short plays throughout the month of June. Selected scripts were used during a theater course at the University of California – Berkeley.

Our annual festival cultivates new material and allows audiences to discuss topical issues together. American Blues Theater provides community service and raises awareness through creative collaborations. The following organizations have been supported by Ripped events since its inception in 2009: AgrAbility, American Indian Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Illinois Farm Bureau, Lincoln Park Community Shelter, NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund, No Kid Hungry, University of Chicago’s Urban Education Teachers Program, and more.

Send your script to Ripped@AmericanBluesTheater.com.

 
8. I AM SOUL PLAYWRIGHTS RESIDENCY PROGRAM
DEADLINE: May 9th
WEBSITE: https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/playwrights-residency

Launched in 2012, The I AM SOUL Playwrights Residency Program uniquely serves the best and brightest emerging Black playwrights from around the nation. Through this program, NBT seeks to foster mutually-beneficial relationships between Black institutions and creatives to re-establish historically Black theatrical institutions as the foremost supporters and producers of Black artistry. This 18-month residency aims to unleash the souls of two to three Black playwrights per cycle. Coined as a dream MFA program, this program is about process, not product, so playwrights experiment with form, style, and narrative to develop, hone and explore new ways of artistic expression in a nourishing environment.  Each resident is provided a financial stipend, dramaturgical and developmental resources, a full production team, and two 29-hour workshops.  


9. NEW VOICES: PLAYWRITING 2022
DEADLINE: May 9th
WEBSITE: https://www.olneytheatre.org/education/new-voices

New Voices is fueled by the ideas of student playwrights, who are tasked with writing one‐act plays or musicals in response to an open‐ended question. Shows are selected by the “New Voices Board,” consisting of Olney Theatre administrative staff and student

Program leaders. Playwrights are invited, but not required, to participate in any of the other five pathways.

The deadline for writing submissions and Writers’ Profile Form is May 9th.

Writers: your job is to write a one-act play or musical that reads a minimum of 10 minutes in length and a maximum of 30 minutes in length. Plays must be written in script format with dialogue, stage directions, etc. No stories written as narratives will be accepted. From all of our writing submissions, 3-6 one-acts will be selected to be produced in this year’s program. Your show must respond to this prompt:

Tell us about a time when a situation or event made you change your perspective on a major aspect of your life.

We urge you to be as creative as you can. Think outside the box, and write about what is important to you.

Email writing submissions to teencouncil@olneytheatre.org. The email’s subject must read “Last Name, First Name: Writing Submission” and contain a PDF of your script.  Additionally, please submit the writers’ profile form online. Any one-act submitted without the accompanying form will not be considered.

Writers’ Profile Form:

https://forms.gle/JieerN8z37SDwCHN8


10. . NBC WRITERS ON THE VERGE
DEADLINE: MAY 10th, 2022
WEBSITE: https://nbcunitips.submittable.com/submit/164495/writers-on-the-verge-2020

Writers on the Verge is a program focused on polishing writers and readying them for a staff writer position on a television series. We are looking for writers who are “almost there” but need that final bit of preparation with their writing and personal presentation skills. We particularly encourage writers of diverse backgrounds to apply.

The program will consist of weekly evening classes at NBCUniversal in Universal City, CA. Once accepted, students must attend all classes and turn in all written assignments.
Classes concentrate on creating exceptional material to enhance their portfolio, and understanding the dynamics of pitching oneself in the television industry. Writers are given the chance to interact with industry players ranging from network executives to show runners to agents and receive valuable feedback on their work and pitch style. Writing assignments on a NBCUniversal television show may be available after successful completion of the program but are not a guarantee. Past participants have gone on to series including “The Blacklist,” “Indebted,” “Community”, “Council of Dads”, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”, “Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector”, “Chicago Fire” and “Parenthood.


11. CARLO ANNONI INTERNATIONAL PLAYWRITING PRIZE
DEADLINE: May 15th
WEBSITE: http://premiocarloannoni.eu/guidelines/?lang=en

Carlo Annoni International Playwriting Prize accepts plays on any topic affecting the LGBTQ+ community, and the promotion of diversity in love, society, politics and culture.

We dedicate the 2022 Carlo Annoni Prize to all those individuals that fight to see their right to love respected both in Italy and in the world, and to those experiencing discrimination because of their identity.

Two plays (one in English and one in Italian) will be awarded the amount of 1.000 Euros each.

Special mentions might be given to:
BEST COMEDY
BEST SHORT PLAY: a special mention will be given to a short play of a maximum of 10 minutes length
NEXT GENERATION: A special mention will be assigned to a play chosen by a jury of under 25s

Plays must be submitted via email at info@premiocarloannoni.eu
 
We are happy to consider plays that have already been performed.

12. ALICE JUDSON HAYES FELLOWSHIP
Deadline: May 15th, 2022
Website: https://ragdale.submittable.com/submit/137680/2020-alice-judson-hayes-fellowship

The Alice Judson Hayes Writing Fellowship is an annual award in memory of Alice Hayes, who created the Ragdale Foundation in what had been her family home. All her life she was committed to working for a just and peaceful world. An 18- or 25-day residency, free of charge, and a $500 stipend will be given to a writer who is working on a project designed to bring awareness to a contemporary issue having to do with peace, social justice, education, or the environment. Projects can be nonfiction or fiction (including journalism, essays, memoir, script-writing, creative nonfiction). No academic writing.

One Alice Judson Hayes Fellowship is awarded annually. Ragdale encourages applications from artists representing the widest possible range of perspectives and demographics, and to that end, emerging as well as established artists are invited to apply. While there are no publication, exhibition or performance requirements for application, applicants should be working at the professional level in their fields.

Ragdale encourages artists of all backgrounds to apply, and does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of age, disability, gender, origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

13. THE BELLAGIO CENTER RESIDENCY
DATE: May 17th, 2022
WEBSITE: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/bellagio-center/residency-program/

A Bellagio residency is intended for leading actors working within a wide variety of fields and disciplines to advance groundbreaking work. Among many other activities, Bellagio residents have completed books, edited films, composed operas, written business plans, and formulated new organizational strategies, utilizing the gift of time to realize truly pioneering projects. New this year, we are actively recruiting applicants who have projects related to specific themes: Gender Equality, Green Economies, and The Responsible use of AI. Applicants may be working in any academic or artistic discipline, or they may be practitioners working in any field. Bellagio residencies will be offered to successful candidates within the 2023 program year.

14. SOHO REP WRITER DIRECTOR LAB
DEADLINE: May 27th
WEBSITE:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CpSEEWzUmfnmSBWclw6s-L0fj2n_RV8tJfIP5r23jNo/viewform?edit_requested=true&dm_i=75O2,493P,27P3II,KE56,1

The Lab is an engine for creating lasting artistic relationships and giving the artists the means and resources to make a tangible piece of theater. The Lab supports the development of four projects created by collaborative teams over 12 months, culminating in work-in-progress presentations at Soho Rep. Our goal is that the artistic teams will emerge from the Lab confident in the work they have made with a substantive piece of theater that has enhanced and enriched the collaboration between the two artists.

We are seeking collaborative teams of two theater artists who will work together to create a text-based live performance event.

We seek to prove the hypothesis that theater can be made in all types of ways.  Therefore, the artists in each collaborative team can come from a variety of artistic specializations, but they must identify as the lead artists on the project, and they must be able to work together toward an in-process presentation of a performance work at the culmination of the 12-month Lab process. Historically, these teams have involved one “writer” and one “director,” but we do not require a background in either discipline, and welcome fluidity in artistic roles. We are excited by language, by bold theatricality and by challenges to form.

Applicants who are full time students (undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree granting organizations),  will not be considered.

Applicants must be based in the greater New York City area and be able to attend twice monthly meetings and presentations in person for the duration of the 12-month program. The Lab runs September 2022-Sept 2023 with a small break from meetings in the summer. Because Lab participants will be working on the same piece for 12 months, this should be a piece that is not being developed in conjunction with any other organization or any other primary collaborators outside the Lab.

Applicants must have an interest in theater-making, collaboration, and relationship-building with other artists. Applicants may only apply with one project per cycle. Applicants who apply with multiple projects will not be considered. Past Writer Director Lab participants are not eligible for this round of the LAB.



15. OVERTIME THEATER NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT SERIES
DEADLINE: May 28th
WEBSITE: https://theovertimetheater.org

The Overtime Theater in San Antonio, Texas is seeking new works from LGBTQ+ playwrights for its 2022 New Play Development Series in June.

The chosen play will be given a staged reading at the Overtime Theater in celebration of National LGBTQ+ Pride Month.  The Overtime Theater is seeking plays that require one to five actors. Previously unproduced full-length and one-act plays are welcome, as well as longform monologues. The chosen play (or plays) will be given two rehearsals and one staged reading, which includes an audience feedback session.

The purpose of this program is to give new and seasoned playwrights an opportunity to further develop new works. Devoted to producing new and original work, the Overtime is particularly interested in bold, innovative plays from across the LGBTQ+ spectrum that are both provocative and entertaining.

Only submissions in a Word document or PDF will be considered. Applicants should use the title of the play as the name of the document, followed by the full name of the playwright. One play per applicant. The Overtime accepts submissions from writers based in the U.S. or Canada.The Overtime Theater, an all-volunteer organization, compensates playwrights with one equal share of donations to our tip jar at the end of the play’s one-night presentation.

Submissions should be sent to submissions@theovertimetheater.org. Attn: Jade Esteban Estrada, artistic director.

16. 9THIRTY THEATRE COMPANY
DEADLINE: May 30th
WEBSITE: http://9ttc.org/submissions.php

9Thirty Theatre Company (9TTC) accepts submissions from March to May each season. Please note that due to our small staff we are unable to respond to submissions that are not accepted. Please adhere to the guidelines below. Send submissions in either a .doc or .pdf format to Submissions@9ttc.org. In respect of our commitment to the environment please do not mail submissions to our office.9TTC produces works that incorporate environmental issues as part of the part, characters, or theme. We are uniquely dedicated to Eco Theatre, connecting humanity and nature, in various forms.

We accept original one acts, and full length plays and musicals.
We do not accept one-person shows, children's shows, screenplays, or works without environmental themes. 9Thirty Theatre Company also does not produce works that have already been produced in New York City.

To have your work considered, please submit the following as one file:
• cover letter, including your contact information
• brief synopsis of piece (500 words or less)
• character descriptions
• 20 page dialogue sample
• brief production history of the work (if applicable)
• bio for yourself and any other collaborators
• if submitting a musical, please include at least 3 recorded demo tracks


17. THE EMERGING ARTISTS THEATRE NEW WORK SERIES
DEADLINE: May 31st
WEBSITE: https://www.newworkseries.com/submissions/

The Emerging Artists Theatre (EAT) NEW WORK SERIES (NWS) is a three-week developmental program that provides theater artists of different disciplines the opportunity to present one performance of a polished “work-in-progress” with audience feedback. Most pieces selected for NWS will have never before been performed in front of an audience. Some selections will have been performed once or twice but will feature new material. We are not interested in seeing established pieces of theatre. We want to see something brand spanking new hit the stage for the first, or nearly the first time. We like to think of this series as an opportunity for artists to share an early draft of a new piece. There is no submission charge, and no obligation to participate if chosen. Plus participants receive 50% of the box office. Successful Fringe, NYMF, and Off-Broadway shows have been born out of this series, and Emerging Artists is excited to present a new round of opportunities to local artists for yet another year.

We are now accepting submissions for the following new works:

Solo Shows
Dance
Cabaret
Musicals (Short and Long)
Plays (Short and Long)
Subway Musicians
Storytelling Show
Sketch Comedy
Interactive
Other … Out of the Box


18. AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL - PLAYWRITING COMPETITION
DEADLINE: June 1st
WEBSITE: https://austinfilmfestival.com/submit/play/

Three finalists from the Playwriting Competition will have live readings during the festival which will be performed in front of an audience including the industry professionals already in attendance at the Conference. One winner will be selected and will receive a $1000 cash prize, AFF’s Bronze Typewriter Award, and reimbursements of up to $500 for travel and up to $500 for lodging if used during the 2019 Festival. There is a $25 application fee.

At Austin Film Festival, our mission is to champion all writers across mediums. Our Playwriting Competition (open to full-length plays) gives playwrights a chance to explore our film and television conference. It will also allow film professionals to discover storytellers who have mastered the art and craft of stage drama.

AFF has always promoted story as the most important element of film and TV. So giving playwrights their own story exposure and a chance of crossover into film and TV only advances our mission. There are many other playwriting competitions out there, but AFF offers playwrights broader access to successful writers and professionals in all the other related fields.


19. THE PEN/HEIM TRANSLATION FUND GRANTS
Deadline: June 1st
Website: https://pen.submittable.com/submit/191304/2022-pen-heim-translation-fund-grants

The PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants were established in the summer of 2003 by a gift from Priscilla and Michael Henry Heim in response to the low number of literary translations currently appearing in English. Its purpose is to promote the publication and reception of translated world literature in English.

Who is eligible:
The PEN/Heim Translation Fund provides grants to support the translation of book-length works of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or drama that have not previously appeared in English in print or have appeared only in an outdated or otherwise flawed translation. Works should be translations-in-progress, as the grant aims to provide support for completion.
There are no restrictions on the nationality or citizenship of the translator, but the works must be translated into English.
The Fund seeks to encourage translators to undertake projects they might not otherwise have had the means to attempt.
Anthologies with multiple translators, works of literary criticism, and scholarly or technical texts do not qualify.
Translators who have previously been awarded grants by the Fund are ineligible to reapply for three years after the year in which they receive a grant.
Please note that projects that have been previously submitted and have not received a grant are unlikely to be reconsidered in a subsequent year.
Projects may have up to two translators.
Translators may only submit one project per year.

How to apply: The application form, with all items completed:
A 1-2 page, single-spaced statement outlining the work and describing its importance.
A biography and bibliography of the original author, including information on translations of their work into other languages.
A CV of the translator, no longer than 3 pages.
If the book is not in the public domain and the project is not yet under contract, please include a photocopy of the copyright notice on the original (the copyright notice is a line including the character ©, a date, and the name of the copyright holder, which appears as part of the front matter in every book), and a letter from the copyright holder stating that English-language rights to the book are available. A letter or copy of an email from the copyright holder is sufficient.
If the translation is currently under contract with a publisher, please submit a copy of the contract.


20. PARADOX THEATER WORKS NEW WORKS FESTIVAL SHOWCASE
DEADLINE: June 1st
WEBSITE: www.paradoxtheatreworks.com

Submissions are now being accepted for Paradox Theatre Works’ second annual New Works Festival Showcase 2022, entitled “THE LIVING ROOM”. Seeking original short plays 10 minutes in length that have not been produced in the Chicago area before, from playwrights from across the globe. This year’s festival is focused on scenes that occur in “The Living Room”.  Seeking original monologues and original spoken word pieces.

The winning entries will be produced by Paradox Theatre Works and provided a venue, audience, directors and actors to perform your play live at our “The Living Room” New Works Festival Showcase 2022 in October.
The production will be in front of a live audience and recorded. It will subsequently be posted after the production on our website.
Scripts should stay between 8 and 10 minutes.
Each play must take place in The Living Room.
Your available set will consist of one coffee table, one rug under the coffee table, two accent chairs and one sofa.
Your play must be limited to between two and four characters.
Scripts that copy the exact plotline of existing movies, plays, TV series, and books will not be considered.
No more than five submissions allowed per playwright.
Please include a cover sheet for your submissions w/ play title, author’s name, place of residence, mobile number, e-mail that is checked regularly, and an author bio of approximately 75 words. You are welcome to include a brief play synopsis here as well.
The first page of the script should provide the name of characters and brief description of personality.
Send email using subject line: 10 Minute Play Submission
Send the email to: ParadoxTheatreWorks@gmail.com
The playwright may submit up to 5 plays.
We prefer plays that have never been produced anywhere but require plays never produced in the Chicagoland area.


21. AMERICAN BARD THEATER COMPANY’S FIRST PLAYWRIGHT INVITATIONAL
DEADLINE: June 5th OR the first 120 plays submitted
WEBSITE: https://www.americanbard.org

Your play could be our next fully-staged production! We are seeking full length plays for consideration for our fall 2022 Corner Stone Reading Series

Our Corner Stone Reading Series was started in 2015 as an opportunity to work with our network of artists and invite our audience into the incubation process of a potential fully-staged production for American Bard. These readings are offered as free programming and are open to the public.​

The top three plays selected by our panel of readers will receive a staged reading produced by American Bard Theater Company for our Corner Stone Reading Series in the fall of 2022.
These plays will be considered for American Bard Theater Company’s the next fully-staged production.

SUBMISSION RULES:
One PDF electronic submission of a single full-length play per playwright, written in English.
75 -90 minutes running time with NO intermission. (Approximately 75 - 90 pages)
Play must not have been previously produced as a fully-staged production.
No joint authorships, adaptations, translations, children’s plays or musicals.
Maximum of 8 actors, regardless of number of characters in the play.
All characters must be performed by adult actors (18 years or older).
No nudity, extreme profanity, glitter/confetti, or prolific use of liquids.
Simultaneous submissions accepted, but please withdraw if accepted elsewhere.

Please send to: americanbardco@gmail.com


22. BETC’s New Play Development Program
DEADLINE: June 15th, or when 200 applications have been received
WEBSITE: https://betc.org/programs-events/generations/

BETC’s new play development program, Generations, features the work of parent playwrights with children under 18. The name comes from BETC’s goals for the program: to welcome all generations into the theater to see new plays, and to empower playwrights to generate new work. Each season, BETC selects one playwright through a national competition to join us in Boulder for a one-week residency.  During the residency week, the playwright works with a professional director, dramaturg, and actors to develop the selected script.  The week concludes with a public reading and post-reading conversation.

23. SOUL PRODUCING RESIDENCE PROGRAM
DEADLINE: June 15th
WEBSITE: https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/producing-residency

Launched in 2015, the Soul Producing Residency Program’s mission is to unveil, uplift and inform the next generation of Black leaders in cultural production. As writers and artists of color continue to conquer new feats in the performing arts industry, it has become increasingly important to equip emerging Black producers with the tools needed to step into their power as leaders, general managers and cultural curators.
Piloted as a fellowship with the two previous residents, Marie Cisco and Ngozi Anyanwu, this program calls back to Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s guiding principle of autonomy in Black storytelling, and provides an unprecedented opportunity for applicants of color to gain real-time experience. Under the supportive guidance of the L.A.B program staff, the 10-month residency supports residents by providing the network and guidance needed to produce in New York City in real time. Each resident will receive  a stipend and access to a library for resources to sharpen their skills.
With I AM SOUL, NBT seeks to foster mutually-beneficial relationships between Black institutions and creatives in order to reestablish historically Black theatrical institutions as the foremost supporters and producers of Black artistry.  

 

24. I AM SOUL DIRECTING RESIDENCY
DEADLINE: June 15th
WEBSITE: https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/directing-residency

Launched in 2018, the Directing Residency Program is a rigorous yet creative playground for Black directors to gain exposure, New York City credentials and, most importantly, technical skills under the guidance of the L.A.B program staff. Piloted in fellowship with the inaugural Directing Resident, Ebony Noelle Golden, this program provides a home for one director for a minimum of 18 months who will focus on mounting an NBT main-stage production of an existing play.

In addition to arming emerging directors with focused training and professional mentorship, the program seeks to radically shift accessibility dynamics that have historically disadvantaged directors of color. Residents gain experience at a reputable New York City theater and expand their collaborative network. Each resident is provided a stipend, dramaturgical and developmental resources, a full production team, and three 29-hour workshops.


25. 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.


26. 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.


27. 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.

28. 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.


29. DRAMATISTS GUILD FOUNDATION EMERGENCY GRANTS
DEADLINE: Rolling
WEBSITE: https://dgf.org/programs/grants/grants-for-writers/

It is vital to support writers in times of need so that they can get back to doing what they do best. DGF provides emergency financial assistance to individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists in dire need of funds due to severe hardship or unexpected illness.
If you are a writer in need, we can help.

30. 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
If you think you are eligible, now is a fabulous time to apply to The Dorothy Ross Friedman Residence. The Friedman is a shared housing (roommates) residence that offers affordable housing for working professionals in performing arts and entertainment, persons with HIV/AIDS, and senior citizens (60 years of age or older). Most of the apartments are 2-bedrooms, where you would have one roommate and there are a few 3-bedrooms, where you would have two roommates.  All tenants have a rent stabilized lease. All apartments are complete with dishwasher, washer/dryer, central heating, and AC. Many apartments have terraces with spectacular Manhattan views, and everyone has access to the Colleen Dewhurst Community Room and the newly renovated Bette Midler Rooftop and Garden. On-site social services include a range of community programs and the Waldman Living Room for seniors. The Friedman Residence also features 24-hour security.
 Criteria: Income Eligibility: 1-person household: $28,500 - $47,760

 
31. WILD CULTURE PROGRAM @ WILD PROJECT
DEADLINE: Rolling
WEBSITE:  http://thewildproject.com/wild-culture-submit-page/

Wild Project is currently accepting artist submissions for its WILD CULTURE curation program. WILD CULTURE will produce the work of 15-20 artists, prioritizing projects by female, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists, across theatre, performance art, music, visual art, and dance later this spring and summer. This program embraces the work of independent performance artists and productions to give these performers free access to valuable resources like wild project’s 89-seat theater and more. Curated artists will also have the option to live stream and/or film their work with our film production equipment and digital distribution platform. Wild Culture is primarily suited for work that is already more developed or previously workshopped. Wild Culture, launched in 2018, gives artists much-needed production support at an important time in their development. It strongly encourages artists whose projects address important issues like social justice, gender identity, equality, mental health, and climate change to submit their work.  

32. LONG WHARF THEATRE LITERARY PROGRAM & NEW WORK DEVELOPMENT
DEADLINE: Year round
WEBSITE: https://longwharf.org/casting-and-literary

Long Wharf Theatre has a proud and rich history of forming meaningful relationships with artists, supporting the development of their work, and moving their projects towards production. We are particularly interested in incubating new pieces that center BIPOC voices, push form, and feature innovative dramaturgy. We are also eager to support projects that originate with artists other than playwrights, such as designers, directors, dramaturgs, and activists. Many of these works have become part of the modern American canon with more than thirty Long Wharf Theatre productions transferred to Broadway or Off-Broadway runs.

We are revitalizing our commitment to playwrights at all stages in their careers, and are now welcoming scripts from unrepresented playwrights as well as agents.

Email scripts to: literary@longwharf.org

Type of Materials: Full-length, One act, 10-minute scripts, musicals, adaptations, translations, virtual/Zoom plays.

--

"The sea of bitterness is boundless,

turn your head to see the shore."