Modern Works Festival

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Presented by Summer Wallace

Executive Producer: Tervis

Co-Producers: Deb Shoss & Libbie Sherman, Nanette Crist

October 8-13, 2019

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Click here for tickets to the festival.
Are you a student looking to participate in the student contest? Click here.

Questions? Email modernworks@urbanitetheatre.com.

Urbanite Theatre

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OFFICIAL RULES AND GUIDELINES

The submission window is now closed. Please join us next season.

We have reached the maximum number of submissions.

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Festival Performance Dates:

October 8-13, 2019

Sarasota, FL

Playwright Eligibility:

Seeking work from emerging and established female and female-identifying playwrights. Playwrights must be available to attend the festival in Sarasota, FL, including rehearsals, to be considered for selection (October 5 - 13) Travel and housing is provided.

No Entry Fee

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Festival Awards:

Winner $3,000 (1)

Finalist $500 (2)

Travel, housing and per diem provided for all three finalists.

Submission Rules and Requirements:

Interested playwrights are encouraged to read Urbanite’s mission statement and look at our production history to get an idea of the type of work we produce.  Urbanite Theatre will only consider submissions that meet the following criteria:

• Submissions must be from female or female-identifying playwrights.

• Playwrights must reside in the United States. 

• Plays must be unproduced and unpublished with limited development. 

• No musicals, translations, or adaptations.

• Full-length plays only (at least 60 minutes)

• Plays must require five performers or fewer.

• Quality, female-identifying roles must be well-represented.

• Plays must include a contact page and character breakdown.

• One submission per playwright.

• Any plays that do not follow these requirements will be dismissed.

• Playwrights must be available to attend festival, including rehearsals, in Sarasota to be considered for selection (October 5 - 13). Housing, transportation and per diem will be provided to finalists.

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Festival Rules and Guidelines:

• Three finalists will be chosen to participate in the Modern Works Festival. 

• Finalists will be selected by panel of readers and notified by Urbanite Theatre on August 19, 2019. 

• The volume of submissions will prevent us from providing individual feedback.

• ONLY finalist playwrights will be contacted. 

• Plays that have been previously submitted to the Urbanite Theatre or the Modern Works Festival are not eligible to be submitted again.

• Each finalist will receive the following: a professional director and cast, a table read, 12 rehearsal hours, a staged reading with a total of three public performances, and facilitated post-show talkbacks. 

• Each finalist play will be assigned a play development mentor to work with before, and during the festival.

• Finalist playwrights are required to participate, in person, at the festival, if selected. Travel will be provided ($600 transportation limit), and local housing within walking distance to the theatre will be provided. A car is not provided at this time.

• Playwrights are required to participate in the rehearsal process and attend the readings and talkbacks for their play.  

• Winner of festival will receive a $3,000 prize. 

• The two remaining finalists will each receive an award of $500.

• No other royalties or payments will be issued.

• Submissions will be capped after the first 300 scripts are received.

• Winner will be chosen by a group of panelists in conjunction with an audience vote and will be announced October 13, 2019. 

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Questions? Email modernworks@urbanitetheatre.com.


Festival History

2018 Winner: Mercedes White, The Space In Between

2018 Finalists: Gina Femia, The Violet Sisters. Jayne Hannah, Stalking.

2018 Guest Playwright: Martyna Majok

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