The
Theater Project’s 12th Annual Young Playwrights Competition
Now
Seeking Submissions from NJ High School Student Playwrights
Open to
all NJ secondary school students, ages 13 to 18.
All
entries must be received by January 20, 2014
(NJ)
-- The Theater Project, an award-winning drama company, is conducting its12th
annual Young Playwrights Competition to encourage the next generation of
theater practitioners and audiences by honoring student work and bringing it to
life. Not many 13-18 year-olds have an opportunity to have a play they wrote
performed in a reading by professional actors, but the three of them who win
the Competition will get that chance.
While
performing in Cranford and Maplewood, The Theater Project has been encouraging young
writers from around the state over the past dozen years. Past winners have gone
on to pursue degrees in theater and playwriting, and they often return to The
Theater Project to present prizes and share their journeys with the newest
honorees.
The
competition is open to secondary school students aged 13-18, and will
culminate in a performance/awards ceremony in March, 2014.
“In
tough economic times, the arts sometimes get short shrift as people struggle to
make ends meet and schools see their budgets shrink,” says Theater Project
producer Daaimah Talley. “But when kids lose out on arts experiences, they miss
opportunities to develop critical thinking and reading skills that are needed
now more than ever –- we want to make sure that kids know how important their
creative endeavors are by showcasing them in front of the community.” Winners
and runners-up will see their work presented to an audience and receive prizes
in addition to recognition.
In
addition to having their work performed, the first, second, and third place
authors will receive $300, $200 and $100 cash prizes. Three additional
student writers will receive Honorable Mention certificates.
“Putting
words together in a meaningful way is not only about communication, but also
fosters the critical thinking skills so necessary to success in education and
the workplace,” says Theater Project artistic director Mark Spina.
The
competition was inspired by a generous donation from Linden resident Bill Mesce, Jr., an
award-winning playwright and screenwriter, whose recent short story collection,
PRECIS, was published by Stephen F. Austin University Press. He is also the
author of OVERKILL: THE RISE AND FALL OF THRILLER CINEMA, and writes regularly
about film and television for the award-winning website, Sound on Sight. Mesce says about the competition: "It is
not only impressive but inspiring to see these young people applying themselves
to an art form that has always been about a command of language, and a bit
awesome to see how well they carry it off."
Only
one entry per author. Entry fee: $5
Scripts
must be typed in play format.
All
submissions must be 10 to 25 pages (excerpts of longer work are OK!).
Original
work only, no adaptations.
All
entrants must be NJ residents in secondary school.
Entries
MUST be received by January 20, 2014
HOW
TO ENTER: By January 20, 2014, submit a 10 to 25 page script according to the
guidelines above to TheaterProject@AOL.COM with a
50-word biography of the author, contact information and the name of school
currently attended. The $5 entry fee can be paid at our web site:
TheTheaterProject.org.
All questions can be directed to The Theater Project at
973.763.4029 or
by email at THEATERPROJECT@aol.com.
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