Playwrights
One Act Play Competition
Updated October 16, 2009
Program
The running time of a one-act play is under 60 minutes; when typed in standard format, a one-act play is approximately 15-45 pages in length; there is no intermission in a one-act play.
Up to six plays will be selected as finalists by readers outside the region and will be given staged readings at the Region III Festival.
In order to be selected a finalist for the KCACTF national John Cauble Short Play Award, a one-act must be invited to the regional festival as either a participating full production or for a staged reading. If selected as a finalist, you will be asked to send a copy of your script by email attachment to the Kennedy Center.
We encourage finalists to bring a rehearsed staged reading of the script(s) to the festival. However, if this proves impossible, finalists may be assigned a director and select a cast from those auditioning for the 10 Minute Play Festival on Wednesday afternoon. A staged reading of the one-act(s) will be held later at the festival. As a finalist, if you cannot attend the Region III festival your play(s) will still be eligible for the national John Cauble Short Play Awards Program provided they have each been given a reading in front of an audience at their home school or at the regional festival (either is acceptable).
Submission
For KCACTF, a one-act play is more than 10 pages and less than one hour playing time.
Playwrights of one-act plays should submit TWO DOCUMENTS:
- the cover sheet completed with all appropriate information and
- the script in Word or PDF format, which should have a TITLE PAGE but no author or school identification.
SUBMIT THE COVER SHEET AND SCRIPT TO THE NPP (NATIONAL PLAYWRITING PROGRAM) CHAIR IN YOUR REGION AND TO THE NATIONAL OFFICE (ghenry@kennedy-center.org). There is a limit of two plays per playwright. Students can submit up to two plays in each category (ten minute, one act, and full length) for a maximum of six plays total. There is no charge for entering the contest this year.
