Modern Works Festival

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Presented by Summer Wallace

April 13-18, 2021

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Our third annual playwriting contest, (virtual) reading festival and celebration of women in theatre.

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Submit your play today.

Questions? Email

Apply now to the 2021 

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OFFICIAL RULES AND GUIDELINES

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The deadline has now passed and we are no longer accepting submissions. 

See you next year!

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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

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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:

• Submissions must be from female-identifying playwrights.

• Playwrights must reside in the United States. 

• Plays must be unproduced and unpublished with limited development. 

• No musicals or translations.

• 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, per festival.

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

• Playwrights must be available to attend festival virtually, including rehearsals (Rehearsals: March 30 - April 6)

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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 February 15, 2021. 

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

• All participants (including actors, directors, stage managers and designers) will be compensated

• Only finalist playwrights will be contacted. 

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

• 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. 

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

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

• Winner of festival will receive a $3000 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 eligible scripts are received.

• Winner will be chosen by a group of panelists in conjunction with an audience vote and will be announced February 19, 2021.

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Deadline to Submit: January 4, 2021

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Questions? Email .


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

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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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