Let the party begin: New playwriting opp from CSW and BPT

Big news: Read all about this new opportunity from The Cambridge School of Weston and BPT! Details and full guidelines follow.

The Cambridge School of Weston (CSW) theatre department in cooperation with Boston University/Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (BPT), announced a new playwriting award today for New England playwrights. Once a year, the CSW theatre department seeks to produce a large cast contemporary play dealing with social justice or political themes. In order to generate quality scripts, CSW and BPT created the contest in an effort to encourage playwrights to create works aligned with current high school-aged students living in a globally connected and diverse world. CSW will grant the award of $500 for the chosen play. 

Submissions are blind, and will be accepted through June 30, 2013. The winner will be notified on July 31, 2013.

“It is especially difficult to find plays that contain themes of social and political justice,” said CSW Theatre Teacher Greg Cummings. “We hope to solicit material that reflects our current multicultural universe that CSW students both recognize and tackle daily. What an incredible opportunity for us to work aside BPT, we are sure to gain a great deal with their leadership in this area.”

This is the first time that CSW has cooperated with BPT to launch a playwriting contest. The chosen play will be a fully produced main stage production in the 2013-14 theatrical season at CSW. Part of the school’s teaching approach is the belief that theatre is a reflection of the world, with plays that are chosen to broaden social awareness, create joy and foster collaboration and ensemble practice. With each production, students have the opportunity to help manage all aspects of production.

“Boston Playwrights’ Theatre is happy to collaborate with CSW on bringing these new plays for young audiences to the fore,” added Kate Snodgrass, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre Artistic Director. “Plus, not having a limit on cast size is a dream come true for our playwrights whose imaginations have been confined by budget limitations. Let the party begin!”

Several of the contest requirements include a minimum cast size of 10 characters with as many speaking roles as possible, and play length 60 to 90 minutes, in line with high school productions. Additionally, CSW and BPT will accept are plays of any genre, adaptations of works in the public domain, the use of a chorus, a series of thematically related monologues or collection of related one act plays. Submissions will only be accepted from New England-based high school graduates and exclude anyone currently associated with CSW. The contest is open to both novice and experienced playwrights.

Full details:

AWARD                                   

-$500

-Fully produced main stage production in the 2013-14 theatrical season at The Cambridge School of Weston

REQUIREMENTS                   

-60-90 minutes running time

-As many speaking roles as possible.

-Cast size: min. 10, max. 25.

-Characters can be any age. Actors are high school students.

-Scripts with social and/or political justice or multicultural themes will be given precedence.

RECEIVED DEADLINE June 30, 2013

WINNER NOTIFIED July 31, 2013

ACCEPTABLE                        

-An Evening of Related One Acts

-A Series of Thematically Related Monologues

-Use of a Chorus

-Adaptations of works in the public domain

-Any genre (comedy, drama), any time period

JUDGES Veteran Teachers/Directors at CSW and BPT

SUBMISSIONS TO: Greg Cummings, The Cambridge School of Weston,

                                 45 Georgian Road, Weston, MA 02493-2198

ELIGIBILITY & GUIDELINES:

-Submit one Cover Sheet including the following (this separate information sheet is the only place your name will appear). 

            Title of play

            Your name

            Address

            Email Address

Phone Numbers

            Copyright

-Please submit a brief (one page) synopsis, character breakdown, along with the full script, all without author’s name listed (i.e., a “blind” submission).

-Dialogue must be typewritten in acceptable playwriting format. (Samuel French guidelines or something comparable).    

-Submissions will be accepted from Boston/New England playwrights only.

-New England does not include New York.

-Permanent residents of New England and/or those who have a New England mailing addresses are eligible.

-Award recipient will be announced July 31.

-Open to both novice and experienced playwrights. Playwrights must be high school graduates.

-You may not be currently associated with The Cambridge School of Weston.

-Scripts will not be returned. The paper will be recycled.

“The Cambridge School of Weston's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.”  Please visit our website: www.csw.org.

Past productions include:

Mountain Language/Party Time (Pinter), Catastrophe (Beckett), Urinetown, Street Scene, The Laramie Project, Dr. Faustus Lights the Lights (Stein), Charandas Chor, Galileo.