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Alpha Psi Omega Playwriting Contest Rules—Fall 2007
For additional information, see the Alpha Psi Omega Playwriting Prompt Guidelines.
Alpha Psi Omega, Oklahoma Christian University’s Theatre Honors Society, is pleased to announce a Ten-Minute Playwriting Competition for all students, faculty and staff of Oklahoma Christian University.
In partial coordination with Sigma Tau, Oklahoma Christian University’s English Honors Society, Alpha Psi Omega invites you to submit a short play of your own composition that will be performed on 29 and 30 November and 1 December 2007.
This project has been initiated to develop new and artistic ways to share issues of faith with the campus community and beyond. This competition is open to both experienced and amateur playwrights and will showcase the talents of our students, faculty and staff during OC Theatre’s scheduled production season.
Procedure:
The Ten-minute Playwriting Competition has been designed to offer all participants an equal chance at successfully composing a play relating to issues of faith. Because of this desire, no participants will be allowed to submit previous work for competition. How can our production team insure all of our submissions have been composed exclusively for this competition? As early as 5:00 PM Monday 8 October 2007 In Judd Theater the production team will disclose a “prompt” or artistic guideline for the composition of each submission. The prompt will not be available to any participant prior to the initial disclosure date. All submissions will attempt to follow the guidelines in order to be considered for performance.
After each participant understands the submission guidelines, they will have up to four weeks to compose a play for competition. The play should:
- Have a maximum length of no more than seven numbered pages (approximately ten minutes “running time” when produced—double spaced and typed in no smaller than eleven point font).
- Speak to a Christian audience whenever possible.
- Not have been published in any form.
- Be written exclusively for stage presentation. Musicals, screen plays or adaptations of another author’s work cannot be accepted.
- Feature no fewer than two and no more than six characters.
The final Deadline for all submissions will be no later than 5:00 PM on 9 November 2007. Submissions may be directed to either Phil Reagan or Barrett Huddleston in the Department of Communications. Each submission must:
- Be type-written, word processed copies, with numbered pages that are securely bound together.
- Include a separate page that includes a brief (one hundred word) synopsis of the play, the submitter’s or submitters’’ name, campus address(es), phone number(s) and email(s).
- Contain five copies of the script—do not include name or contact information on the play texts.
Each submission will be evaluated by a panel of no fewer than three judges. Judges will evaluate each submission based upon its originality, continuity, suitability of content, organization and characterization. Special consideration will be given to those plays that apply the guidelines for submission in especially creative and innovative ways.
Based on the evaluation of the judges, no more than ten plays will be chosen for two performances on [insert dates]. If a submission is chosen for production:
- A volunteer director will be chosen to help stage the play. Playwrights may assist in choosing an appropriate director for their work, but OC Theatre retains the right to decline any suggestions regarding each script’s production.
- The playwright agrees that all revenue generated by the sale of tickets to view the final productions shall become the property of the theatre.
- The play will also be cast and designed by volunteer artists. This includes actors, scenic technicians and any other necessary back stage support. No artist that assists in the production of a submission will receive any direct compensation for their contribution.
The finalist submissions will be judged by an appointed panel of judges. The top three submissions will receive honors and prize support for their efforts.
FAQ Sheet:
Can I submit more than one play for competition?
The production team would like to see as many submissions as possible to increase the overall quality of our performances. Playwrights may submit as many plays as they wish for evaluation. The more the merrier.
I didn’t know about the competition until after the guidelines were already disclosed to participants: can I still submit a script?
The initial disclosure date of the deadlines has been established to give participants as long as possible to compose and revise their submissions. However, so long as a play is submitted by the final deadline, feel free to enter the competition at whatever point you wish. Come one, come all.
I have this great idea based on the prompt, but I don’t know how to write: can I get someone to help me?
Submissions can be written by more than one author if participants would like to collaborate in an idea. The production team does ask that each submission display every contributor on its title page.
I want to submit a script, but I’m also planning on acting in one of the finalist plays: can I do both?
Participants are invited to contribute at all points in our production process. Feel free to double your pleasure.
I want to participate in playwriting and directing: can I do both?
Participants may choose to both write and direct a script provided their play has been chosen for production and they have been selected to direct one of the performances. Participants chosen as both writers and director will have the option of directing their own script. If they decline, they will be assigned to direct another play.
I don’t quite understand. What is a “prompt” and what will it be?
The production team will disclose the prompt on 16 October 2007. Until that time, what the prompt will be has been left deliberately opaque in order to insure the contest receives only new submissions. Each playwright will use the prompt as a creative inspiration for developing and composing their script. As stated, special consideration will be extended to those scripts that find original, innovative ways to apply the prompt to their script.
Faculty Facts
Dr. Timothy VanWagoner, Professor of Biology, works at OC "to be a positive role model and mentor for students in order to encourage more people of faith to be actively engaged in the sciences." His research interests include pathogenicity factors in bacterial infectious diseases, bioinformatics, and bioethics.
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