National Playwriting Program
Greetings Region 5 Playwrights!
The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival National Playwriting Program (NPP) is dedicated to supporting student playwrights in the development of their original work for the stage. The program offers dramaturgical, directorial and performance opportunities that emphasize respect for the written word and for the playwright's contribution to the theatrical process. Students may submit their work for regional and/or national awards consideration.
Regional Awards include: 10-minute plays, one-act plays and full-length plays (November 1 deadline)
National Awards are for full-length plays (December 1 deadline)
Click here to learn more about the awards!
The NPP Mandate is:
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To offer progressive mentorship of student playwrights that honors the integrity of individual voice, and is aimed at nurturing students into professional playwrights.
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To strive to create links with individual artists and institutions in the professional sphere, and to provide opportunities for the production of student work.
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To advocate for theatrical text and to preserve the integrity of the playwright's intent within all stages of the collaborative process.
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To engage and support faculty members who are developing new work in their theatre programs.
We invite all playwrights to review the Dramatist Guild Playwright Bill of Rights in an effort to best advocate for your work and the work of playwrights everywhere.
If you have questions or need guidance in any way, please contact your Region 5 NPP leadership team.
NPP EVENTS AT THE FESTIVAL
We are excited to offer the following playwriting events at Festival 58 in Rochester, MN!
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10-Minute Play Festival
The top six 10-minute plays selected are presented as a concert reading at the festival. This event features student directors, actors, stage managers, and dramaturgs, and is supported by a faculty mentor. -
One-Act Play Festival
The top three one-act plays selected are rehearsed at their home institutions and brought to the festival as a concert reading.
Monologue Workshop & Slam!
Bring your monologues to the workshop, receive mentorship from our panel of professionals, and then perform it at the MONOLOGUE SLAM! for an audience of your peers.
Playwriting Workshops
Playwriting workshops, led by R5 faculty playwrights and special guests, will focus on all aspects of playwriting. If there are specific workshops that you are interested in seeing or facilitating, please reach out to the R5 NPP leadership team.
NEW This Year! The Writers Room
Drop into the writers room and work on your plays, monologues, and material. Bring your laptops, notebooks, or journals. Collaborate with other creatives and brainstorm with your peers. Watch the schedule for low-stress events where you can receive feedback from a faculty or peer mentor or get your pages read in the room. Stay tuned for more information about how to meet up with a mentor at the festival.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PLAY
Please submit your scripts in 12 point font, .pdf, .doc and .docx format only. All scripts must be submitted blind: no author or school affiliation on document.
Play length defined:
10-Minute Plays: 10 pages or fewer in length
One-Act Plays: More than 10 pages, running less than one hour
Full-Length Plays: More than one hour in length
All student-written original plays submitted in the current KCACTF year are eligible for any of the appropriate playwriting awards. Click here for more information about the playwriting award categories.
Regional Full-Length Play Awards
Region 5 full-length plays submitted by November 1st are considered for various regional and national awards presented at the festival
WHO & WHAT CAN I SUBMIT TO THE FESTIVAL?
Students may submit up to five ten-minute plays, five one-act plays, and five full-length plays for the festival and/or Michael Kanin awards.
Faculty members may submit a full-length play for the Musical Theater Award, the David Mark Cohen Award and Rosa Parks Award.
Professional playwrights who have produced their work at a KCACTF-affiliated school can submit their work for the David Mark Cohen Award.
A playwright who has graduated is still eligible to submit their work during the 12 months after the date of graduation, or if the play is entered as a participating production within 24 months of graduation.
WHO READS AND SELECTS THE PLAYS FOR FESTIVAL?
Every year, plays are read and then selected by a panel of professionals and faculty readers from outside of Region 5.
FESTIVAL REGISTRATION
You must register as an attendee for the festival in order to participate in any of the playwriting events or any other portion of the festival. Please register yourself or confirm that your faculty is registering you as part of the group from your home institution.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
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NOVEMBER 1st
ALL REGIONAL SUBMISSIONS, including 10-minute plays, one-act plays, and full-length plays. -
DECEMBER 1st
ALL NATIONAL SUBMISSIONS (full-length plays only)
A note about FULL-LENGTH PLAY SUBMISSIONS:
Full-length plays submitted by the November 1st deadline will automatically be considered at the REGIONAL and NATIONAL level.
10-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
Join the creative teams of student directors, dramaturgs, stage managers, playwrights and faculty mentors bringing the play from the page to the stage! Submit your application to direct, dramaturg, or mentor one of the selected 10-minute plays for a festival of concert readings.