Theatre du Mississippi accepting scripts Original Shorts Playwriting Contest

Theatre du Mississippi is now accepting scripts for their Third Annual Original Shorts Playwriting Contest. Winners shall receive a $50 prize and will be given a staged reading over the second weekend in May 2014.

Contest Rules

1. Plays must be original, un-produced scripts. Previous readings are okay.
2. Scripts must be short plays, approximately 20 minutes to 60 minutes in run time and having only one act. Please, no 10 Minute plays.
3. Playwrights must reside in the tri-state area of Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Iowa. Our mission is to foster area playwrights and our area is the region described. For the purposes of this contest a ‘resident’ is anyone with a postal mailing address in the tri-state area.
4. Submissions must be ‘blind.’ No name or email or any author-identifying signature attached to the script. Playwrights should clearly identify themselves and the name of the attached script in their cover letter or email.
5. Any genre or style of play is acceptable. We are not offended by foul language, but neither are we enamored by it. Use it wisely if you must use it.
6. All scripts will be read by a minimum of two readers. Those scripts passing both readers will be forwarded on to our panel of judges.
7. For a list of judging criteria, please check our web site (www.theatredumississippi.org). We value the qualities that make for strong drama.
8. Deadline for Submissions: All scripts must be sent to TdM before 11:59pm on January 15, 2014. Emailed scripts must show that the email was sent before this time. Postal mailed scripts must have a postmark before this date/time.
9. Winners shall receive a $50 prize and will be given a staged reading. Winning scripts will be assigned a director who shall determine casting and rehearsals. The cast will perform the plays, with script in hand and with minimal production values. Our intent is that the audience (and hopefully the playwrights) get to focus on the words and the story and not the ‘production.’ The plays will perform a variety of times over the second weekend in May.
10. We accept nearly any format for submissions.
    Electronic submissions may be sent to:
    theatredumississippi987@gmail.com
    
    Hard copies should be mailed to:
    Theatre Du Mississippi Original Shorts,
    PO Box 184,
    Winona, MN 55987.
    
    Scripts will only be returned if accompanied by a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope. Electronic submissions may be in txt, word, mobi, epub, pdf, or just about any other electronic format. If we can’t open and read it, we will let you know.