Modern Works Festival
Presented by Summer Wallace
April 13-18, 2021
Our third annual playwriting contest, (virtual) reading festival and celebration of women in theatre.
Submit your play today.
Questions? Email modernworks@urbanitetheatre.com
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Apply now to the 2021
OFFICIAL RULES AND GUIDELINES
The deadline has now passed and we are no longer accepting submissions.
See you next year!
Festival Performance Dates:
April 13-18, 2021
All performances, rehearsals, talkbacks and discussions will be held virtually
Rehearsals/Recording Period: March 30 - April 6, 2021
Playwright Eligibility:
Seeking work from emerging and established female-identifying playwrights. Playwrights must be available to attend all festival rehearsals and talkbacks virtually: Rehearsals will take place via zoom March 30 - April 6. Performance talkbacks will take place April 13-18, 2021.
No Entry Fee
Festival Awards for Three Finalists:
Festival Grand Prize Winner: $3000
Second and Third place Finalists: $500 each
Submission Rules and Requirements:
Interested playwrights are encouraged to read Urbanite’s mission statement and familiarize themselves with our production history.
Urbanite Theatre will only consider submissions that meet the following criteria:
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Submissions must be from female-identifying playwrights.
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Playwrights must reside in the United States.
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Plays must be unproduced and unpublished with limited development.
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No musicals or translations.
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Full-length plays only (at least 60 minutes)
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Plays must require five performers or fewer.
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Quality, female-identifying roles must be well-represented.
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Plays must include a contact page and character breakdown.
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One submission per playwright, per festival.
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Any plays that do not follow these requirements will be dismissed.
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Playwrights must be available to attend festival virtually, including rehearsals (Rehearsals: March 30 - April 6)
Festival Rules and Guidelines:
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Three finalists will be chosen to participate in the Modern Works Festival.
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Finalists will be selected by panel of readers and notified by Urbanite Theatre on February 15, 2021.
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The volume of submissions will prevent us from providing individual feedback.
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All participants (including actors, directors, stage managers and designers) will be compensated
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Only finalist playwrights will be contacted.
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Plays that have been previously submitted to Urbanite Theatre or the Modern Works Festival are not eligible to be submitted again.
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Each finalist will receive the following: a paid, professional director and cast, a table read, 12 rehearsal hours, a recorded staged reading with a total of three performances, and facilitated post-show talkbacks.
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Each finalist play will be assigned a play development mentor to work with before, and during the festival.
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Playwrights are required to participate in the rehearsal process and attend the readings and talkbacks for their play (all virtual).
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Winner of festival will receive a $3000 prize
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The two remaining finalists will each receive an award of $500
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No other royalties or payments will be issued.
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Submissions will be capped after the first 300 eligible scripts are received.
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Winner will be chosen by a group of panelists in conjunction with an audience vote and will be announced February 19, 2021.
Deadline to Submit: January 4, 2021
Questions? Email modernworks@urbanitetheatre.com.
Festival History
2019 Winner: Sam Collier, Daisy Violet The Bitch Beast King
2019 Finalists: Carey Crim, The Last Broadcast. Marjorie Muller, Regular.
2019 Guest Playwright: Lauren Yee
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
