MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT

Submit here: https://jcal.submittable.com/submit/303017/meet-the-playwright-2024-2025

Deadline: Friday, September 6, 2024, at 5PM

The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) seeks four new, unpublished, unproduced plays by four grassroots, early-career, and/or emerging playwrights for the Meet the Playwright (MTP) program. 

MTP prioritizes writers identifying BIIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Immigrant, and People of Color) that are based in Queens. However, any NYC-based BIIPOC playwright is eligible. 

About MTP

Once accepted into MTP, each playwright meets monthly with the MTP's Project Manager and schedules two private readings of the play to take place at JCAL. Throughout their participation in MTP, each playwright is expected to engage fully, professionally, and with integrity in the development of their selected work. 

Each month, from November 2024 to February 2025, one of the playwrights will present at least 25 minutes and no more than 35 minutes of an excerpt from their play as a professional staged reading for an audience. The staged reading begins with an introduction to the playwright and play and concludes with a brief moderated Q&A in which the playwright discusses their work. 

Each playwright will receive a $2,000 Each playwright selected for MTP will receive a total fee of $2,000. With this fee, each playwright covers the cost of engaging a director, actors, and any other collaborator (e.g., dramaturg, designers) they wish.

Application & Selection Process

Playwrights may submit 10 pages of one play (only) for consideration by a panel of theatre professionals; a 200-word personal statement; a bio; and a resume (production history, if applicable).

The panel will select a group of semi-finalists who will be asked to send an electronic copy of their complete, full-length scripts. Semi-finalists will be notified by Friday, September 20, 2024.

The panel will choose a group of finalists for interviews with the MTP Project Manager and JCAL Leadership. Interviews will take place during the week of September 30, 2024. 

The playwrights selected for MTP will be notified during the week of October 7, 2024.

Application Materials (PDF or Word Only)

A. Script Sample 

Please upload a 10-page sample of the script from a full-length play. The pages don't have to come from the beginning of the play, but they must be 10 consecutive pages (the title page and character breakdown do not count toward the 10 pages).

B. Letter of Interest 

Please answer the question: "How will MTP further the development of your play and advance your goals as a playwright? in more than 250 words. 

C. Bio

Please upload a bio of no more than 250 words. Use the bio to introduce yourself, your goals, writing, accomplishments, and anything else you'd like JCAL to know about you.

D. Playwriting Resume (Production History, If Applicable)

Please upload your professional resume or production history of your work, if applicable.

All applications and materials MUST be submitted via the 'Submittable.com' link. Applications received by other methods including dropping off or handing to directly to Jamaica Center personnel will not be considered.

Contact:

Brenda Jones, Curator, MeetThePlaywright@gmail.com