Welcome 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, with dramaturgical and performance opportunities that emphasize respect for the written word and for the playwright's contribution to the theatrical process. The NPP Mandate is:
If you have questions or need guidance in any way, please contact your Region 5, NPP Leadership team:
- To offer progressive mentorship of student playwrights that honors the integrity of individual voice, and is aimed at nurturing students into professional playwrights.
- To strive to create links with individual artists and institutions in the professional sphere, and to provide opportunities for the production of student work.
- To advocate for theatrical text and to preserve the integrity of the playwright's intent within all stages of the collaborative process.
- To engage and support faculty members who are developing new work in their theatre programs.
If you have questions or need guidance in any way, please contact your Region 5, NPP Leadership team:
SUBMIT YOUR PLAY
Guidelines
Students who meet eligibility requirements and attend a school that has entered at least one Associate and Participating Production, may enter up to 5 ten-minute plays, 5 one-act plays, and 5 full-length plays for the festival and/or Michael Kanin awards.
Faculty members at a school with an Associate or Participating entry 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 his/her work during the 12 months after the date of graduation or if his/her plays is entered as a participating production within 24 months of graduation.
- 10-Minute Plays: A play 10-pages or fewer in length (12 point font)
- One-Act Plays: A play more than 10 pages in length with a running time less than one hour.
- Full-Length Plays: A play more than one hour in length.
Students who meet eligibility requirements and attend a school that has entered at least one Associate and Participating Production, may enter up to 5 ten-minute plays, 5 one-act plays, and 5 full-length plays for the festival and/or Michael Kanin awards.
Faculty members at a school with an Associate or Participating entry 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 his/her work during the 12 months after the date of graduation or if his/her plays is entered as a participating production within 24 months of graduation.
Rules and Regulations for all Playwriting Awards and Prizes
(Please read these carefully to ensure that you are submitting your play in all appropriate categories.)
(Please read these carefully to ensure that you are submitting your play in all appropriate categories.)
Deadlines
ALL REGIONAL SUBMISSIONS: NOVEMBER 8th
MOST NATIONAL SUBMISSIONS: DECEMBER 1st
ALL REGIONAL SUBMISSIONS: NOVEMBER 8th
MOST NATIONAL SUBMISSIONS: DECEMBER 1st
ARE YOU READY?
All scripts must be submitted blind: No Author or School Affiliation on document.
Scripts are accepted in .pdf, .doc and .docx format only.
All scripts must be submitted blind: No Author or School Affiliation on document.
Scripts are accepted in .pdf, .doc and .docx format only.
Greetings Region 5 Playwrights!
In these crazy and uncertain times, we hope this message finds you well and that you are finding inspiration for your writing in new and exciting ways!
As we gear up for our virtual Festival 54 in January 2022, we wanted to give you some updates and info about our National Playwriting Program events in Region 5:
10-Minute Play Festival
While we are still finalizing details, this event will be presented as a live Zoom event that will celebrate the top 6 (possibly 7) 10-minute plays in Region 5! We are currently working out the process for the way in which the plays will be cast and rehearsed. Look for those details coming your way soon.
One-Act Play Festival
Much as in a normal festival year, the top 3 chosen one-acts will be cast and rehearsed for a staged reading by the playwright’s home institution, and will be presented as a live Zoom event. More details soon.
NAPAT Award Play Reading
The NAPAT (National Partners of American Theatre) Award will honor the work of a Full-Length Play by a R5 playwright in a live Zoom event that will present a staged reading of the play that is cast and rehearsed, if possible, at the playwright’s home institution prior to the festival.
(A note regarding play selection: Top ranked plays are chosen by a panel of professionals and faculty readers from outside of Region 5. This year our colleagues in Region 4 will be reading and ranking all of the submitted Region 5 plays.)
Invited Production of last year’s top One-Act
This live Zoom event will feature a performance by the playwright’s home institution of last year’s top ranked one-act play.
Collaborative Theatre Challenge
Continuing in the spirit of the in person Collaborative Theatre Challenge, we are working on a strategy that will allow this event to continue in the online world. Working with a single play and playwright, designers and dramaturgs will have the opportunity to meet with the playwright in collaborative Zoom meetings to create realized designs for the play. More details to come.
One-on-One Zoom Mentorship Meetings
Any R5 playwright who submits a play for consideration will also have the opportunity (if they so choose) to meet in a one-on-one Zoom setting with a professional playwright to discuss their play. Please indicate this interest when submitting your play.
Playwright Town Halls
We are working to secure top playwrights from around the country that will meet in a town hall setting with R5 student and faculty playwrights to talk about their work and answer questions about navigating the business of playwriting.
Workshops
Plans are being made for Playwriting workshops, led by R5 faculty playwrights and special guests, focusing 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!
As we gear up for our virtual Festival 54 in January 2022, we wanted to give you some updates and info about our National Playwriting Program events in Region 5:
10-Minute Play Festival
While we are still finalizing details, this event will be presented as a live Zoom event that will celebrate the top 6 (possibly 7) 10-minute plays in Region 5! We are currently working out the process for the way in which the plays will be cast and rehearsed. Look for those details coming your way soon.
One-Act Play Festival
Much as in a normal festival year, the top 3 chosen one-acts will be cast and rehearsed for a staged reading by the playwright’s home institution, and will be presented as a live Zoom event. More details soon.
NAPAT Award Play Reading
The NAPAT (National Partners of American Theatre) Award will honor the work of a Full-Length Play by a R5 playwright in a live Zoom event that will present a staged reading of the play that is cast and rehearsed, if possible, at the playwright’s home institution prior to the festival.
(A note regarding play selection: Top ranked plays are chosen by a panel of professionals and faculty readers from outside of Region 5. This year our colleagues in Region 4 will be reading and ranking all of the submitted Region 5 plays.)
Invited Production of last year’s top One-Act
This live Zoom event will feature a performance by the playwright’s home institution of last year’s top ranked one-act play.
Collaborative Theatre Challenge
Continuing in the spirit of the in person Collaborative Theatre Challenge, we are working on a strategy that will allow this event to continue in the online world. Working with a single play and playwright, designers and dramaturgs will have the opportunity to meet with the playwright in collaborative Zoom meetings to create realized designs for the play. More details to come.
One-on-One Zoom Mentorship Meetings
Any R5 playwright who submits a play for consideration will also have the opportunity (if they so choose) to meet in a one-on-one Zoom setting with a professional playwright to discuss their play. Please indicate this interest when submitting your play.
Playwright Town Halls
We are working to secure top playwrights from around the country that will meet in a town hall setting with R5 student and faculty playwrights to talk about their work and answer questions about navigating the business of playwriting.
Workshops
Plans are being made for Playwriting workshops, led by R5 faculty playwrights and special guests, focusing 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!
FESTIVAL REGISTRATION
Be advised that you MUST register as an attendee for the Festival in order participate in any of the Playwriting events or any other portion of the festival. Register yourself or ensure that a faculty member is registering you as part of the group from your institution.
REGION 5 FESTIVAL MENTOR PROGRAM
We will once again offer the opportunity for a one-on-one mentorship session to every student playwright in the region who:
- Properly submits at least one play to Region 5.
- Registers for both the mentorship program (below) and the regional festival at-large (see above).
- Attends the regional festival in January to meet with her/his mentor.
STUDENT DIRECTORS AND DRAMATURGS
We are excited to bring students together who will work during the festival week to develop a play. For the 10-Minute Play Festival (including the Planet Earth selection) - 7 ten-minute plays, 7 directors, 3 dramaturgs, 7 stage managers, actors and faculty mentors will collaborate for auditions, 4 hours of rehearsal, and a festival of concert readings.
DIRECTORS and ASSISTANT DIRECTORS - apply under Directing Initiatives
DRAMATURGS – apply for the Dramaturgy Fellowship (be sure to indicate your interest in serving as a 10-Minute Play Dramaturg)
FACULTY MENTORS: send an e-mail of your mentoring interest to npp@kcactf5.org.
DIRECTORS and ASSISTANT DIRECTORS - apply under Directing Initiatives
DRAMATURGS – apply for the Dramaturgy Fellowship (be sure to indicate your interest in serving as a 10-Minute Play Dramaturg)
FACULTY MENTORS: send an e-mail of your mentoring interest to npp@kcactf5.org.
