WELCOME TO THE NATIONAL KCACTF SUBMITTABLE PAGE 

UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS AS WELL AS FACULTY MEMBERS AND GUEST ARTISTS FROM COLLEGE PROGRAMS MAY SUBMIT THEIR WORK FOR AWARDS AND OTHER CONSIDERATION HERE.

ALL NATIONAL PLAYWRITING PROGRAM SUBMISSIONS, TEN MINUTE, ONE ACT AND FULL LENGTH PLAYS ARE ACCEPTED HERE.  REGIONAL SUBMISSIONS OTHER THAN PLAYWRITING ARE ALSO ACCEPTED.  PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR SUBMISSION CATEGORY BELOW.  

IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF YOUR CATEGORY PLEASE CLICK THE GUIDELINES OPTION NEXT TO THE CATEGORY FOR DETAILS.


The National Playwriting Program’s Mission Statement 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.The Playwright’s Bill of Rights: We cannot cut or change lines, alter the structure of the play, or essential stage directions without permission. Playwrights, agents and theatrical publishing companies are approachable and willing to work with us to obtain that permission. We should start that negotiation well before rehearsals begin.

A full length play is any play longer than one hour in playing time. Please choose the region of the country where your school is located when submitting and fill out the form completely.  Some regions of the country invite full length plays for presentation at their regional festival and may have to contact you over the winter break if your play is chosen. Awards for full length plays are selected through a blind reading process at the regional and or national level.  If your play meets the requirements described to the right of the award listed check the box next to the award name and your play will be considered. 

A One Act play is more than 10 pages in length with a running time less than one hour. All One Act plays are considered for the John Cauble Award for Outstanding Short Play and may be invited to your regional festival.  Plays are selected through a blind reading exchange process with another region of the country.  Each region selects a number of plays to present in a concert reading at their festival.  Some regions invite you to bring a staged reading from your school.   Some cast the readings at festival or arrange for a presentation by another school.  If your play is selected the National Playwriting Program regional representative will explain their festival procedures. Two of the plays invited to a regional festival can be put forward for consideration at the national level and may be selected for the festival in Washington DC. Make sure you select the correct Region for which you wish to be considered when you submit. Please fill out the form below completely.  You may need to be contacted  over the winter break if your play is chosen. There are multiple regional and national awards that your play can be considered for.  If your play meets the requirements described to the right of the award listed check the box next to the award name and your play will be considered.

A Ten Minute Play is 10 pages or fewer in length with 12 point font. All ten minute plays are considered for the Gary Garrison Ten Minute Play Award and invitation to your regional festival.  Plays are selected through a blind reading exchange process with another region of the country.  Each region will decide how many plays will be invited to present a concert reading at their festival.  Two of the six plays invited to festival will be put forward for consideration at the national level and may be selected for the festival in Washington DC.   Make sure you select the correct Region for which you wish to be considered when you submit. Fill out the submission form completely.  You may need to be contacted over the winter break if your play is chosen. There are multiple awards both regional and national that your play can be considered for.  If your play meets the requirements described to the right of the award name, check the box next to the award and your play will be considered.

IMPORTANT: All KCACTF Regions are using this Common Application. It has been set to remain open until the end of the regional festival cycle, even though that date occurs after many regional deadlines. Please refer to your regional website for those deadlines.    

On this form you will:

1. Provide contact and eligibility details.

2. Send a Collaborator Form to a supervisor or collaborator who has agreed to speak about your work on the project. 

3. Write short reflective statements (150-250 words) addressing three of the following questions:

  • How did you approach the work of researching and analyzing the play?
  • What moments of joy did you experience during this process?
  • How did you adjust your goals in response to project needs?
  • How did you overcome challenges that arose during the process?
  • How did you navigate the relationship between your individual work and that of the rehearsals and/or design conferences?

4. Select, organize, and upload the materials that best represent your process and/or dramaturgical sensibility. These items may include emails, pictures of your display, screenshots of webpages, presentations, content shared with project participants or instructor, and/or videos.)

  • Please Note: Although we have set a limit of 100 pages for these uploaded documents, we encourage you to focus on the quality and not quantity of the materials you select.

5. Write an introduction to the materials you have uploaded, briefly explaining why you created them for this project (150-250 words).

6. Write a brief statement (150-250 words) answering one of the following questions:

  • Takeaways: How has this project helped you understand how to improve your dramaturgical work? What aspects of your work will you bring into your next project?
  • Uniqueness: Where are you in this work? If someone else had dramaturged this production, how would it have been different?
  • Impact: How did your individual participation affect the whole? (To address this aspect of your work, we encourage you to invite statements from collaborators who can speak to your intangible contributions.)
  • Dramaturgical Vision: How does this project fit into your overall creative work and plans for the future?

7. If applicable, briefly tell us about an aspect of your work that you haven’t yet explained in your previous answers. 

 

KCACTF National Account