FULL-LENGTH PLAYS COMPETITION
Regular Deadline: January 31, 2023 (11.45 pm) PAY Submission Fee ($15)
Extended Deadline: March 1, 2023 (11:45 pm) Submission Fee ($25)
Extended Deadline: March 1, 2023 (11:45 pm) Submission Fee ($25)
WORLD PREMIERE PLAY "BOXING LESSONS" written by John Bunzel.
Photo: Susan Wilder, Stephen Tyler Howell, Luke McClure, Eve Danzeisen, Eric Curtis Johnson and Bruce Nozick in Boxing Lessons, written by John Bunzel, directed by Jack Stehlin at The New American Theatre. Photo: Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
The New American Full-Length Play Competition has been created to support new plays. The competition is in line with The New American Theatre's on-going commitment to inspire, educate and nurture artists and our community towards a thoughtful and humane world view through the art of story-telling. We help theatre artists find their voices, cultivate social consciousness and prepare for a lasting career. We support new and established playwrights and incubate new plays. We seek to make a lasting, life-long impression on our community – inspiring the audience to continue provocative conversations long after the curtain closes.
Since 1995, The New American Theatre has presented over 130 Los Angeles or World Premieres Plays.
Submissions
The New American Theatre is accepting submissions of original, unpublished full-length plays that have not been produced. Plays that have had readings will be considered. The New American Theatre is seeking plays that can be performed by five actors or fewer.
Three Finalists will be selected by the New American Theatre's literary group with the final choice made by Artistic Director Jack Stehlin. Three Finalists will receive recognition. The First Prize Award will be a staged, public reading in Hollywood and an invitation to join The New American Theatre's Playwrights Circle, and the possibility of a full production.
Submission dates:
Regular Deadline: January 31, 2023 (11.45 pm)
Extended Deadline: March 1, 2023 (11:45 pm)
Since 1995, The New American Theatre has presented over 130 Los Angeles or World Premieres Plays.
Submissions
The New American Theatre is accepting submissions of original, unpublished full-length plays that have not been produced. Plays that have had readings will be considered. The New American Theatre is seeking plays that can be performed by five actors or fewer.
Three Finalists will be selected by the New American Theatre's literary group with the final choice made by Artistic Director Jack Stehlin. Three Finalists will receive recognition. The First Prize Award will be a staged, public reading in Hollywood and an invitation to join The New American Theatre's Playwrights Circle, and the possibility of a full production.
Submission dates:
Regular Deadline: January 31, 2023 (11.45 pm)
Extended Deadline: March 1, 2023 (11:45 pm)
ABOUT THE NEW AMERICAN THEATRE
The New American Theatre is a critically-acclaimed actor-driven theatre company best known for exploring and supporting new and challenging work in the American theatre and for producing classic plays with modern, cultural relevance. The New American Theatre is dedicated to the support and growth of all artists who participate in the collective imagination that is theatre.
Named by CBS Los Angeles as one of the top five 99-seat theatre’s in Los Angeles, The New American Theatre has also enjoyed critical acclaim, awards and nominations from the Los Angeles Times, LA Drama Critics Circle, Back Stage West, LA Weekly, LA Stage Alliance Ovations, and many others.
Supporting Playwrights and New Works
The New American Theatre supports new artists and new works. Since our founding, we've presented over 130 new plays on Los Angeles stages, three of which we later moved to an Off-Broadway run. Plays that received world premieres on our stages have become feature films, short films, and a Lifetime movie event. Several plays have been widely published, and one play was turned into a novel. World premiere plays and world premiere adaptations have won prestigious awards and accolades.
Notable playwrights who have had their plays produced by The New American Theatre include John Bunzel, Colette Freedman, Jack Kenny, Shem Bitterman, Chuck Rose, Stephen McFeely, Greg Kalleres, Bara Swain, Moira Walley-Beckett, Deanne Stillman, Mark Harvey Levine, Brendan Brandt , Andrew R. Heinz, Hal Corley, Jerry Lambert, just to name a few.
Named by CBS Los Angeles as one of the top five 99-seat theatre’s in Los Angeles, The New American Theatre has also enjoyed critical acclaim, awards and nominations from the Los Angeles Times, LA Drama Critics Circle, Back Stage West, LA Weekly, LA Stage Alliance Ovations, and many others.
Supporting Playwrights and New Works
The New American Theatre supports new artists and new works. Since our founding, we've presented over 130 new plays on Los Angeles stages, three of which we later moved to an Off-Broadway run. Plays that received world premieres on our stages have become feature films, short films, and a Lifetime movie event. Several plays have been widely published, and one play was turned into a novel. World premiere plays and world premiere adaptations have won prestigious awards and accolades.
Notable playwrights who have had their plays produced by The New American Theatre include John Bunzel, Colette Freedman, Jack Kenny, Shem Bitterman, Chuck Rose, Stephen McFeely, Greg Kalleres, Bara Swain, Moira Walley-Beckett, Deanne Stillman, Mark Harvey Levine, Brendan Brandt , Andrew R. Heinz, Hal Corley, Jerry Lambert, just to name a few.
COMPETITION GUIDEliNES
- The finalists will be selected by our judging panel and Artistic Director Jack Stehlin.
- All submissions must be written in English. Worldwide submissions are accepted.
- Plays must not have been previously produced.
- Only plays requiring 5 or fewer actors are eligible.
- Submissions must not have received a professional production or publication. Plays that have received previous workshops or readings are eligible.
- Playwrights may submit more than one play, but each play must be accompanied by a separate payment transaction number.
- Plays may not be under option or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission.
- All submissions must accompany an Administrative Fee per entry. The fee will go towards producing the festival.
- Regular Deadline: $15 Administrative Fee
- Extended Deadline: $25 Administrative Fee.
- The New American Theatre reserves the right to not choose any entries for production, without a refund.
- All submissions must include the order number in the subject line. For example: Subject Line: FULL LENGTH PLAY SUBMISSION: ORDER-00000#### (Order numbers are obtained at time of payment of administrative fee).
- Contact information should be on the cover page of script.
- The author’s name must not appear anywhere in the script (other than the cover page) in order to preserve anonymity in the judging process.
- Body of the e-mail should include title of the work, author’s name, address and contact information, and a brief biography.
- Payments may be made here:
Writing Sample:
- Playwrights, please submit your full play, in pdf form. Designate 10-15 consecutive pages to be read as an excerpt. You can designate these pages in the email with your submission. Title pages, cast breakdowns, and author’s notes don’t count towards this page count.
- Submit a brief story synopsis of your play (no more than 300 words).
- Please include a character breakdown along with your submission.
- Please include a brief description of the set.
- Plays must be sent as a PDF file to NewAmTheatre@gmail.com
- Online submissions will receive a confirmation email.
Selection:
- Finalists will be chosen by April 15, 2023. Finalists include a winner and two runners-up.
- If chosen, the playwright and The New American Theatre will enter a letter of agreement before rehearsals commence.
- The New American Theatre reserves the right to change the rules of the festival at any time.
- By submitting a script and paying the entrance fee, it is assumed that the playwright agrees to the festival guidelines.
Questions? Email Jeannine@NewAmericanTheatre.com
The New American Theatre reserves the right to reject any script for any reason. The New American Theatre reserves the right to not choose a winner for any given year and reserves the right to determine the ineligibility of a winner.
BY SUBMITTING THE MATERIAL, THE APPLICANT HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND THE FESTIVAL, ITS EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AFFILIATES FROM ANY LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBMISSION AND FROM ANY FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES, THAT ANY OF THEM MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
QUESTIons?
Contact Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin, Managing Director - Jeannine@NewAmericanTheatre.com
