April is filled with lots of writing opportunities for dramatists. Best of luck to all who enter their work!
1. Columbus State University -- Playwriting Competition
Columbus State University’s Theater Department is currently seeking new plays. This award, sponsored by writer/composer/professor Larry Corse encourages playwrights to create challenging and compelling dramatic literature. The recipient will receive $1000, and his/her full length play will be produced by the university.
Previous winners include:
Ian Walker for The Gravedigger's Tango (2005)
Kevin Christopher Snipes for The Chimes (2006)
Deadline: April 1st
2. Children's Theater Foundation Grants
The Children's Theater Foundation offers grants to small and mid-sized theater companies that produce children's plays. The grants offset cost of children's theater productions, enable theater's to purchase scripts and royalties, and provide better rehearsal facilities for their young performers. If you belong to a community theater and would like more information about obtaining a grant from the Foundation, visit:
3. "The Funniest Play On Earth" Competition
Cheshire Comedy Publishing is a very new play publishing company. They are so new, that they have yet to offer any plays in their catalogue. In hopes of launching their business they are hosting a search for “The Funniest Play on Earth!” The winner (or winners?) will receive a $500 advance and will be published and promoted by the Cheshire Comedy Company. There’s no entry fee, so it couldn’t hurt to try. Let’s just hope it’s not an April Fool’s joke!
Deadline: April 1st (I believe they accept submission for publication all year.
Email submissions are encouraged. Learn more about this new company.
4. "YeeeeeeeeHaW! We're Lookin' Fer Texas Playwrights!"
Well, that’s what I imagined when I first read about the competition sponsored by the Stage West Theatre. However, don’t feel that you must write a play about cowboys.Every season, Stage West offers a diverse range of plays, from classic to contemporary. Perhaps most impressive of all, they have produced 12 world premieres. That innovative tradition is continued on with their current playwright competition.
Qualifications: Playwright’s must either be a resident of Texas, or have lived in Texas for more than two years.
Deadline: April 15th
Download their application form.
http://www.stagewest.org/PlayCompForm08.pdf
5. TADA! Gregory Miller Memorial Playwriting Contest
From their website:
TADA! offers original productions three times a year, a unique year-round Resident Youth Ensemble composed of 40-50 NYC kids ages 8-18, renowned education programs and theater classes in schools and at TADA!, taught by professional artists.
So, if you have a children's play or musical, you may wish to enter the Gregory Millard Memorial Playwriting competition. Winners will receive a $150 prize. Also, the winning playwright will have the honor of a stage reading and possible full-scale performance of the creative work. Best of all, TADA has a special category for writers under the age of 19.
Deadline: April 25th
Find out about this lively kid-friendly theater company. (Click on their Play Submissions link.)
