Friday, July 22, 2022

Mid-Trip...Travel Reflections

The behind-the-scenes stuff to this trip is the wide array of ppl I've met along the way. I usually don't take selfies or to post about it b/c it feels 'out of tune' with the moment. It's easier to just show a pic of a building and say 'here' than to capture the experiences with other ppl...the Luxembourg DJ in Slovenia who wants to move back to Ljubljana, a United Nations lawyer in Bordeaux who got fed up with int'l orgs, a Finnish theatre moving back to Helsinki, Canadian architect who hated religious art, A Marine vet and young chef driving from France to Spain and cooking all along the way whatever local food is around them, two American architects who picked apart the hotel in Florence for its use of space, Italian meditation teacher who talked about breathing and thinking from the solar plexus (and not through the head) for power, half the ppl on the Tuscany tour (hey, shout out!!), a Chicago political consultant working for socialist party in Vienna to bring 'Bernie Sanders' style organizing and micro-fundraising to the Austrian left, a Mexican college graduate going back home to work in the prison systems, an arts history student in Venice who thinks Kanye West is the troubled genius of our generation, Florentine chef who moved to nyc and had some success/press cooking a regional Tuscan dish for Americans and then had to move back home to Florence to take care of family (and now works in a sandwich shop near the Uffizi), the Egyptian interior designer who's traveling to Montreal for a long-term project and hates the city and plans on taking short breaks to Montana, and on and on.

I could fill a book with odd, charming, hilarious, sad, twisted stories told by other travelers. More than buildings, I'll remember the tall tales, soap operas, odd quirks, and contradictions that human beings reveal to other travelers on the road. 

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

TRAVELOGUE: ZAGREB

Cuter and more picturesque than its sister sister Belgrade, Zagreb, Croatia feels as if it was designed by a balkan version of Walt Disney. The restaurants, stores, and market areas are cheap, colorful, full of things that are different enough to be distinct, but not too different to feel threatening. In comparison to Serbia, Croatia was supposed to be more liberal. And at first glance that proved to be the case. The empty airport was surrounded by lush greenery that made things feel almost Scandinavian. Our uber pulled up and the young driver was blasting Serbian pop music. He preferred it to the more 'hokey' sounding Croatian tunes. Of course, the driver eventually recognized Ron and they excited talked in Croatian. Ron asked for and received the small corrections in some words that separate Serbian from the native dialect. When we pulled up to the airbnb, I looked across the street and saw two young girls passionately kissing in a building alcove. I can't recall any public displays of gay affection in Serbia. 

Inside the building, we climbed up four aching floors with two heavy suitcases. Why can't I be a lighter packer? The apartment did not quite have all the rooms covered with AC. In fact none of the bedrooms had air conditioning and we were in the middle of a heat wave. I decided to move into a hotel tomorrow. Go big or go home: Hotel Esplanade. Historic, luxury within walking distance and a block away from the train station.  

I received a warning at night. Despite the cute gingerbread looks, Croatia was possibly more racist and problematic than Serbia. I didn't really see it, but I was told to google articles about homophobia and racism in Croatia. Sure enough, I pulled up several instances of gay bashing and anti-immigrant fervor. I sloughed it off. I would be going out during the day to tourist places and writing in the afternoon and evening. No clubbing or bar hopping or doing anything where you're rolling with large drunken rowdy crowds.

The next morning I walked to the park for a tour. On the way there I stopped at a grocery store for a burek. The rap on Croatia is that it has the same food as Serbia but blander. Apparently the farther West you get in the Balkans, the closer you get to Germany and the more bland the food becomes. My first burek lived up to the ignominious claims about Croatia. Dry, hard, stuffed with chalky cheese, the Croatian burek seemed as if it was made by a very dreary and constipated baker. After eating a few bites of my breakfast, the rest of the parched elephantine pastry found its way into the park trash bin. A small gathering of tourist gathered around the clock and our tour guide appeared. 

Walking around Zagreb, I was totally charmed. The city had won Europe's best Christmas market contest a few years in a row before being told that they could no longer compete after repeated victories. Dejected, Zagreb residents continue to create their Christmas markets and quaint shops. 

In this tiny walkable city, there is so much history. The tour guide seemed to have a charming fable or folk tale for everything: black umbrellas being turned red by the passion of two lovers, the fair maiden who gave a cup of water to a thirsty knight from the spring still flowing in the townsquare and, thus, securing the cities name, the canon fired every day at noon to commemorate the Croatian bluff of shooting one of their last cannon balls at an approaching Ottoman army and convincing the invaders that they were facing a formidable foe...instead of a depleted army with few weapons. There were sobering stories like when we walked through the massive underground tunnels built by the local Nazi party in the 1940s as a bomb shelter. The tunnels are large enough to fit planes and tanks in the main part and hundreds of soldier in the tributary pathways. It was a blistering hot day so walking into these concrete tunnels immediately hit us with a blast of cool air. The tunnels were converted into a space for new art and performers. 

We scaled to the top of Zagreb and the tour guide noted a famous Croatian lover who sat on a park bench and had many love affairs before dying of alcoholism (and probably syphilis), and now had his life commemorated by an aluminum statue of his likeness sitting on a park bench overlooking the city. 

About an hour into the tour, the guide was spinning another tale and it was obvious that romantic storytelling was a cornerstone of Croatian life. Talking to a Serbian friend, they scoffed at the Croatian image of 'kind, cultured Europeans in contrast to the bloody Serbians.' He retorted that Croatians wrap their brutality in charm and gingerbread and fables. I could see that, but I'm also a tourist here for a few days, not someone looking to settle in. The Museum of Broken Relationships started in Zagreb so I went to the source. I found myself laughing and crying at all the objects sent from people around the world that commemorated relationships ended by divorce, death, tragedy, comedy, and all causes. And then the Museum of Drunk History also had a funny collection of international stories about inebriation sprinkled with some facts about drinking. 

I switched to my hotel room and rediscovered my writing mojo. I finished a rewrite on one project, and started two more. Ron came over for dinner and we ate at the Michelin restaurant on the hotel patio. As we finished a spectacular meal which defied the shame of Croatian cuisine, we heard music floating from the park. Walking over, there was a huge concert with thousands of people spread out on the lawn at night. I will admit it, the charm campaign was very convincing. Despite the warnings, I was won over by the hotel, the food (with the exception of that awful burek), and the limited people I met in my time at Zagreb. On our last day, we walked over to the train station and waited for our nice ride to Slovenia. La Roma begged in the main terminal. I bought a Roma woman some food and wished her well. Others ignored her and she cursed them. 

After waiting a few minutes, our train pulled up from the 19th century. Broken, old, dusty, un-air conditioned. Ron switched our bus tickets to a train ride, thinking it would a final touch on a ideal journey. Instead we were crammed into a Soviet hot box filled with half the cabins locked. We had first class tickets but there was no conductor, no ticket taker, and almost all the first class cabins were locked with no explanation. 

We rode out of Serbia sitting in a sweltering car shared with a grumpy looking Balkan woman who kept the windows shut. Ron asked me for a meditation to distract us. Great idea. I gave some tips on how to align the body and focus the breath. The hot car became part of the practice. Maybe this too will be a quaint and charming Croatian story one day. 



Friday, July 1, 2022

Get What You Want: July 2022

** NEW CONTEST**

DAVID A. EINHORN MEMORIAL PLAYWRITING PRIZE

Deadline: August 5

website: http://www.untitledtheater.com/previous-productions/the-david-a-einhorn-memoria.html?fbclid=IwAR1XeOTbgJ8q9vC0AjJo4QaRePX9QmPhaqof7ifJhdi6ERuNJKTkVsvLd60

We are looking for work that resonates with the mission of the theater company, tackling ideas (political, scientific, and philosophical).  Stylistically, we are looking for work that connects to classic absurdist theater and playwrights such as Ionesco, Beckett, and Havel.  Humor is a very important stylistic element, as well as an overt theatricality.

Plays submitted should be 15 – 45 minutes in length (2,500 – 7,500 words).

The prize will $3,000, split in two parts.  $1,500 will go directly to the playwright, and there will be a $1,500 pledge towards the future production of one of the playwright’s works.  There will also be a December 11, 2022 reading of the play, with a talk after with an expert on the ideas being explored in the work.  If the playwright is able to join in person, this will be an in person reading.  If the playwright is not able to join in person, the reading will be virtual.

There is no restriction in terms of previous development/production.

Document 1 is a script.  Playwrights are requested to submit anonymously, so please be sure no name appears on the script.  In the same document, please include a paragraph about the central idea of the play and how the work explores it.

Document 2 is a history of independently produced work, in which the playwright was in some way involved in the process of production.  It should include at least three productions over the span of at least five years.  This should also be submitted anonymously.  You can also include a future planned production which would benefit from the $1,500 pledge (though it is not required that you have that production planned).  Each show on the history should include the following information: venue, type of production (reading, full production, etc), role of the playwright beyond authorship, date, and number of performances.  If it was part of a festival or a larger/overarching program please also specify.

Finally, be sure to include your name and contact information (email and phone) either in the body of the email or in a separate document.

Submissions are open from July 1 – August 5.  Script submissions are capped at 120.

Please email all submissions to utc61submissions@gmail.com.  Please include the play title in the subject of your email.


1.  THE WILLOW TREE PROJECT

DEADLINE: July 1st

WEBSITE: https://northernstarz.org

Northern Starz Center for the Performing Arts is proud to unveil our newest program: The Willow Tree Project!

Our mission is to create opportunities for people age 55 and up to participate in the performing arts, regardless of their previous experience. Through the stories we tell, we will honor the wisdom we gather as we age, and celebrate the experience of getting older.

We’re accepting submissions for our New Works Festival for plays by playwrights age 55 and up, which will run September 23-25 at Northern Starz Center for the Performing Arts in Ramsey, MN. 

The Willow Tree Project is looking to further examine the experience of aging in modern America. We are looking for One Act scripts written by playwrights age 55 and up, taking on issues relevant to this constantly growing age demographic that can often feel overlooked in today’s society. Though we welcome submissions from around the country, we will prioritize the work of local and regional playwrights!

Submissions should be no longer than 60 minutes. You may submit more than one script. Submitted scripts will be considered for the festival, with 4-6 plays chosen for presentation as staged readings performed during the festival. The audience will vote, along with a panel of judges, for which script they want to see produced, and the chosen script will be produced as part of the 2023 Northern Starz season! The winning playwright will be paid royalties upon production.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions. All inquiries and play submissions should be directed to: submissions@northernstarz.org. 

2. BOILER ROOM SERIES

DEADLINE: July 1st

WEBSITE: https://keegantheatre.com/2022/03/18/keegans-boiler-room-series-announces-opportunities-for-artists/

The Keegan Theatre, a professional, non-equity theatre in Washington, DC, is accepting submissions for development in its 22-23 Boiler Room Series AND possible inclusion as a full, world premiere production in a future mainstage season. Up to six pieces will be selected for a workshop process that will culminate in public staged readings, interviews, and audience talkbacks. At least one playwright from the 22-23 cohort will be commissioned to develop a world premiere for Keegan's 23-24 season.

All submissions must be 10 page excerpts from full-length plays aligned with the theatre's mission and our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion: To take audiences to the vital heart of the theater experience: extraordinary artists in an intimate setting exploring the human condition. To foster connections and positive change in our community through vigorous, inclusive, empowering education and outreach.

Submitted work should not have had any significant development or a full production at another theatre. We're looking for truly NEW works here.

Submissions will be assessed by Keegan Theatre's Artistic Development Team and a panel of independent playwrights, directors, and editors. Submissions will remain anonymous to the panel until after they have been selected.

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Applications that do not address the prompts accurately or fully will not be reviewed.

Thank you for your interest in developing your new play with Keegan Theatre's Boiler Room Series. We look forward to reading your piece.


3. NEW WORKS NEW VOICES

DEADLINE: July 1st

WEBSITE: https://www.kathleenwrinn.com/new-works-new-voices

New Works, New Voices (NWNV) is a new initiative at the Syracuse University Department of Drama created to support the development of musicals by writers and composers whose perspectives have been historically underrepresented in the musical theater canon.

Each year, one musical will be selected, to receive a 3-week developmental reading in the Spring semester, directed and music directed by SU Drama faculty and performed by SU Drama BFA students.

The writing team will be in residence during the final 1-2 weeks of the rehearsal process (travel and lodging provided by NWNV) and will participate virtually during the first 1-2 weeks.

Submission materials include:

• BRIEF SYNOPSIS (< 1 page) of your musical (PDF); 

• CHARACTER BREAKDOWN, including short descriptions of each character (PDF); 

• FIRST 10-15 PAGES of the libretto (PDF); 

• AUDIO DEMOS of THREE (3) SONGS from your musical (MP3s); 

• SHEET MUSIC (or lead sheets) for your three (3) demo songs (PDF); 

• Brief descriptions (1-3 sentences each) of the DRAMATIC CONTEXT for each song (PDF); 

• LYRIC SHEETS for any demo songs not included in the first 10-15 libretto pages (PDF); 

• CREATIVE TEAM BIOS (250 words max.) for each team member (PDF); 

• SHORT STATEMENT (< 1 page) as to why you feel your musical should be included in an initiative aimed at amplifying the voices of writers and composers whose perspectives have been historically underrepresented in the musical theater canon (PDF); 

• [If Applicable: COPYRIGHT CLEARANCE, or if under option, a LETTER FROM THE OPTION HOLDER giving permission for entry.]

Questions? Please email Kathleen Wrinn, Producer/Creator of NWNV and Assistant Program Coordinator of Musical Theater at SU Drama (kawrinn@syr.edu).


4. VETERANS REP THEATRE SEEKS FULL LENGTH PLAYS FROM VETS

DEADLINE: July 3rd

WEBSITE: https://vetrep.org/submissions

Founded in February 2021 in Cornwall, NY, Veterans Repertory Theater (VetRep) is a creativehub that brings talented veteran writers and professional New York-based artists under one roof to create compelling live theater and events. Veterans Repertory Theater (VetRep) is launching a full-length play competition for playwrights who meet one of the following criteria:current or former US military, law enforcement, fire, EMS, foreign service, or intelligence service veteran immediate family member of a current or former military, law enforcement, fire, EMS, foreign service or intelligence service veteran (“immediate family member” means: parents, siblings, children and spouse.)

Submissions should be emailed in PDF format to info@vetrep.org  Submission must include the veteran/immediate family member status of the playwright in the body of the email.

Plays:Must be a full-length, completed play; Any genre/any subject matter; does not have to be related to veteran's serviceMust not be a musical, screenplay, one-act, children’s play, adaptation, translation, or fan fiction playMust be the entrant’s own original work and cannot be co-authoredMust be typed in the English languageMust not have been previously produced or published. (Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production are permitted).Must not be under option, commissioned, or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission•Must not violate the intellectual property rights of any third partyPlaywrights may submit more than one play

The competition winner:Will receive a $10,000 grant.Will receive feedback from panel of judges.May be invited to join the VetRep Playwriting Resident Artists where Winner will have the opportunity to submit plays for commissioning and production at VetRep.Will win a one-year PSH Subscription (www.playsubmissionshelper.com).

The second-place finalist:Will receive a $7,500 grant.Will receive feedback from panel of judges.May be invited to join the VetRep Playwrighting Resident Artists where finalist will have the opportunity to submit plays for commissioning and production at VetRep.Will win a one-year PSH Subscription (www.playsubmissionshelper.com).

The third-place finalist:Will receive a $5,000 grant.Will receive feedback from panel of judges.May be invited to join the VetRep Playwrighting Resident Artists where finalist will have the opportunity to submit plays for commissioning and production at VetRep.Will win a one-year PSH Subscription (www.playsubmissionshelper.com).


5. SOUTH STREET PLAYERS 12TH ANNUAL TRI STATE THEATRE FESTIVAL

DEADLINE: July 4th

WEBSITE:  https://southstreetplayers.org

South Street Players is seeking original, short (10 mins preferred, 15 mins maximum) plays for its 12th Annual Tri-State Theatre Festival. The event will take place October 21-23, 2022 in Spring Lake, NJ.

The festival, which receives more than 300 scripts annually, is committed to presenting the finest and most unique original, short plays written by local playwrights from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The event also serves as an artistic fundraiser, with all proceeds going to SSP to help maintain its commitment to producing high-quality, extremely engaging theatrical experiences for our audiences.

Submission Rules and Process:

Seeking original comedic and dramatic short plays from playwrights currently living in the Tri-State area only(NJ, NY and PA).

Plays must be 15 pages or less. Submissions of longer than 15 pages will not be considered.

Plays should include no more than 4 characters and be in standard playscript format. 

Playwrights may submit more than one play, but please be sure your name and email address is on the title page of each script.

SSP is a family theatre – no excessive swearing, no nudity.

No royalties or payment will be provided to playwrights should their play be chosen for the festival.

Plays will only be accepted via email: southstreetoneacts@gmail.com

For more information, please email Rob Sullivan, Festival Producer, at southstreetoneacts@gmail.com.


6. SOUND THEATRE YELLOW ROBE PLAYWRIGHT RESIDENCY

DEADLINE: July 6th

WEBSITE: https://www.americantheatre.org/2022/06/22/sound-theatre-seeks-applicants-for-yellow-robe-playwright-residency/?fbclid=IwAR3k_owgPE1GFjvmHMsuvcbqXh9WTAmIO-0uL2MlaFB6AzXDX_Z5wUUWXIU&fs=e&s=cl 

SEATTLE: Sound Theatre Company is currently accepting applications for its first playwright residency program, the Making Waves William S. Yellow Robe Jr. Playwright Residency Program, designed to develop a new canon of intersectional plays for a changing world. “ Playwrights at any stage of their careers and in any part of the U.S. are encouraged to apply. The program’s first six-month cycle will run from September 2022 to March 2023. Finalists will be invited to a Zoom interview during the first week of August. 

The selected playwright resident will receive a $10,000 stipend, separate from paid mentorship and training, as well as in-house support in developing and presenting a project. If non-local, the resident will receive reimbursement for travel and up to two weeks of housing in Seattle..Sound Theatre will pilot a hybrid residency model with digital and in-person collaboration. The selected resident will develop a project through an independently driven process that may include dramaturgy, table reads, and/or workshops, with the option to present a public reading of new work. The resident will also complete cultural competency training in an area of interest in order to foster new creative possibilities in their work and lead a playwriting workshop for writers in underrepresented communities. This workshop will culminate in a publicly presented showcase of student playwrights’ ten-minute plays.


7. MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY THEATER SEEKS PLAYS

DEADLINE: July 12th

WEBSITE: https://mctshows.org/play-selection/?fbclid=IwAR2JlJ7-CtVHSZdgwcLbCwpsjf2Hz1oug1mFlYchUjaOwJHdoJXGL3qf9mI

MCT is currently welcoming and accepting plays for consideration for our 2023 Season! Anyone interested in MCT productions can submit a play for possible production including MCT members, subscribers, and the public.

We typically choose four plays for our season, plus a new play by a local playwright for our “New Works Night,” (see below). We are looking for comedies, dramas, musical theatre, winter holiday plays, and other plays that might not fit in these categories. Is there a great play that you know of that you would like to see produced on our stage?

Our Play Reading Committee, composed of 12 of our MCT members, will read the plays submitted and select our 2023 Season from the submissions. We expect our process to be completed in early September of 2022. 

HOW TO SUBMIT:

Email a copy of the full printed play to our Play Reading Committee Chair, Kathie Kratochvil, at: kathiekratochvil@gmail.com or email a link to the full play. 

In your email, please also provide us with the following helpful information if possible:

1. Title, playwright, and a very brief overview of the story line.

2. Casting requirements (how many cast members, etc.)

3. Any technical requirements we should know about that might be difficult?

(Costumes, sets, props, lighting, sound, musical instruments, special effects, etc.)

4. Any background on the play that you think is important.

5. Why do you think this would be a great play for MCT to produce?

6. If you are a director, and would like to direct this play, please indicate that in your email.

7. If you have a link to any videos of the play, we welcome those as well. 


8. ABOUT FACE’S NEWVEMBER NEW PLAYS FESTIVAL 2022

Deadline: July 15th

WEBSITE: https://aboutfacetheatre.ie/newvember/

NEWvember is a festival of rehearsed readings of new plays that takes place over one weekend in Dublin, produced by the theatre company AboutFACE. There is no fee for submissions and all plays are read blind of name or gender by our panel. The spirit of NEWvember is to provide a dynamic, interactive and comfortable place where IRISH writers can hear their plays read by professional actors, and discuss their work and creative process with the audience.

CRITERIA FOR SUBMISSIONS: plays should be previously unproduced (we will consider plays that have had readings before but are still in development)plays should have a cast size of 2-8plays should have a running time of 30 to 120 minutes we will only accept one submission per writer each year we are interested in plays from playwrights based in Ireland, and Irish playwrights around the worldwe ask that the writers of the chosen plays attend the reading of their play towards its further development and to be present for a post-reading Q&A with the audience there is no fee for submissions while we are open to all styles and subjects, we do have a preference for narrative and character-driven stories. Plays will be selected based on their originality, range, production potential, narrative quality and emotional resonance

PROCESS OF SUBMISSION:

Please submit your play via our online application form at

https://aboutfacetheatre.ie/newvember/

You will be asked to include your play as a PDF (without the writer’s name, email or other identifying marks on any page throughout the script – to aid our blind reading process). The script should include a character list. 

The writers of the plays that have been shortlisted will be contacted in September and will be asked to send any updated version of their play, as this will be the final version considered and the version read at the festival if chosen.


9. LOGHAVEN ARTIST RESIDENCY

DEADLINE: July 15th

WEBSITE: https://loghaven.org/residencies/apply/

Loghaven Artist Residency’s mission is to serve artists by providing them with a transformative residency experience and continued post-residency support. The residency is located on ninety acres of woodland in Knoxville, Tennessee. Artists live in five historic log cabins that have been both rehabilitated and modernized to create an ideal setting for reflection and work, and they have access to new, purpose-built studio space. All Loghaven Fellows are awarded stipends to support the creation of new work during the residency.

Practicing artists of all backgrounds and at any stage of their career are eligible to apply for a Loghaven residency. International artists and artists currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program are not eligible. Artists must be at least twenty-one years old and live more than two hours away from Knoxville. This distance requirement is designed to ensure that artists are able to be fully immersed in their residency experience and can take advantage of the retreat-style environment.

Application Timeline and QualificationsApplicants are judged by the same criteria across disciplines. Panelists are looking for artistic excellence, defined by a depth of conceptual content, sustained impact, and boldness of vision. The panel seeks those with sophisticated technical knowledge, whether the applicant displays a high level of traditional skill or, conversely, subverts that knowledge in new or challenging ways. The panel values potential in emerging artists and evidence of commitment and evolution in more established or mid-career applicants.ReferencesAll applicants are required to submit two professional references. Please provide the name, contact information, and a very brief description of the nature of your professional relationship for each reference. References would be contacted by either email or phone and would not submit a formal letter.

THEATERSubmit either two or three videos or PDFs. If you submit via video, they should total no more than fifteen minutes together in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo link. If you submit via PDF, they should total no more than 250MB or two or three PDFs of scripts or librettos, totaling no more than twenty pages.

POETRYSubmit eight to ten short poems or excerpts of poems. The total should not exceed 15 pages and should be in PDF format.

FICTION, NONFICTION, & SCREENWRITINGSubmit two to three work samples in the genre that you wish to work in during your residency. The total should not exceed 20 pages and should be in PDF format.

INTERDISCIPLINARY WORKSubmit three to five work samples. The work samples can be in one type of media or a mixture of media including images (jpegs should be no more than three MB each), PDFs, video (MP4/MOV should be no more than 250 MB), Vimeo link, or audio (MP3 should be no more 30MB each).

Collaborative Groups: Loghaven invites collaborative teams of up to and including nine people to apply. Each collaborative team member must apply and be accepted individually. Collaborative groups share working space and may be expected to share living space.


10. GOOGLE EQUITY FELLOWSHIP

DEADLINE: July 18th

WEBSITE: https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/diversity/image-equity-fellowship/

Google's first-ever Image Equity Fellowship is a 6-month, application-based Fellowship awarded to 20 early-career image-based creators of color in the US. Selected Fellows will receive $20,000 in unrestricted funds to create an image-based project that explores and uplifts community(ies) of color with care and nuance. Fellows will receive support from Google and three industry-celebrated nonprofit partners—Aperture, For Freedoms & FREE THE WORK—in the form of dedicated mentorship, workshops, funding and publication of and press for their completed projects.


The Image Equity Fellowship will consider any person who meets the following qualifications: Fellow must self-identify as a person of color (e.g. Black, Middle Eastern, Indigenous, Asian, and/or Latinx)Fellow must be at least 18 years old (at the time of application submission)Fellow must have a valid United States address. If selected, Fellows will need to provide a W9, a US address, and bank account information.


11. LANESBORO ARTIST RESIDENCY

Deadline: July 29th

Website: https://lanesboroarts.org/artist-residency-program/residency-program-guidelines/

The Lanesboro Artist Residency Program offers two or four week residencies to emerging artists driven to explore ways in which their work can be applied to the community and how Lanesboro’s rural community can inform their work.

The Lanesboro Artist Residency Program, located in Lanesboro, MN (pop. 754), is supported by the Jerome Foundation and aims to provide an immersive, meaningful experience for emerging artists from Minnesota and the five boroughs of New York City. The program is unique in that it provides an entire rural community and its myriad assets as a catalytic vehicle for engagement and artistic experimentation, with staff working with each resident to create a fully-customized residency experience.

Lanesboro Arts’ goal is to be flexible and accommodating to artists, allowing them access to local resources needed for conceptualizing and realizing their place-based work. Lanesboro Arts recognizes “place-based work” as work that is specifically inspired by and designed for the place in which the work takes place; it can be a new project, or an interpretation of the artist’s current work tailored to engage the community of Lanesboro. The residency program was designed to align with and amplify Lanesboro Arts’ vision for communities–especially rural communities–to embrace artists as economic drivers, culture bearers, community builders, and problem solvers.

Artists must be legal residents of Minnesota or one of the five boroughs of New York City to be eligible to apply. To be considered, eligible artists must submit their application through the online webform on Lanesboro Arts website. Complete program details are below. Please contact Kara Maloney at 507-467-2446 or kara@lanesboroarts.org with any questions.


12.  GINGKO BIOWORKS CREATIVE RESIDENCY

DEADLINE: July 30th

WEBSITE:https://www.ginkgobioworks.com/creative-residency/

“To play is to be in the world.” It is to be open to surprise, contingency, and improvisation—a critical skill for our combined future. Play might mean something different for all of us, but it will always evoke joy and learning; for many, it makes life worth living. Play allows us to experiment freely. It carves the time and space to help us imagine an alternative way of being in the world. It allows us to learn not only what is useful, but what is possible.

We believe synthetic biology has the potential to playfully disrupt traditional ways of thinking. For this year’s Ginkgo Creative Residency, we invite submissions that engage with synthetic biology through play. Can a playful application build new relations between humans and nature that cultivate comfort, joy, and dignity?

Playing is powerful and we want to play even more. Instead of ‘working’ with biology, we want you to use your creative discipline to play with it instead. In doing so, we can reveal possibilities and solutions that nurture community, resilience, joy, and hope, and build a better world.

Residents will receive a $5000 monthly stipend. Any additional project development budget will be based on project scope.


13. BLUE INK PLAYWRITING AWARD

DEADLINE: July 31st

WEBSITE: https://americanbluestheater.com

Winner of American Theatre Wing’s prestigious National Theatre Company Award, American Blues Theater is a premier arts organization with an intimate environment that patrons, artists, and all Chicagoans call home. American Blues Theater explores the American identity through the plays it produces and communities it serves. The nationally-renown Blue Ink Playwriting Award was created in 2010 to support new work. Since inception, we’ve named 11 Award winners, 95 finalists, and 139 semi-finalists. 

Previous winners include Yussef El Guindi’s Refugee Rhapsody (2021), Andrea Stolowitz’ Recent Unsettling Events (2020), Benjamin Benne’s ALMA (2019), Inda Craig-Galván’s Welcome to Matteson! (2018), Idris Goodwin’s Hype Man (2017), and Nathan Alan Davis’s The Wind and the Breeze (2016), 

The winning playwright receives a monetary prize of $2,000. Cash prizes are awarded to finalists and semi-finalists too. Playwrights may only submit one (1) manuscript each year for consideration, and plays must be submitted digitally as a PDF or Word Document via the submission form at AmericanBluesTheater.com.


14. BMI WORKSHOP

DEADLINE: Aug. 1st

WEBSITE: https://www.bmi.com/theatre_workshop/application_requirements

Application MaterialsComposer: Three contrasting compositions - uptempo, comedy song, ballad. Please include a copy of score which includes lyrics.Lyricist: Three contrasting lyrics in PDF format - uptempo, comedy song, ballad.Composer/Lyricist: Three contrasting songs - uptempo, comedy song, ballad. Please include copy of score which includes lyrics.

Note that if you apply as a composer and a lyricist, you will be accepted as one or the other (that is, as either a composer or a lyricist) and you will be assigned different collaborators over the course of the year. If you apply as both a composer/lyricist and a librettist and are accepted as both, you will spend your first year as a composer/lyricist only, as the two groups meet at the same time.

Select applicants will be invited to audition in early September. Librettists are accepted on the basis of their written materials and are not required to audition. At the auditions, composers and composer/lyricists will be asked to perform at least two contrasting theatrical compositions; lyricists will be asked to recite samples of their theatrical lyrics. All auditions must be done live, using a piano.

The Workshop runs September through May in New York City. Prospective members must make their own living arrangements in the city or be able to commute weekly. During the first year, composers and lyricists are paired off and are asked to create appropriate songs based on scenes from various sources. The writers perform their assignments, which are then discussed by the other writers and the moderators. There are analyses and discussions of current and past musicals, with an eye to understanding form and structure. Every effort is made to insure that each writer retains his or her individual style.

In the Workshop’s final phase (Second Year), teams work on a musical. The Workshop functions as a forum and a sounding board for works in progress, as music and lyrics are critically evaluated and open dialogue is encouraged. At the end of each Second Year, the Workshop Committee determines which writers from the group are invited to join the Advanced Workshop. Not everyone is asked. This Workshop is intended for writers of professional caliber who are expected to contribute to the vitality of the musical theatre scene.


15. NANCY DEAN AWARD FOR LESBIAN PLAYWRIGHTS

DEADLINE: August 1st

WEBSITE: https://www.openmeadows.org/nancy-dean-lesbian-playwriting-award.html

The Nancy Dean award for Lesbian Playwrights is to honor a woman who was at the forefront of Lesbian, queer, gay, genderqueer, gender-nonconforming, trans, intersex and people of color movements.  We honor her focus and writing on Lesbian relationships before the time of the Stonewall rebellion. Her writings were the precursor to social change. In that spirit of struggle and often hidden desire we encourage the submission of new plays that address the conflict of lesbian, queer or gay, trans and nonbinary women struggling to live and love their best lives. In these times of social definition and refinement the age-old conflict of acceptance and the right to live our true lives as we truly are is still our continuing fight which is refined and embolden by each new generation. We understand people have their own language for their gender and sexuality. We are open to submission from people who are lesbian, queer or gay, trans and nonbinary.  As we are a small family foundation with an all-volunteer board, we must rely on nominations to identify potential recipients. We are asking professors, teachers, artistic directors, directors, literary managers, actors, writers, and others to nominate promising writers. As we want to be inclusive, we will allow people to self-nominate. The following are our guidelines:

Writer is lesbian, queer or gay or nonbinary;Writer has written at least one play;Writer is writing plays about lesbians;Writer is committed to writing plays and furthering her/their career; Writer is interested in receiving the award. Please send a letter(pdf) describing why your playwright should receive this award and a full-length play (pdf) to openmeadowsfdn@gmail.com. In your letter, please be as detailed as possible in up to 2 pages. Include the writer’s resume and website or other social media links. We will announce the recipients October 31, 2022. We have been granting three awards of $5000, $2500 and $1250. 


16. NATIVE VOICES PLAYWRIGHTS RETREAT AND 29TH FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS

DEADLINE: August 2, 2022

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

Native Voices is accepting submissions of full-length plays (60+ pages) by American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations playwrights addressing all themes and topics. The Retreat and Festival bring artists to Los Angeles to work on a selected number of plays through a rigorous directorial and dramaturgical commitment for 8–10 days in June. The Retreat culminates in public staged readings of the plays at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles. Selected playwrights receive artistic support as well as an honorarium; out-of-town artists receive roundtrip airfare plus lodging in Southern California.

Full-length plays (60+ pages) received by August 2, 2022 will be read and evaluated. A select number of playwrights will be invited to submit formal proposals detailing their developmental goals should their play be chosen for the short list. Scripts will then be sent to a committee of nationally recognized theatre artists for further evaluation. With their help, Native Voices selects up to four plays for the Playwrights Retreat and Festival of New Plays. Playwrights will be notified in March 2023.

Months prior to residencies, selected playwrights participate in dramaturgical conversations with an assigned director and dramaturg. Workshops with these creative teams and a cast of professional actors commence once the playwright arrives on-site. It is important to note that these conversations and workshops are playwright driven, allowing the writer to shape their own developmental path. Selected playwrights should be prepared to dedicate adequate time to this process prior to arriving on-site.


17. THE YALE DRAMA SERIES PLAYWRITING COMPETITION

DEADLINE: August 15th

WEBSITE: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/yale-drama-series-rules-and-submission-guidelines/


The Yale Drama Series is seeking submissions for its 2023 playwriting competition. The winning play will be selected by the series’ current judge, Jeremy O. Harris. The winner of this annual competition will be awarded the David Charles Horn Prize of $10,000, publication of their manuscript by Yale University Press, and a celebratory event. The prize and publication are contingent on the playwright’s agreeing to the terms of the publishing agreement.There is no entry fee. Please follow these guidelines in preparing your manuscript:

This contest is restricted to plays written in the English language. Worldwide submissions are accepted.Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays, with a minimum of 65 pages. Plays with less than 65 pages will not be considered. Translations, musicals, and children’s plays are not accepted.The Yale Drama Series is intended to support emerging playwrights. Playwrights may win the competition only once.Playwrights may submit only one manuscript per year.  Only manuscripts authored by one playwright are eligible.Plays that have been professionally produced or published are not eligible. Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production or that have been published as an actor’s edition will be considered.Plays may not be under option, commissioned, or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission.Plays must be typed/word-processed and page-numbered.The Yale Drama Series reserves the right to reject any manuscript for any reason.The Yale Drama Series reserves the right of the judge to not choose a winner for any given year of the competition and reserves the right to determine the ineligibility of a winner, in keeping with the spirit of the competition, and based upon the accomplishments of the author.


18. THEATRE VISCERA AND THE THEATRE VISCERA PODCAST

DEADLINE:  August 15th

WEBSITE: https://www.theatreviscera.com/work-with-us-playwrights

We are accepting play submissions for the 2023 season of theatre viscera and the theatre viscera podcast. please read through the submission guidelines thoroughly as submissions that do not adhere to them will not be accepted.

We accept plays written by queer (LGBTQIA+) playwrights, about queer characters, for queer performers.We have a preference for plays about/by transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming folx. You may send us full length plays, one acts, or collections of ten minutes. Total submissions must be at least 30 minutes long when read.We are considering plays for full production, but have more slots available for plays to be read on the podcast, if your play is an audio play please specify that.We are not accepting musicals at this time.Please send your scripts to theatreviscera@gmail.com with the subject line “2023 Play Submission” send your plays as .doc, .docx, or .pdfYour submission must include a character breakdown and short synopsis.Plays must be formatted appropriately, standard play format is preferred but if your piece requires unique formatting just let us know.Plays must be paginated and in a readable 12pt font.Submissions are limited to 1 per playwright.If we’ve already read and declined a piece in previous submission cycles, please do not submit revisions unless specifically requested.


19. NATIVE VOICES PRODUCTION SUBMISSIONS2023 

OPEN Submission for Production Consideration

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

We accept scripts all year long. Do you have a full-length script that has been developed and produced that you would like us to consider for a future Native Voices production in Los Angeles? Please follow the Checklist for All Submissions below and in the Native Voices Script Submission form check the box for 2023 General Production Consideration.Checklist for Call for ScriptsPlease label script attachment as follows: PlayTitle_Author’s Last Name, First Initial (Example: MyNewPlay_Doe, J.doc).All submissions must conform to a standard play-script format (one-inch margins, #12 Times or Courier font, all pages numbered).Include a title page with full contact information (mailing address, phone numbers, e-mail address) and a draft or revision date.Include a character breakdown at the beginning of your script.Provide a biography of 75–100 words. Please label attachment as follows: Bio_Author’s Last Name, First Initial (Example: Bio_Doe, J.doc).Provide a press ready photo of at least 300dpi. Please label attachment as follows: Photo_Author’s Last Name, First Initial (Example: Photo_Doe, J.doc).Provide development history for the play. Label attachment as follows: DevHistory_PlayTitle_Author’s Last Name, First Initial (Example: DevHistory_MyNewPlay_Doe, J.doc).To submit, fill out our online form and upload your submission materials here: Native Voices Script Submission Form

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


20. 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.


21. 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.


22. 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 fundingIncur 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.


23. 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.


24. 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=7436d341a2andhttps://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

 25. 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.  

26. 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.

27. DAVID EINHORN PRIZE

Deadline: August 5

David A. Einhorn was the co-founder of Untitled Theater Company No. 61.  This prize is to commemorate his work, with a special emphasis on supporting a playwright who has been working independently for a number of years, producing work independently without the support of large institutional theaters.

We are looking for work that resonates with the mission of the theater company, tackling ideas (political, scientific, and philosophical).  Stylistically, we are looking for work that connects to classic absurdist theater and playwrights such as Ionesco, Beckett, and Havel.  Humor is a very important stylistic element, as well as an overt theatricality.

Plays submitted should be 15 – 45 minutes in length (2,500 – 7,500 words).

The prize will $3,000, split in two parts.  $1,500 will go directly to the playwright, and there will be a $1,500 pledge towards the future production of one of the playwright’s works.  There will also be a December 11, 2022 reading of the play, with a talk after with an expert on the ideas being explored in the work.  If the playwright is able to join in person, this will be an in person reading.  If the playwright is not able to join in person, the reading will be virtual.

There is no restriction in terms of previous development/production.

Document 1 is a script.  Playwrights are requested to submit anonymously, so please be sure no name appears on the script.  In the same document, please include a paragraph about the central idea of the play and how the work explores it.

Document 2 is a history of independently produced work, in which the playwright was in some way involved in the process of production.  It should include at least three productions over the span of at least five years.  This should also be submitted anonymously.  You can also include a future planned production which would benefit from the $1,500 pledge (though it is not required that you have that production planned).

Finally, be sure to include your name and contact information (email and phone) either in the body of the email or in a separate document.

Submissions are open from July 1 – August 5.  Script submissions are capped at 120.

Please email all submissions to utc61submissions@gmail.com.  Please include the play title in the subject of your email.



**FILM**

NAACP CINEMATIC SHORTS COMPETITION

Deadline: July 2nd

website: form.jotform.com

CALLING ALL SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVISTS & FILMMAKERS!

The NAACP presents the 2022 “Cinematic Shorts Competition” during the 113th NAACP Convention in Atlantic City, NJ from July 15 - July 20th.

This exciting competition will give SIX filmmakers/activists the opportunity to tell their stories of Social Justice.

Paired in teams of two, the filmmakers will receive video equipment and work under the guidance of a professional mentor to produce a 5–7-minute short documentary film.

Participating filmmakers will present their finished short films during the 113th NAACP Convention and attendees will vote for their favorite film. The team with the most votes will receive a full expense paid trip to Los Angeles to attend the 54th NAACP Image Awards. In addition, the winning filmmakers will receive one-on-one meetings with several high-level industry executives to help them take the next step in their careers.

This dynamic competition supports the ongoing work of the NAACP Hollywood Bureau and Social Justice programs within the NAACP.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: 

●      Must be between the ages of 18-29 

●      Must submit one creative sample (video/pictures/artwork) that demonstrates your skill set and interests 

●      Must submit one written statement between 250-300 words answering the following, 'How can power be created in the black community? And why is empowering the black community important to you?' 

●      Must provide your own transportation to and from Atlantic City for the competition. (Local hotel accommodations will be provided for selected filmmakers/activists based on double occupancy). 


EVIL endings

 Evil: 2nd to last ep of the entire series. This morning in Bucaramanga I woke up and cut some fresh fruit and had a delicious changua, whic...