Playwrights for Change Contest

It's time to start working on your playwriting. The American Alliance for Theatre Education is having its Playwrights for Change contest. If you would like the participate on the school level for consideration to be sent into the national competition, you need to submit your play to Ms. Brown by Friday, January 16th. The school-wide winner will be announced on February 2nd,  receive a $25 gift card, and have their play represent Trenton in the national competition.
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(There is an adult competition, but you must be a member of AATE to participate and submit your play directly to them by April 1st.)

Basic Rules:
1. Plays must be the original work of the playwright and not an adaptation of pre-existing work.
2. Scripts may not be co-authored. Scripts must be written by one playwright.
3. Completed scripts must be no longer than 10 minutes when read aloud.
4. Scripts may have up to, but no more than six characters.
5. Student playwrights must include their name and the title of their play on a cover page and
nowhere else on the script. Also, include a character breakdown with character names and identifying information. 
6. The contest recommends (but does not require) 12-point Times New Roman font. The advantage is that when the standard playwriting format is followed, one page equals about one minute of reading time.
7. Plays need to be written in play format. See the example attached. (There are three links: formatting, creative tips, and the submission form.)

The Theme:
When we first consider compassion, it often extends to our family and close friends. But what happens when we broaden that view, recognizing our deep interconnectedness to all people—and choose to act kindly not only toward those who we perceive are different from us, but toward individuals we view as adversaries and even the natural world? The true challenge is to practice empathy in these wider, more difficult spaces.

Formatting

Creative Tips

Student submission