2015 CSDC New Play Festival Guidelines
Contact Information:
Irene Miller
irene@crystalseadrama.org
www.crystalseadrama.org
210/849-0934
Goal:
The primary goal of the CSDC New Play Festival is to provide an opportunity for student
directors and student playwrights to further their skills in collaboration on a new play. It
is not designed as a competition, but rather to provide experience in new play
development through the preparation of a ten-minute play. Six directors and six
playwrights will be invited to participate in this year’s program. The number of actors
needed will be determined once scripts are written. Participants may act, direct, write, or
do a combination of these areas, but you may only participate in a total of two plays, and
may only hold one position per play.
How to Participate:
Playwriting and directing participants must submit (via email) a completed application
on or before MONDAY, JUNE 8th, 2015. They must be a bona fide student (high school
or college) at the time of the festival in October, 2015. Playwrights and directors will be
notified by email concerning their acceptance status on Monday, June 15th, 2015. The
festival is open to all students. However, current and former CSDC students will be given
priority in filling the open spots. Students may apply to be both a playwright and a
director; however, they will not direct their own play.
All applications must be emailed to Irene Miller, Artistic Director, Crystal Sea Drama
Company, irene@crystalseadrama.org, on or before the deadline mentioned above.
The application consists of:
1. A Cover Sheet that provides your name, address, current email address, primary
phone number, if you have a Facebook account, the name of your school, parents’
names, and their signed permission for you to participate (if you are under 18).
Please state your conflicts for any of the dates listed in the General Timeline (see
below).
2. Statement of Interest (1-2 pages) stating the reasons for your interest in the CSDC
New Play Festival. Please address what you hope to achieve through your
involvement in the program, how it may contribute to your growth as a
playwright/director, and any prior experience in new play development. In
addition, please list three playwrights/directors you admire, and three strengths
and three weaknesses you have as a playwright/director. For playwrights, also
discuss: one technique you enjoy using when you write; if you could choose any
topic to write about, what would it be and why. For directors, also discuss: one
technique you would use when you are not getting what you want from an actor;
if you could choose any piece to direct, what would it be and why.
3. A Resumé that focuses on your education, training, experience, and
accomplishments as a writer/director. It is ok if you do not have prior experience;
but if you do have some, we would like to know about it.
Actors will be chosen in an open audition September 10, 7-9 p.m. The festival is open to
all students (including college age). However, current and former CSDC students will be
given priority in filling the open spots. To sign up for auditions, please email Irene
Miller, irene@crystalseadrama.org anytime between August 9 and September 9. A list of
how many actors, and the ages, number of males, and number of females that are needed
will be posted on the CSDC website (www.crystalseadrama.org) and the CSDC public
Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crystal-Sea-Drama-Company-CSDC/119925671435)
by August 8. Include in the email your name, email address, phone number, parents’
names and contact information, and any conflicts with the dates listed below in the
General Timeline from September 21 through October 18. Actors will be contacted
within one day of emailing their request and will be given an audition time on September
10.
Auditions will consist of performing a monologue of the actor’s choice (between 30
seconds and 1 minute long), along with a possible cold reading. You will be free to leave
after your audition is completed. The audition panel will be made up of the New Play
Festival playwrights and directors, Mrs. Miller, and at least two other adults. Actors will
be notified on or before September 17, with the results of the audition.
All participants (playwrights, directors, and actors) will need to pay the New Play
Festival Fee. For students who are taking other classes at CSDC, the cost is $150. For
students who are not taking other classes at CSDC, the cost is $175. This fee includes two
complimentary tickets per participant, tuition, and supply fee. This fee is due at the first
rehearsal, along with the show contract. Please make checks out to CSDC. You may pay
by PayPal by requesting an invoice. Participants who are not enrolled in other CSDC
classes will need to fill out a Family Registration form, including standard of conduct and
medical release information, also due at the first rehearsal. In addition, playwrights will
sign an agreement that they retain rights to their play, and that they understand they will
not receive any royalties from CSDC performing their play.
Play Guidelines:
Play submissions are to be made electronically to irene@crystalseadrama.org in either a PDF
or a Word Document format. The script needs to have a cover sheet that includes the
playwright’s name, school, contact information, play synopsis, and list of characters. Go
to http://www.kcactf.org/7/play/Play%20Formating%20Examples.pdf for formatting samples. Please
edit carefully, so that there are no spelling, punctuation, or grammar mistakes. Plays are
to be between eight to ten pages in a standard Times New Roman 12 pt font. Title page,
Character listings, etc., do not count in the total of eight to ten pages – the length refers to
the actual script itself. Please include the title and page number in the heading of each
page of the submission. Please read your play aloud to be sure it does not exceed ten
minutes in length. Be sure to allow time for non-verbal action when timing. Scripts are
due by July 31, 2015. Do not submit your play unless you are able to attend the
festival.
Scripts will remain the property of the author. No royalties will be paid by CSDC to the
playwright in return for performing the scripts. CSDC will credit you in all playbills for
the Festival, and we will provide you with photos of your play being performed. We
assume that by submitting a play, you are willing for your full name to be mentioned on
our website and our Facebook page, and that you agree to the previously mentioned
conditions.
A ten-minute play is a play with at least two characters that is not a scene, skit, or sketch.
Structurally, it should have a beginning, middle, and end – just like any good one-act or
full-length play. Reaching beyond the surface, the text should be enriched with subtext.
Since we only have ten minutes to bring the story full circle, a dramatic conflict should
be posed as quickly as possible. The resolution of that conflict is what plays out across
the remaining pages. The true success of a ten-minute play is reliant on the writer’s
ability to bring an audience through the same cathartic/entertainment experience that a
good one-act or full-length play accomplishes – i.e., sympathetic characters with
recognizable needs encompassed within a resolvable dramatic conflict.
While not wanting to oppress anyone’s creativity, please recognize that the play will be
presented in an evening of ten-minute plays. Therefore, elaborate settings, a large number
of characters, extravagant production values, etc., could conceivably eliminate your play
from consideration. Content must be family friendly.
Scripts should contain no more than three scenes. All plays are required to have at least
one scene be set in a living room with old-fashioned wallpaper. You may, in addition,
choose to have a scene set in an outdoor location. The living room and the outdoor
location are the only locations you may use. When you attend the Playwright Workshop,
you will have an opportunity to view the living room and outdoor sets.
Scripts should contain between two to five characters. Please remember we will likely
have many more girls than boys audition, so choose your characters accordingly.
Characters can range in age from elementary age to adults. All characters will be played
by students.
If you plan to set your play in some time period other than modern times, please check
with Mrs. Miller by email first to see if we have costume pieces that would be needed for
that time period. Modern day costumes will be expected to be provided by the
participants.
Previously produced work and adaptations of stories or books will not be accepted.
Playwrights:
Playwrights are encouraged to attend the Playwriting Workshop on June 25, 6-8 p.m.
Scripts are due by July 31, 2015. Playwrights will be required to attend the
Playwright/Director Orientation, August 6, 6-8 p.m., the auditions on September 10, 7-9
p.m., all rehearsals, and performances. Be aware that there will be a meeting after
auditions to cast the shows, so you may not be ready to leave until 10 p.m.
Your name and contact information will be given to the director of your play. Pre-festival
communication/collaboration between the two of you is encouraged. You will continue
the collaboration by attending rehearsals and by doing any rewrites necessary. Please
remember that the director does have the final say on all blocking and design elements.
Directors:
Directors will be required to attend the Playwright/Director Orientation, August 6, 6-8
p.m. Directors are encouraged to attend the Directing Workshop on August 12, 7-9 p.m.
along with the auditions on September 10, 7-9 p.m., and all rehearsals, and performances.
Be aware that there will be a meeting after auditions to cast the shows, so you may not be
ready to leave until 10 p.m.
Directors will be given a script, and the name and contact information of its playwright.
Pre-festival communication/collaboration between the two is encouraged. The
collaboration will continue during rehearsal, with the playwright attending rehearsals and
rewriting as necessary. Please remember that the playwrights’ script is to be honored, and
no changes may be made without the playwright’s permission.
Directors will responsible for finding the props, sets, and costumes needed for the script.
If period costume pieces are needed, you will need to contact Mrs. Miller to set up a time
to pull the costumes. You will be responsible for returning the costumes to the correct
locations during strike. Modern day costumes will be expected to be provided by the
participants. Props and set pieces may be taken from CSDC’s stock, or you may bring
appropriate items from home. Please be sure your name is on any item that you bring, and
know that CSDC does not accept any liability for loss or breakage. You are responsible to
remember to take your items home at the end of the production.
Actors:
Actors will be required to audition and to attend all rehearsals and performances. Actors
may be cast in one or more plays and may be asked to provide costume pieces if the play
is set in modern times. You will be expected to memorize the script(s) in which you are
cast.
Festival Procedures:
At the festival, directors and playwrights will work together to produce a staging of the
ten-minute script, focusing on the development of the new work. The performances will
be presented as a public event at CSDC Fine Arts Studio, 8414 Speedway. Tickets will be
$10 each.
Following casting, each company will be granted a rehearsal schedule and a rehearsal
room. You are expected to utilize the full resources regarding time and space provided.
Revising and rewriting your script, if appropriate, will be a part of the rehearsal process.
Each director/playwright pair will be assisted by a mentor as needed, who will observe
and provide feedback throughout the rehearsal period. In addition, three festival
respondents will respond to each play on the opening night of the Festival in a talkback
following the performance.
Each script’s participants (playwright, director, and actors) will be expected to tech
another script’s performance (running lights, sound, spots, set changes) as assigned by
Mrs. Miller. Each script’s participants (playwright, directors, and actors) will be
responsible for their own stage set up and take down.
Play Festival General Timeline and Important Dates:
June 8: Applications for playwrights and directors due
June 15: Playwrights and directors notified
June 25: Playwright Workshop, 6-8 p.m.
July 31: Scripts due
August 6: Playwright and Director Orientation, 6-8 p.m.
August 12: Director Workshop, 7-9 p.m.
September 10: Auditions, 7-9 p.m.
September 21-25; 28-October 2: rehearsals start; 6-9 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays
and Fridays; Thursdays 7-9 p.m. (Times can be adjusted based on schedules of
participants)
October 3: Tech rehearsal, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
October 5-8: Dress rehearsals, 5-10 p.m.
October 9-10: Performances – call time 5 p.m.; show 7:30 p.m.
October 11: Performance – call time 12:30 p.m.; show 3:00 p.m.
October 16-17: Performances – call time 5 p.m.; show 7:30 p.m.
October 18: Performance – call time 12:30 p.m.; show 3:00 p.m., 5 p.m. strike; 7:30 p.m.
strike party
October 19: Finish strike, 6-9 p.m.