Living Literature Festival: January 2012

Horatio Alger

Deadline – September 30, 2011

Submit

Metropolitan Playhouse presents its 7th Annual Living Literature Festival, devoted to Horatio Alger.

WHAT
Scheduled for January 16th through January 29th, 2012, the festival is a collection of new plays celebrating the spirit of the artist who made a cultural touchstone of the term “rags to riches”. Horatio Alger became famous in America promoting a popular myth of opportunity for all, and but also against a backdrop of self-made millionaires challenging an entrenched social order. For their promise or their threat, his boys’ adventure stories were inspirations to many readers. Adaptations of Horatio Alger’s works, biographical pieces exploring his life, or works inspired by/critical of what has become known as the Horatio Alger Myth are all welcome.

HOW IT WORKS
The annual festival is a co-production of Metropolitan Playhouse and the participating artists.  Metropolitan will curate, host, and promote the festival, while the participants will create and perform the plays in the festival.  Proceeds will be divided between Metropolitan and the participants.

WHO CAN SUBMIT
Submissions are welcome from individual artists and performance companies alike.  Co-producers will take responsibility for conceiving and creating their contribution to the festival, with use of Metropolitan’s space and physical resources.  Metropolitan will coordinate and promote the festival as a part of its 20th Season.

WHAT KIND OF WORK
Submissions may be twenty-minute plays, one-acts, or full length performances (though no longer than 1 hour and 45 minutes.) There are no restrictions concerning style.  Adaptations, biographies, fantasies, and treatises, as well as song/poetry/dance cycles will all be considered.  Selection by Metropolitan Playhouse will be based on artistic quality, feasibility of production, relationship to literature of Horatio Alger, and suitability for the venue.

However: 
No scripts alone!  Please note, we are seeking submissions of performances which we will co-produce.  We are NOT seeking scripts for Metropolitan to produce. We will not provide directors or actors for productions.

And plays from the period will receive lowest consideration. This festival is particularly devoted to new theater pieces inspired by non-theatrical writing.

Guidelines

Submissions will be accepted by e-mail or snail mail, and must include:

  1.  Cover sheet with
    •     Name of Company/Artist taking responsibility for producing the work
    •     Project Title
    •     Author, Person, or Subject who inspired the work (and specific titles of inspiring works, as applicable)
    •     Performance Length (Max. 1 hr, 45 min.  This is extremely important for scheduling.)
    •     Contact Person
    •     Telephone Contact
    •     E-mail Contact
  2. Project narrative of no more than 2 pages
  3. Key artist biographies and, if applicable, company history
  4. Sample text (may be the script for the proposed performance or a comparable work by the key artist(s))

Submission Deadline: September 30 , 2011

Visit the website:  http://metropolitanplayhouse.org/index
 Mail to:
Metropolitan Playhouse
220 E. 4th Street
New York, NY  10009
Attn: Living Literature

E-mail to:
alger@metropolitanplayhouse.org