Playwright Festivals/Calls For Entry
McKinney Repertory Theatre New Play Competition (2013-2014 Season, McKinney, TX) – Seeking original, full-length, unproduced and unpublished scripts for eventual full production. No adaptations, translations, musicals, or children’s plays. Plays with casts of eight or fewer preferred. One submission per playwright. NOTE: Electronic submissions only; must be in PDF format and include an entry form (available on website). NO FEE. MRT, 111 N. Tennessee St., McKinney, TX 75069, Attn: New Play Committee, info@McKinneyRep.org, www.mckinneyrep.org. Deadline: March 10, 2013
**Francesca Primus Prize** – $10,000 award honoring outstanding contributions to the American theater by an emerging female theater artist who has not yet achieved national prominence. The prize is usually given to a playwright, but the committee also considers other significant female theater artists, such as directors or artistic directors. Applicants may self-nominate or may be nominated by another individual or organization. Applicant must have had a fully staged, professional production of her script within the calendar year 2012. For other artists, there must also be some significant achievement in the calendar year. But in either case, the committee will also consider a body of work going back several years. A submission must be in the form of a portfolio of no more than 20 single-sided pages. It should include a letter recommending the candidate, a synopsis of her body of work, and supporting materials sufficient to familiarize the committee with her achievements, possibly including reviews and/or a statement of the artist’s philosophy. In addition (beyond those 20 pages), playwrights should also submit the produced playscript. If more than one play was produced in 2012, only one may be submitted, but excerpts from or reviews of others might be part of the portfolio. Send six copies of an applicant’s entire portfolio, along with entry fee, to the address below. FEE: $25. Francesca Primus Prize, ATCA, c/o Barry Gaines, 12809 Northern Sky NE, Albuquerque NM 87111-8089, T: (505) 856-2101, bjgaines@unm.edu, http://www.americantheatrecritics.org/primus-prize/. Deadline: March 15, 2013
Hurricane Season New Works Festival and Playwriting Competition at Eclectic Company Theatre (July 12-August 18, 2013, Valley Village, CA) – Seeking new short plays (15-30 minutes) never produced in California. Nine plays will be selected for production during the festival; top three plays will receive cash prizes ($50-$150). Plays should be able to fit into a black-box theatre with minimal production values. Do not include playwright information on script. See website for complete submission guidelines. One submission per playwright. NOTE: Electronic submissions only. FEE: $15. Hurricane Season 2013, c/o The Eclectic Company Theatre, 5312 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Valley Village, CA 91607, ECTHurricaneSeason@gmail.com, www.EclecticCompanyTheatre.org. Receipt Deadline: March 17, 2013
The Arts and Letters Prizes Competition – Seeking original, unpublished one-act plays in English. Winner receives publication and a $1,000 prize. All submissions will be considered for publication. Submit script, along with a cover sheet with full contact information and the title of the work. Author’s name should not appear anywhere on the manuscript, only in the cover letter. Send a no. 10 SASE if you wish to receive an announcement of winners. Authors may submit more than one manuscript, but each must include the entry fee. FEE: $15-$25. Arts and Letters Prizes, Campus Box 89, Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, GA 31061, http://al.gcsu.edu/prizes.php. Deadline: March 18, 2013
The Theatre Department of Ohio State Newark New Play Contest – Contest for full-length plays. The third prize is $100, second prize is $300, and first prize is $500 and a staged reading. Plays must be original, unproduced and unpublished. Plays must be written in English. Multiple submissions accepted. Do not put name or contact information on script; include a separate page with this information. No restrictions on cast size or subject matter. NOTE: Postal mail submissions only. NO FEE. Dave Williams, Associate Professor, Ohio State Newark New Play Contest, 192 LeFevre Hall, The Ohio State University-Newark, Newark, OH 43055, Williams.1343@osu.edu, http://www.newark.osu.edu/outreachengagement/theatre/Pages/NewPlayContest.aspx. Receipt Deadline: March 30, 2013
Sky Blue Theatre International Playwriting Competition (July 6-7, 2013, Cambridge, England) – Seeking original plays with a running time between 10-30 minutes from playwrights of all nationalities. Plays must be written in English. Shortlisted plays will be given a full performance and considered for publication; winning play (chosen by festival audience) will receive a cash prize of £200. Plays must be submitted using a pseudonym. Submit script as a word document by e-mail attachment with title of play in subject line; include a synopsis of no more than 50 words and an entry form (available on website). FEE: £15. Sky Blue Theatre Company, 14 Hayfield Ave., Sawston, Cambridge, CB22 3JZ, England, newplay@skybluetheatre.com, anne@skybluetheatre.com, http://skybluetheatre.com/newplays.php. Deadline: March 30, 2013
West Coast Players One Act Festival (June 28-30, 2013, Clearwater, FL) – Seeking one-act plays under 15 minutes in any style or genre. Plays must be original, require minimal set, props, and costumes, and must not have been recently performed in the Clearwater area. Submit single copy of script, typed in standard format, by regular post. Playwrights may submit up to three plays. NOTE: No e-mail submissions. FEE: $5. West Coast Players, Attention: One-Act Play Producer, PO Box 5022, Clearwater, FL 33758-5022, rickkastel@gmail.com, upstage111@yahoo.com, http://www.wcplayers.org/2008-WCPlayers/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=140&Itemid=112. Receipt Deadline: March 31, 2013
**Girl Play: Lesbian Playwriting Festival at The Women’s Theatre Project** (Ft. Lauderdale, FL, June 22-24, 2013) – Seeking short plays (5-12 minutes) written by women with a lesbian theme. Cast limit is 2-8. 14-16 scripts will be chosen and presented as two programs of reading series. No more than 2 scripts per playwright. Submit by e-mail, with “Lesbian Playwriting Festival 2013” in subject line. NO FEE. Girl Play, The Women’s Theatre Project, PO Box 276272, Boca Raton, FL 33427, girlplaytwtp@yahoo.com, www.womenstheatreproject.com. Receipt Deadline: March 31, 2013
**The Mirror Monologues Project Call for Monologues** (New York, NY, Spring, 2014) – Seeking creative dramatic monologues between 2 and 3 pages that portray a story or experience of a woman looking into a mirror and feeling a strong emotion. Monologues may be serious or humorous, but must deal with mirrors in women’s lives. Winners will be featured in a dramatic reading. Only one entry per playwright. Submit 3 copies of monologue with no identifying information on the title page, one unbound title page with all contact information, signed permission form (available on website), and a 60-word bio via postal mail. No electronic submissions. NO FEE. Mirrors: Monologues From Women’s Lives, Box 115, 527 Third Ave., New York, NY 10016, mirrormonologues@gmail.com, www.themirrormonologues.com/. Deadline: March 31, 2013
**Artemisia Fall Festival of Staged Readings** (Fall, 2013, Chicago, IL) – Seeking full-length plays for festival of staged readings. Plays must be about women, have a minimum of one female leading character, and must challenge the audience’s perceptions of women. NOTE: E-mail submissions only to Julie Proudfoot, Artistic Director. NO FEE. artemisiatheatre@gmail.com, www.artemisiatheatre.org. Receipt Deadline: April 1, 2013
**Pride Films and Plays New Women’s Work Contest** (September 12-15, 2013, Chicago, IL) – Pride Films and Plays fosters excellent writing for the stage and screen that not only speaks to the GLBT community, but is essential viewing for friends, family, and co-workers. This contest endeavors to enhance the visibility of women who write and offer them opportunities to be heard. Seeking feature writing for both stage and screen with lesbian characters, history, and themes. Seeking Stage Plays, Performance Art, Screenplays, and Shorts (works under 30 pages for the stage or screen). Open to all women whose writing is pertinent to the lesbian community and relevant to the world. Writers may submit 2 works for consideration. Finalists will receive a cash prize and staged reading of their work. Electronic submissions only. See website for complete guidelines and application. FEE: $30. Pride Films and Plays, 3023 N. Clark 327, Chicago, IL 60657, T: (773) 250-3112, Allison Fradkin, Literary Coordinator, Pridewomen@gmail.com, http://pridefilmsandplays.com/wpsc.html. Receipt Deadline: April 1, 2013
Indie Boots Theatre Festival: The Rebecca Plays (Spring, 2013, Chicago, IL) – Seeking short play submissions (under 15 minutes) for festival. All plays must be world premieres, must require fewer than 10 actors, and must use “Rebecca” in the title of the piece. Finalists will be performed in the festival and an audience award will be presented. All genres welcome; comedies and scripts featuring women and LGBTQ characters highly encouraged. Multiple submissions accepted. Submit via e-mail with “Rebecca – Playwright Name” in subject line. NO FEE. Indie Boots, The Rebecca Plays, PO Box 577948, Chicago, IL 60657, info@indieboots.org, www.indieboots.org. Deadline: April 1, 2013
Theatre Southwest Festival of Originals (July 19-August 3, 2013, Houston, TX) – Seeking 20-minutes plays in any genre or style on any subject. 5 plays will be chosen and given full productions with 5 different directors and casts. Entries must be unpublished and have more than one character. Selected playwrights will each receive $100. Submit script with numbered pages and full contact information, character breakdown, and one-paragraph summary. FEE: $5. Theatre Southwest, 8944 Clarkcrest, Houston, TX 77063, Attn: Festival Submissions, http://www.theatresouthwest.org/foorules.html. Deadline: April 1, 2013
Pittsburgh New Works Festival (Fall, 2013, Pittsburgh, PA) – Seeking previously unproduced one-act plays. 12 plays will be selected to be performed as mainstage productions for the festival; an additional 6 will be chosen for staged readings. Each selected playwright receives a $50 honorarium; the playwright who receives the most votes receives $500. Each entry receives brief comments from three readers. Plays must be 40 minutes or shorter and have no more than 8 characters and simple production values. No musicals. One submission per playwright. Submit through website. FEE: $15. Play Selection Manager, Pittsburgh New Works Festival, Inc., PO Box 42419, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, info@pittsburghnewworks.org, www.pittsburghnewworks.org. Deadline: April 6, 2013
Ongoing Festivals/Calls For Entry
NOTE: For more ongoing opportunities, visit our Ongoing Calls For Plays page.
La Petite Morgue (New York, NY) – Company devoted to live horror seeking scripts on an ongoing basis for their Fresh Blood Monthly Reading Series. Seeking suspenseful, scary shows that feature compelling characters; they especially like strong female characters, surprising endings, and plays with immersive or interactive elements. Submit a maximum of 30 pages by e-mail. NO FEE. La Petite Morgue, Fresh Blood Monthly Reading Series, lapetitemorgue@gmail.com, http://www.lapetitemorgue.org.
Funding Opportunities
California Arts Council Artists in Schools Program – Provides funding for residency activities that emphasize long-term, in-depth interaction between professional artists and a group of students, during school or after-school programs. Arts organizations of all disciplines are eligible to apply. Residencies should enable students to understand specific art forms and to develop their creativity; projects must include hands-on participation. Each residency must be locally designed and developed in partnership between an arts organization and school(s). All residencies require matching funds (either by the arts organization or jointly by the arts organization and school). For complete guidelines and application procedures, see website. Contact: Wayne Cook, California Arts Council, Artists in Schools Program, 1300 I St., Ste. 930, Sacramento, CA 95814, T: (916) 322-6344, w.cook@cac.ca.gov, http://www.cac.ca.gov/programs/ais.php. Deadline: March 8, 2013
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation ArtsCONNECT Program – Provides support for non-profit and government consortia to present high quality live performing arts shows to audiences in the mid-Atlantic region. Presenting consortia must include at least three presenting organizations from at least two mid-Atlantic states (Delaware, Washington, D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). ArtsCONNECT projects must involve professional touring artists in theater, dance, opera, music, jazz, and folk/traditional arts that have been touring for at least two years. Artists must reside out-of-state for a majority of presenters within each consortium. Projects must take place between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014. NOTE: Must submit application through website. Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, 201 N. Charles Street, Suite 401, Baltimore, MD 21201, Contact: Michelle Grove, Program Officer, Performing Arts, T: (410) 539-6656 x110, FAX: (410) 837-5517, michelle@midatlanticarts.org, http://www.midatlanticarts.org/funding/pat_presentation/arts_connect/guidelines.html. Receipt Deadline: March 15, 2013
**Asian Women Giving Circle Arts and Activism Grants** – Funds Asian American women-led projects that use the tools of culture, arts and education to raise awareness and catalyze action around critical issues that impact Asian American communities with grants of up to $15,000. Eligible projects will build community and create social justice through programs that combine the arts with activism and highlight and promote women in central leadership and management roles. Projects should identify and address injustice within established social systems, institutions or the broader community, and inspire community members to become active social change agents. Applicants must work within the 5 boroughs of New York City and have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status or a fiscal sponsor with such status. See website for complete guidelines and application. Asian Women Giving Circle, c/o Ms. Foundation for Women, 12 MetroTech Center, 26th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, mogawa@msfoundation.org, www.asianwomengivingcircle.org. Receipt Deadline: March 18, 2013, 5:00 pm EST
Native Arts New England – Grants up to $3,000 each to Native artists residing in the 6 New England states for projects that focus on art making and the involvement of and benefit to New England communities. Projects may address preservation of arts and cultural traditions, contemporary native arts and/or training and technical assistance. Open to Native artists demonstrating knowledge and experience in their art form and Native organizations committed to preserving and encouraging art and art making in their communities. Complete guidelines and application available on website. Dawn Spears, Native Arts Program Coordinator, New England Foundation for the Arts, 145 Tremont St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111, T: (617) 951-0010 x525, dspears@nefa.org, info@nefa.org, http://www.nefa.org/grants_services/native_arts_new_england. Deadline: March 18, 2013
Harlem Community Arts Fund – Cash grants from $1,000-$3,000 for artists and arts organizations based in and providing services within the Harlem community. Individual artists of all disciplines (literary, media, visual, music, and performing arts) may apply to support specific, forthcoming professional development opportunities or the cost of a work in progress. Organizational support is intended to provide additional assistance to help ensure that Harlem’s local arts organizations have the resources and encouragement to provide necessary services and programs to the Harlem community. See website for complete guidelines and application forms. Harlem Arts Alliance, 229 West 135th St., New York, NY 10030, T: (347) 735-4280, FAX: (212) 281-1206, applications@harlemaa.org, www.harlemaa.org. Deadline: March 31, 2013
Joyce Awards – Four grants of $50,000 each will be awarded in the areas of dance, music, theatre, and visual arts to organizations in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and St. Paul/Minneapolis. The goals of the awards are to enable Midwest cultural institutions (any institutions, not only arts institutions, are now eligible) to commission new works by artists of color, to expand the repertoire of art that speaks to diverse urban audiences, and to enhance the creative environment. Awards support the commissioning and performance or exhibition of a new, fully developed work in any genre within the disciplines of dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. Interested organizations must first submit a letter of inquiry; selected organizations will be asked to submit formal proposals. Inquiry should describe concept and plans for the artistic commission, proposed professional artist(s) and creative style, target audience and marketing plan, projected timeline, estimated budget, evidence of ability to carry out the project, plans for evaluation the project’s impact, details of the last 2 years of programming, and brief bio of the artist. See website for complete guidelines. The Joyce Foundation, 321 North Clark St., Ste. 1500, Chicago, IL 60654, T: (312) 782-2464, FAX: (312) 595-1350, www.joycefdn.org/programs/culture/. Deadline (LOI): April 1, 2013
Princess Grace Awards – Identifies and assists emerging artists in theatre, playwriting, dance, and choreography. Theatre awards take the form of scholarships, apprenticeships, and fellowships at non-profit schools and theatres. Playwriting award includes a residency at New Dramatists, Inc. and the opportunity for the winning play to be licensed and published by Samuel French, Inc. Dance performance awards take the form of scholarships and fellowships. Choreography awards take the form of fellowships for collaborations with non-profit dance companies. See website for complete guidelines and application forms. Diana Kemppainen, Program Manager, Princess Grace Foundation-USA, 150 East 58th St., 25th Floor, New York, NY 10155, T: (212) 317, 1470, FAX: (212) 317-1473, grants@pgfusa.org, www.pgfusa.org. Deadline: April 1, 2013 (theatre and playwriting); April 30, 2013 (dance and choreography)
Arts Midwest Touring Fund/Performing Arts Fund Grants (July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014) – Supports the inter-state touring of professional performing artists specializing in the fine arts of dance, theatre, music, youth and family entertainment, and other performing arts forms appropriate throughout Arts Midwest’s nine-state region. Grants range between $500-$4,000 and will cover 20% of the artist or ensemble’s contracted fee. Includes public performances and in-depth educational activities that reach audiences that lack access to the performing arts. Open to presenting organizations with government or 501(c)(3) status in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Engagements must feature a professional performing artist from outside the applicant’s state, and must include at least one performance that is open and promoted to the general public, at least one in-depth educational activity, and must reach an underserved audience. NOTE: Application is now completely online. Arts Midwest, 2908 Hennepin Ave, Ste. 200, Minneapolis, MN 55408, T: (612) 341-0755, performingartsfund@artsmidwest.org, http://www.artsmidwest.org/programs/paf/apply. Receipt Deadline: April 4, 2013, 5pm Central
McKnight Theater Artist Fellowships at the Playwrights’ Center – Grants of $25,000 to theatre artists other than playwrights whose work demonstrates exceptional artistic merit and potential and whose primary residence is in the state of Minnesota. Selection is based on a commitment to theater arts, evidence of professional achievements, and a sustained level of excellence in the applicant’s work. It is important to declare your intent to apply and inform the Playwrights’ Center where and when your performances take place so that panelists may have ample opportunity to view your work in a live setting. See website for complete guidelines and application. McKnight Theater Artist Fellowships, Amanda Robbins-Butcher, Artistic Programs Administrator, amandar@pwcenter.org, http://www.pwcenter.org/fellows_fellowship.php. Receipt Deadline: April 11, 2013, 5pm Central
Artist Trust Grants for Artist Projects (GAP) – Provides support up to $1,500 for artist-generated projects, including the development, completion, or presentation of new work. Open to artists who are residents of Washington State in all disciplines. See website for complete guidelines and application instructions; application must be submitted online. Artist Trust, Contact: Miguel Guillen, T: (206) 467-8734 x11, Miguel@artisttrust.org, http://artisttrust.org/index.php/for-artists/money#grants_for_artist_projects. Deadline: April 15, 2013
Residencies
NOTE: Visit our Residencies With Ongoing Deadlines page for more opportunities.
Art Farm (June 1-November 1, 2013, Marquette, NE) – Residencies of an average of 2-3 months for artists working in visual arts, electronic arts, film and video, multi-media, and performance art, as well as writers. Residency provides housing and some materials. Artist responsible for food, travel, and other materials. FEE: $20. Art Farm, 1306 West 21st Rd., Marquette, NE 68854-2112, T: (402) 854-3120, af@artfarmnebraska.org, www.artfarmnebraska.org. Deadline: Immediate! March 1, 2013
360 Xochi Quetzal Artist Residency (May, 2013-January, 2014, Chapala, Mexico) – Located on the shores of the largest lake in Mexico (45 minutes from Guadalajara), residencies of one month open to visual artists, musicians, and writers of all types. Residency provides housing, studio, food stipend, and wi-fi. Artist responsible for transportation to Guadalajara. Apply online (see website for application instructions). FEE: $36. Contact: Deborah Kruger, residency@deborahkruger.com, http://www.deborahkruger.com/1/art-residency.html/. Deadline: March 16, 2013
Jack Kerouac Writer in Residence Project (Orlando, FL) – Provides four residencies a year to writers of any stripe or age, living anywhere in the world. Each residency consists of approximately a three-month stay in the cottage where Jack Kerouac wrote his novel Dharma Bums. Utilities and a food stipend of $800 are included. NOTE: Electronic applications only. FEE: $25. The Jack Kerouac Writer in Residence Project, PO Box 547477, Orlando, FL 32854-7477, kerouacinflorida@hotmail.com, http://kerouacproject.org. Deadline: March 31, 2013
New York Mills Arts Retreat (July-December, 2012, New York Mills, MN) – Residencies of 2 to 6 weeks in rural Minnesota for artists working in all performance and visual media. Residency provides housing; artist responsible for meals and transportation. NO FEE. New York Mills Arts Retreat, PO Box 246, New York Mills, MN 56567, T: (218) 385-3339, nymills@kulcher.org, http://kulcher.org/arts-retreat-application/. Deadline: April 1, 2013
Chicago Dramatists Resident Playwright Program (Chicago, IL) – Highly selective program offered to playwrights whose body of work, and theatrical experience have the potential to positively impact the American theatre repertory. Open to emerging or established Chicago-area playwrights (within 100 miles of the Chicago city limits) who wish to develop their skills, plays and careers through Chicago Dramatists’ programs. Open to playwrights with demonstrated artistic and professional accomplishments, including at least some of the following: productions, workshops and readings at professional theatres, film and television productions, and professional playwriting awards, grants, fellowships, and residencies. Complete application form (available on website) and submit with two plays of any type (at least one must be a full-length play), a brief resume or bio, a letter of intent describing what you hope to accomplish through the residency and how you came to be familiar with Chicago Dramatists, and a letter of recommendation from a theatre or literary professional, written specifically for this application. Submit via postal mail. NO FEE. Chicago Dramatists, Attn: Residency Applications, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60642, http://www.chicagodramatists.org/Resources/Documents/Resident_Application2.pdf. Deadline: April 1, 2013
MacDowell Colony (Peterborough, New Hampshire) – Residencies of up to eight weeks (average stay is five weeks) providing artists with time and space to create lasting works of the imagination. Artists in the disciplines of Architecture, Film/Video Arts, Interdisciplinary Arts, Literature, Music Composition, Theatre, and Visual Arts encouraged to apply. Artists collaborating on a project must submit individual application forms and appropriate work samples, but may submit a joint description of the work they intend to do at the Colony. In addition, you may submit an example of a collaborative work (either completed or a work in progress); specify workspace needs (i.e. separate studios). Submit application form (available on website), work sample, project description, and two references. Note: Apply through website. FEE: $30. The Admissions Coordinator, The MacDowell Colony, 100 High St., Peterborough, NH 03458, T: (603) 924-3886 x113, admissions@macdowellcolony.org, www.macdowellcolony.org/apply.html. Receipt Deadline: April 15, 2013
Bogliasco Foundation (Winter-Spring, 2014, Bogliasco, Italy) – Residencies of an average of 32 days for qualified persons engaged in advanced creative work or scholarly research in archaeology, architecture, classics, dance, film/video, history, landscape architecture, literature, music, philosophy, theatre, and visual arts. Residency provides housing, meals, and studios; artist responsible for travel, materials, and any additional living expenses. NO FEE. Bogliasco Foundation, U.S. Office, 10 Rockefeller Plaza, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10020-1903, T: (212) 713-7628, FAX: (212) 489-0787, info@bfny.org, www.liguriastudycenter.org. Deadline: April 15, 2013
Other Resources
NOTE: Visit our Funding Resources pages for more resources.
**Girls Write Now** (New York, NY) – Girls Write Now, an after-school program that pairs young women from underserved schools with professional women writers for mentoring, guidance, and support, is seeking to fill two positions: Digital Program Manager – Will launch and manage a new mentoring program in partnership with Parsons the New School for Design; and Anthology Managing Editor – Will manage the editorial process of the 15th Anniversary Anthology from concept and structure to marketing and distribution. See website for complete position summaries and application instructions. Girls Write Now, Inc., 247 West 37th St., Ste. 1800, New York, NY 10018, T: (212) 336-9330, http://www.girlswritenow.org/get-involved/join-the-team/careers/. Deadline: March 15, 2013
Education Index – Comprehensive database of undergraduate and graduate programs in the U.S. Detailed search function allows you to filter schools for different criteria such as test scores, tuition, retention rates, and financial aid. Site also offers a ranking function according to student priorities. Check it out at http://graduate-school.phds.org/education-index.
