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:
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Sean Byrd, Region 5 NPP Chair
sean.byrd@normandale.edu |
Aaron Scully, Region 5 NPP Vice-Chair
ascully@ucmo.edu |
What Happens at the Regional Festival?
(Please give this a close read especially if you are new to the Festival)
The regional festival is a unique opportunity for playwrights to showcase and celebrate their work in a variety of exciting ways. No matter your writing experience, there is something at the festival for you.
We are 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.
Each year Region 5 invites a number of 10-minute (usually six) and one act plays (usually three) to be performed at its regional festival.
With 10-minute plays, writers work closely with student directors, dramaturgs, actors and faculty mentors at the festival, and each is staged as a “stools and stands” concert reading in the 10-Minute Play Festival, held at the end of the festival week.
One-act plays are invited to the festival to present a staged reading, created at their home institution. The top selected one-act play also will be invited to a year-long mentorship with the NPP Region 5 Chair or Vice-Chair. May also include an invitation for a fully-mounted production of that play as a special event at Festival 52 in 2020.
Two 10-minute plays and two one-act plays are then selected by a panel of outside readers to be advanced as national semi-finalists, which are then considered for an invitation to the national festival in Washington, D.C. each April.
The Planet Earth Play award returns again for Festival 51. This award is given to a play that addresses issues of sustainability and our responsibility to the planet. Planet Earth Plays should be entered in the 10-Minute Play category.
Finally, Region 5 will once again be offering the R5 NPP Mentorship Program that gives playwrights an opportunity to meet one-on-one with a professional mentor who will respond to their work. See more under Additional Information.
The regional festival is a unique opportunity for playwrights to showcase and celebrate their work in a variety of exciting ways. No matter your writing experience, there is something at the festival for you.
We are 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.
Each year Region 5 invites a number of 10-minute (usually six) and one act plays (usually three) to be performed at its regional festival.
With 10-minute plays, writers work closely with student directors, dramaturgs, actors and faculty mentors at the festival, and each is staged as a “stools and stands” concert reading in the 10-Minute Play Festival, held at the end of the festival week.
One-act plays are invited to the festival to present a staged reading, created at their home institution. The top selected one-act play also will be invited to a year-long mentorship with the NPP Region 5 Chair or Vice-Chair. May also include an invitation for a fully-mounted production of that play as a special event at Festival 52 in 2020.
Two 10-minute plays and two one-act plays are then selected by a panel of outside readers to be advanced as national semi-finalists, which are then considered for an invitation to the national festival in Washington, D.C. each April.
The Planet Earth Play award returns again for Festival 51. This award is given to a play that addresses issues of sustainability and our responsibility to the planet. Planet Earth Plays should be entered in the 10-Minute Play category.
Finally, Region 5 will once again be offering the R5 NPP Mentorship Program that gives playwrights an opportunity to meet one-on-one with a professional mentor who will respond to their work. See more under Additional Information.
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 1st
MOST NATIONAL SUBMISSIONS: DECEMBER 1st
ALL REGIONAL SUBMISSIONS: NOVEMBER 1st
MOST NATIONAL SUBMISSIONS: DECEMBER 1st
ARE YOU READY?
You will submit your play on the Region 5 private submissions page at submittable.com.
New users will be required to create a username and password (no charge).
All scripts must be submitted blind: No Author or School Affiliation on document.
Scripts are accepted in .pdf, .doc and .docx format only.
You will submit your play on the Region 5 private submissions page at submittable.com.
New users will be required to create a username and password (no charge).
All scripts must be submitted blind: No Author or School Affiliation on document.
Scripts are accepted in .pdf, .doc and .docx format only.
FESTIVAL REGISTRATION
Be advised that you MUST register as an attendee for Festival 51 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 on-line during the month of December and in-person at the festival 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 sean.byrd@normandale.edu.
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 sean.byrd@normandale.edu.
Call for Plays, College of Saint Mary Seeking One-Act Play Submissions
OMAHA, NEB. – College of Saint Mary is currently accepting one-act play scripts as part of the recently established ‘New Works’ initiative. The University says it’s looking for original works by theatre playwrights across the nation, specifically those with all-female casts.
“This will give playwrights from across the country a chance to showcase their original work and build upon their performing arts experience,” says Sarah Klocke, associate professor and program director for theatre and communication at CSM.
Klocke says a small committee will review each submission and a winner will be chosen in December. College of Saint Mary students will participate in a staged reading of the winning submission in late spring of 2020.
“It’s a great opportunity for our students to participate in this process and work on a completely original work of art.”
“Although theatre has made great strides, the art form is still in desperate need for more scripts predominantly featuring female characters,” says Klocke. “Being an all-women’s university, we’d like to focus on original works that feature a strong female presence and reflect the values of CSM as a whole.”
The selected script will be published in the 2020 edition of The Saint Mary’s Review, CSM’s literary publication. The playwright of the selected script will receive a $250 guest lecture stipend, travel/airfare to Omaha in late April or early May 2020, 2-3 nights lodging on the CSM campus, and daily meals. While the playwright is on campus, workshop opportunities will be offered over 2-3 days, culminating in a public staged reading.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, Nov. 8. To submit a script for consideration or for more information, contact Sarah Klocke at sklocke@csm.edu or 402-399-2619.
“This will give playwrights from across the country a chance to showcase their original work and build upon their performing arts experience,” says Sarah Klocke, associate professor and program director for theatre and communication at CSM.
Klocke says a small committee will review each submission and a winner will be chosen in December. College of Saint Mary students will participate in a staged reading of the winning submission in late spring of 2020.
“It’s a great opportunity for our students to participate in this process and work on a completely original work of art.”
“Although theatre has made great strides, the art form is still in desperate need for more scripts predominantly featuring female characters,” says Klocke. “Being an all-women’s university, we’d like to focus on original works that feature a strong female presence and reflect the values of CSM as a whole.”
The selected script will be published in the 2020 edition of The Saint Mary’s Review, CSM’s literary publication. The playwright of the selected script will receive a $250 guest lecture stipend, travel/airfare to Omaha in late April or early May 2020, 2-3 nights lodging on the CSM campus, and daily meals. While the playwright is on campus, workshop opportunities will be offered over 2-3 days, culminating in a public staged reading.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, Nov. 8. To submit a script for consideration or for more information, contact Sarah Klocke at sklocke@csm.edu or 402-399-2619.
