Overview
The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival National Playwriting Program is dedicated to supporting student playwrights in the development of their original work for the stage, with dramaturgical and performance opportunities that emphasize respect of the written word and for the playwright’s contribution to the theatrical process.
Call for New Plays
The National Playwriting Program of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival offers a number of awards for plays submitted in the 10-minute, one-act and full length category.
Contact
Miguel Torres Cruz, Chair
Region 8 National Playwriting Program
Regional and National Festival invitations
A group of qualified respondents will select 2 of the 10-minute plays and 2 of the one-acts as national semi-finalists. Those plays will be considered for invitation to the national festival in Washington DC. in the spring. The plays will be judged as written work, not based on the presentations at festival.
National Playwriting Program’s Mandate
- To offer progressive mentorship of student playwrights that honors the integrity of individual voice, and is aimed at nurturing students into professional playwrights.
- To strive to create links with individual artists and institutions in the professional sphere and to provide opportunities for the production of student work.
- To advocate for theatrical text and to preserve the integrity of the playwright’s intent within all stages of the collaborative process.
- To engage and support faculty members who are developing new work in their theatre programs.
The Playwright’s Bill of Rights
Submissions Guidelines
Plays are accepted in the following categories.
10-Minute Plays
A play 10-pages or fewer in length (12 point font)
One-Act Plays
A play more than 10 pages in length with a running time less than one hour.
Full-Length Plays
a play more than one hour in length
How to Submit
NPP Region 8 is now using Submittable.com.
- Clicking the link below will take you to our private submission page.
- You will be asked to set up a username and password. (There is no charge for this.) All scripts must be submitted blind: No Author or School Affiliation on document. Scripts are accepted in .pdf, .doc and .docx format only. When you are ready click the link below to set up your username and password.
- Then scroll to select your play category and submit.
https://kcactf-region8.submittable.com/submit
Questions about submissions should be directed to the regional NPP Chair
Carol Damgen, Chair and Miguel Torres Cruz, Vice Chair
Region 8 National Playwriting Program
Submission Deadlines
10-Minute Plays
November 1st
Additional 10-Minute Play Awards
November 1st
- Planet Earth Award
- Hip Hop Theater Creator Award
- Region VIII Original Monologue Award (due December 1)
- One-Act Plays
Additional One-Act Play Awards
November 1st
- Planet Earth Award
- The Darrell Ayers Theater for Young Audiences Award
- Hip Hop Theater Creator Award
- Rosa Parks Playwriting Award
December 1st
- Full Length Plays
Additional Full Length Awards
November 1st
- David Mark Cohen Award
*REQUIRE THAT THE WORK HAD A FULL PRODUCTION AND WAS ENTERED AS AND ASSOCIATE OR PARTICIPATING ENTRY IN KCACTF
December 1st
- Mark Twain Prize for Comic Playwriting
- The Darrell Ayers Theater for Young Audiences Award
- Lorraine Hansberry Award
- Jean Kennedy Smith Award
- Paula Vogel Award
- Latinidad Award
- Paul Stephen Lim Asian- American Playwriting Award
- National Undergraduate Playwriting Award
*MUST BE STUDENT WRITTEN AND HAVE (AT MINIMUM) RECEIVED A WORKSHOP OR READING - Blanche and Irving Laurie Musical Theater Award
*MUST BE STUDENT WRITTEN AND HAVE (AT MINIMUM) RECEIVED A WORKSHOP OR READING - Rosa Parks Playwriting Award
*MAY BE STUDENT OR FACULTY WRITTEN - Hip Hop Theater Creator Award
*MAY BE STUDENT, FACULTY OR WORKING PLAYWRIGHT WRITTEN - Harold and Mimi Steinberg National Student Playwriting award
*REQUIRE THAT THE WORK HAD A FULL PRODUCTION AND WAS ENTERED AS AND ASSOCIATE OR PARTICIPATING ENTRY IN KCACTF - Region 8 Original Monologue Award
Eligibility
A student that meets these eligibility requirements and that attends a school that has entered at least one Associate and Participating Production, may enter 2 ten-minute plays, 2 one-act plays, and 2 full-length plays for the festival and/or Michael Kanin awards.
Download and/or read this file: NPP Award Descriptions and Guidelines
Faculty Members
Professional Playwrights who have produced their work at a KCACTF affiliated school can submit their work for the David Mark Cohen Award, download and/or read this file: NPP Award Descriptions and Guidelines
You may still submit your play if you are a student from a school without an Associate or Participating entry in the current year’s festival. However, a $10.00 “script handling” fee is required.
Awards Description and Guidelines
Region 8 of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival National Playwriting Program sponsors a series of 10-Minute, one-act, and full length plays each year.
At our regional festival we invite the top six 10-minute plays and the top 3 one-acts submitted throughout the year to be presented at our regional festival. Two of the six ten minute plays and two of the three one-acts will be selected as National Semi-Finalists and forwarded for consideration by the National Festival. If chosen those playwrights will be invited to attend the National Festival in Washington DC, traditionally in April.
There are a series of awards that a play can be considered for. Each award has slightly different requirements in terms of eligibility and deadlines for submission. Most are for student written work though some awards are open to faculty and working playwrights.
Student Written Work Requires That:
A student playwright must be enrolled at a university or college within Region VIII. An undergraduate student must carry a minimum of 6 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours); a graduate student must carry 3 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours. Undergraduate, graduate, and continuing part-time student playwrights must be matriculating, degree-seeking students. Students pursuing degrees online are also eligible provided they meet these same enrollment guidelines. For descriptions on each award, eligibility and submission deadlines
Faculty Playwrights
Working Playwrights
For descriptions on each award, eligibility and submission deadlines, CLICK HERE.