The New South Young Playwrights Festival focuses on the support and development of the next generation of American dramatists. Each summer we invite between 20 and 30 high school and college students to Horizon Theatre in Atlanta for week of residency filled with workshops, rehearsals, seminars, and readings with professional actors, directors, and dramaturgs.

We are currently seeking play submissions from high school, college and university students!

About the Festival

Students are invited to submit completed one-act plays for consideration in Horizon Theatre Company’s New South Young Playwrights’ Festival Contest. The contest has two divisions: High School (grades 9 – 12); and College (Full or part-time college students enrolled in academic year 2010 – 2011, under 25 years old). 20 – 30 playwrights will be selected to participate in the New South Young Playwrights’ Festival at Horizon Theatre Company in the Little Five Points area of Atlanta. This week-long festival will include playwriting workshops, seminars, and rehearsals with professional theatre actors, directors, and playwrights. Submitting playwrights must be available to come to Atlanta from May 28 through June 2. We are currently taking submissions through March 1, 2012.

The Festival

The week of the Festival consists of four days of residency, and the final day culminates in a performance of their work written during the week. Each playwright will be assigned a dramaturg whom they will be working with during the Festival.

Young playwrights will meet like-minded peers and colleagues, and participate in seminars aimed at their professional development. Past seminar leaders include dramaturgs, playwrights, college professors, literary directors, and artistic associates. Each playwright will have a portion of their submitted work read by professional actors living and working in Atlanta, and will have the ability to receive feedback from their peers and colleagues. Each evening there is a group excursion, often to see a performance in the Atlanta area. The last day of the Festival is a Short Play Festival, where the playwrights five-minute plays written during the week are performed by professional actors for family and friends.

The Festival is free for all participants; those selected from out-of-state will receive a travel stipend and housing. Lunch and dinner are provided for all playwrights, and the evening activities are donated to the Festival.

New South Young Playwrights alumni have received numerous productions of their work around the country since participating in the Festival. They have gone on to premier graduate programs and have become, among other professions, playwrights, screenwriters, producers, and actors.

How to Enter

**SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS March 1, 2012**

The choice of subject, style and form is up to you. High school scripts must be no longer than 20 minutes reading time. College scripts may be up to 60 minutes in length. Collaborations and group-written plays are eligible.

GUIDELINES:

  • If by US Mail, submit 2 typed and securely bound copies of your play.
  • If by email, please attach as a Word document.
  • Scripts will not be returned unless requested by the playwright.
  • If you would like your script returned to you, please send a SASE with your submission.
  • Filmscripts, screenplays, or adaptations of other authors’ works are not eligible.
  • On the title page of your play, list your name, address, city, state, zip, county, home phone number, email, date of birth, grade/level in school, division you are entering, school name, school address, and school phone.

HOW TO SEND YOUR ENTRY:

MAIL TO: New South Young Playwrights Contest
Horizon Theatre Company
PO Box 5376
Atlanta, GA 31107
EMAIL TO: ypf@horizontheatre.com and put “YPF Contest Submission” in the
subject line. If you have any questions,
please contact Jessica De Maria at ypf@horizontheatre.com.