|
Playwright
Conference Seeking Submissions
October
Deadline Approaching
Word comes from Connecticut that The O'Neill Playwrights Conference
is accepting new play submissions for its summer of 2003 conference through
October 1, 2002.
Each
summer, theater leaders and innovators from around the country meet at
the Conference to support new work for the stage, engage in a vital exchange
of ideas and empower playwrights. Playwrights who are selected come together
for a month-long residency at the theater to participate in a six-day
workshop for each play, including rehearsals and two script-in-hand
readings.
Writers who apply to the Playwrights Conference undergo a three-part
selection process. A group of more than eighty readers, comprised
of theater professionals from around the country, reads first excerpts
of scripts with supplemental application materials. Then, based on review
of the initial application, a number of complete drafts of scripts are
requested and reviewed for consideration before progressing to the final
selection.
Conference
participants represent a wide range of experience from playwrights working
on a first play to Broadway veterans. Directors and actors have also worked
on and off Broadway, in regional theaters and represent emerging artists
and seasoned professionals.
Artistic Director James Houghton commented, "At
the O'Neill, writers are celebrated. The plays here come to life within
a vibrant community alongside more than a dozen other new plays in different
stages of development. We offer writers an environment conducive to creativity,
whether they are working on their project-in-residence or thinking about
an idea for the future, and we offer those who support them the opportunity
to discover new work and connect to the world in different ways."
More than 570 plays have evolved at the O'Neill since
the Playwrights Conference began in 1965. Last year, nearly 700
playwrights applied, and 20 were invited for residencies.
Not all writers-in-residence present public readings of their work. Several
writers attend each year to work on special projects which are not necessarily
presented during their stay. Conference participants also have access
to discussions with a variety of guest speakers: this past summer's All
Conference Series included O'Neill Puppetry Conference Artistic Director
Pam Arciero and puppeteer Martin P. Robinson;
Dean of the Yale School of Drama and Artistic Director of Yale Repertory
Theatre James Bundy; playwrights Horton Foote
and A.R. Gurney; wood sculptor Roger
Foster; actor and mime Bill Irwin and scientists
from Pfizer Inc. "We strive to make the Conference
a vital national exchange of artists and of ideas and issues facing writers
and the field at large," Houghton added.
Submissions to this year's Conference must be postmarked by October 1,
2002. Playwrights interested in applying may call 212-244-7008
ext. 15, visit the O'Neill website at www.oneilltheatercenter.org
for an on-line application or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope
to:
O'Neill Playwrights Conference / 2003 Submissions
534 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, founded in 1964 and
based in Waterford CT, is dedicated to the advancement of new work for
the theater and creates and operates programs which complement that goal.
These include the Puppetry Conference, Playwrights Conference,
Critics Institute, Music Theater Conference and the National
Theater Institute, a college-accredited training program for
theater artists.
The
O'Neill also owns and operates the Monte Cristo Cottage
and holds the annual Eugene O'Neill Celebration, honoring
its namesake, every October.
See
related O'Neill story.
-- OnStageBoston
09/01/02
|
|
