Roots of the Bluegrass New Play Award
The 3rd Roots of the Bluegrass New Play Award competition has announced the semifinalist playwrights. Three finalists will be selected from the list of ten below. These three plays will receive staged readings at the 40th Annual Fall Conference in Madisonville Kentucky on November 11, 2011. Please plan to attend when the winning playwright will be announced at the end of the evening.2011 New Play Semifinalists
Osunnike Robin Scott
And I Love You Richard
Donna Phillips
Sumbahdee
Trish Ayers
Taking Stock
Clara Harris
View From the Pews
Elizabeth Orndorff
The Mantau Maker
Heidi Saunders
Feral Cats
Toni Wiley
Crossing the Line
Gary Eldridge
The Pictures
Richard Neumayer
Jonah the Reluctant Prophet
Philip Paradis
Soldier’s Christmas
2011 Rules and Regulations
The 3rd Roots of the Bluegrass New Play Award competition starts August 1, 2011. The annual contest which is open to all Kentucky playwrights, now includes a new category for musicals. The contest is free to all Kentuckians, including out-of-state residents, who resided in Commonwealth for a minimum of three years. Submission deadline is August 31, 2011.
- Plays must be written by either a current or past Kentucky resident. Former residents should have been residents of KY for at least 3 years. There are no age or previous experience prerequisites.
- The contest is FREE. Playwrights are encouraged to join KTA as a gesture of support for this writing program, which now encompasses all genres of theatre. Individual memberships are $20; students only $10. Join online at theatreky.org.
- Full-length plays are preferred, though shorter formats will be accepted. Scripts should not exceed 120 pages.
- Plays should be formatted in industry standard format and electronic submissions should be in either PDF or MS Word formats.
- To be considered, plays should have received no previous full production. Previous staged readings are acceptable and encouraged.
- Plays can be comedies, dramas, farces or anything in between. For musicals, please send book, text, script or libretto (including lyrics), but no scores or lead sheets. Do not send screenplays or teleplays as neither will be considered
- All plays should be submitted with a completed application form, a brief summary of the play and an author biography of no more than one page.
- Please do not list the author’s name in the header and footer of the actual script. The title and page number will suffice.
- If submitting a hard copy of the script, include a SASE if you wish the play returned. Send to KTA, c/o Bill Forsyth, PO Box 24081, Lexington, Ky. 40524.
- Electronic submissions and questions should be sent to: bill.forsyth@att.net
- Submission period ends 8/31/2011. Scripts postmarked or emailed after that date will not be considered.
- The KTA Playwriting Committee reserves the right to amend the rules of the contest or the eligibility of any contestant.
The Adjudication Process:
- 6 semi-finalists will be announced October 1, 2011. The KTA New Play committee will read, judge, and select the 6 semi-finalists.
- The 6 semi-finalists will be sent to 3 independent New Play Festival Judges, who will score the plays. KTA will use an aggregate scoring system to discern the 3 finalists.
- 3 finalists will be announced October 15, 2011. Finalists will be invited to attend the 2010 conference in Danville, with a selected stage reading presented for each finalist.
- The winning play will be announced at the KTA Fall Conference Awards Ceremony Saturday, November 12, 2011.
The winning playwright will receive a $250 cash prize, award plaque, and publicity.
All finalists will be offered a free hotel night in Madisonville KY, as well as free registration to the conference. In addition, KTA will promote all 3 works within its network of member theatres throughout the state via the website and newsletter.
2010 New Play Awards
Awarded at the 2010 KTA Statewide Conference in Danville, KY.
2nd Runner Up |
Pump Works |
Heidi Saunders |
1st Runner Up |
A Fine Year for Mushrooms |
Elizabeth Orndorff |
Best New Play |
Papa & Blue Angel |
Clarence T. Hettinger |