FIREHOUSE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
NEW WORKS FESTIVAL 2017 – CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
“THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT”
A festival celebrating new short, one-act, and full-length plays
January 21 & 22, January 28 & 29, 2017
Submissions of short plays, one act plays, and full-length plays are currently being accepted until midnight on Sunday, June 19, 2016 from New England playwrights.
Submission Criteria
●Competition is open to all playwrights living in New England.
●All work must be original and should not have been published or fully produced in New England prior to June 2015. Work previously performed in a reader’s theater format, in a workshop, or in a non-profit new-play festival in this same time period is eligible. (If in doubt, please check with the Artistic Director.) Staged readings or workshop productions will not disqualify the scripts.
●Musicals, monologues, children’s plays, adaptations, film and TV scripts are ineligible.
●Submitting playwrights must currently live in New England. (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, or Rhode Island).
●Playwrights may submit up to two (2) scripts. Scripts must be submitted as separate attachments.
●Shorts must have a run-time of 10 minutes or less.
●The cast of shorts cannot exceed four actors (but who may play multiple roles).
●One act plays must have a run-time between 30 and 60 minutes.
●Full length plays must have a run time of at least 75 minutes to 150 minutes.
●Minimal set and props will be used during the New Works Festival. Please bear this restriction in mind when determining which piece to submit.
●Scripts are judged by jury and decisions are final. No written or verbal critique will be tendered.
Submission Process
●Please submit one electronic copy of each script. Scripts must be separate attachments. Only electronic submissions will be accepted.
●Scripts should not include any form of identification.
●Fill out an application form for each script submitted. Scripts submitted without an application form will be disqualified.
●Scripts should follow standard play formatting. At the least : one-inch margins, 12-point font, character names capitalized, stage directions in italics, and page numbers included.
●Scripts should include a character breakdown.
●Please thoroughly proof-read your script.
●Copyright licenses always remain with the author(s).
●Submissions will be accepted until midnight on Sunday, June 19, 2016. No exceptions! The application can be found on our website Email your application form and script to:
General Information
Submitted plays that meet the above criteria are judged by an independent panel of theater professionals. Playwrights will remain anonymous throughout the judging process. All playwrights will be notified as to whether or not their play(s) will be presented in the festival. The judges’ decisions are final.
Selected full-length and one-act plays will be presented on-book as staged readings. Shorts will be presented off-book. All productions will use minimal sets, props, and technical cues.
The Firehouse Center for the Arts’ New Works Festival Committee reserves the right to select directors. Playwrights may be consulted during the selection process.
The full-length play selected for The Pestalozzi Prize will be awarded an honorarium of $150.00. The one act play and short selected for the Lois Honegger prizes will both be awarded an honorarium of $75.00
There will be an Opening Reception for all playwrights, directors, committee members, and judges on Opening Night of the New Works Festival.
SEND ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS TO:
FIREHOUSE CENTER FOR THE ARTS - MARKET SQUARE - NEWBURYPORT MA 978-499-9931
FIREHOUSE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
NEW WORKS FESTIVAL 2017 Deadline Midnight on June 19, 2016
Festival Dates: January 21-22 & 28-29, 2017
Playwrights must fill out a separate application form for each play submitted. Playwrights may submit up to two plays, any combination of shorts, one-acts, and/or full lengths. There is no fee to enter. Only electronic submissions are accepted. Please read Submissions Criteria page.
Playwright’s Name:
Address:
City:State:Zip Code:
Phone Number(s): Email Address:
How did you hear about the New Works Festival:
Have you submitted to the New Works Festival before?
Playwright Biography (100 words or less):
Title of Play: ______
Submission Category (please circle):
Full Length (75- 150 minutes running time) Short (10 minutes or less) One Act (30-60 minutes running time) Estimated Running time of play: Genre:
Synopsis of Play (100 words or less):
Tagline for Play (short description, 30 words or less, typically one sentence):
Has this play been presented at other readings or festivals in New England?
If yes, please give us the name of the presenting company, their location, when it was presented, and name of the festival (if applicable):
Please email application(s) with electronic submission(s) to
Please do not include your name or contact information on any pages of your script.
Playwrights will remain anonymous throughout the judging process.