First submission received for 2010

This past Sunday, August 23, we received the first submission for the NJ Young Playwrights Festival 2010! What is additionally exciting is that the script was for the all new Podstages division for high school students.

So, if you've got your play ready, don't wait for the school year to start. You can submit a script by visiting the Festival website at www.njypf.org. Be sure to follow the submission procedures carefully as they are all new for this year.

We're looking forward to reading your play!

Speaking at the AATE / ATHE Conference

Since Saturday, I have been attending the joint AATE/ATHE conference in New York. These organizations are communities of theatre educators and practicioners at all levels of education throughout North America. It has been great meeting other artist/educators and discussing their work. I had the priviledge to speak on a Debut panel about my work with you young playwrights through the local and statewide Festivals conducted by Playwrights Theatre. This afternoon I will speak on one more panel. I will share the table with playwrights and teachers from all over the country as we discuss our different methods of developing new work for and by youth in elementary school up through college.

There are a lot of opportunities out there for you to explore. I hope to have some of that information to you in the next few weeks. In the meantime, the new NJYPF website has been fully updated - www.njypf.org - Take a look and happy writing!

ALL NEW NJYPContest/Festival!

The NJ Young Playwrights Contest/Festival has done some retooling for 2010! There is a new web address, a new division, new submission guidelines, and a new process for submitting your work. You can check it all out at http://www.njypf.org.

NEW SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
The biggest change for NJYPF 2010 is the submission process. We are now accepting scripts via internet submission. Plays MUST be written in MS Word or a PDF document to be eligible.

PLEASE NOTE!: Word documents should be saved as .doc files. We are not currently able to open .docx files.

The other submission guidelines have also changed considerably. Please be sure to check those out on the website before submitting your script.

NEW DIVISION
Podstages is a division for students in grades 10-12 to submit original radio dramas. The format for a radio drama is different from the play script format. A sample of each is provided on the website.

PLEASE NOTE!: A plays may only be submitted to one division. If you write a play for the HS division, that play CANNOT be reformatted and submitted in the Podstages division, and vice versa.

Scripts for the High School, Rewrites, and Podstages divisions are due by 11:59 pm on Friday, January 8, 2010.

Scripts for the Junior HS and Elementary divisions are due by 11:59 pm on Friday, January 15, 2010.

GET STARTED!
Contest brochures will be sent to schools at the beginning of October, but you can begin writing your play now. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Happy writing!