CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: AFRO-LATINX ANTHOLOGY
Alan Pelaez
INFO: Editor Alan Pelaez Lopez invites contributions to a multi-genre anthology (Title TBA) of contemporary queer and trans Afro-Latinx writers on memory, care, and futurity published by a notable University Press with a slated publication date of 2021.
This collection of writings will serve as a living archive of contemporary literature by queer and trans Afro-Latinx writers. By “Afro-Latinx,” we mean writers who are Black of Latin American and Caribbean descent. This anthology aims to push the boundaries of how we think, accept, deny, or play with the concept of “Latinx.” The final project will not be a survey of recent literature but a gesture towards an Afro-Latinx aesthetic informed by differently Black experiences. Latin America and the Caribbean, as landscapes, as imagined communities, and as diasporic analytics are continually shapeshifting. Black people in, of, and from Latin America, the Caribbean, and their diasporas are at the heart of this shapeshifting, but the literature of Afro-Latinx writers is— similarly to Black people across the continent— policed, surveilled, and organized by non-Black entities. This anthology seeks to open, nuance and challenge narratives made about us without us. The anthology is not an explanation of what it means to be a queer and/or trans Black person of Latin American and/or Caribbean descent, but a dialogue of how we work with, through, and against memory, care, and futures.
The anthology seeks to answer:
How do queer and/or trans Black writers from Latin America, the Caribbean and their diaspora(s) address memory? How do queer and trans embodiments help us understand and/or question the past, the present, and construct a Black queer and trans future?
How does Blackness remember geographies we are no longer inhabiting, those we never inhabited, and those we may never know?
What are the textures of caring, being cared for, and accepting care as Black queer and/or trans people?
What are the uses of care, love, intimacy, and kinship in queer and/or trans Black spaces?
And, how do our genders, sexualities, sexual performances, and rejections of all three serve as worldbuilding embodiments for the future?
Mediums:
Creative non-fiction (15 pages max)
Fiction (15 pages max)
Poetry (Send 3-5 poems, no more than 7 pages)
Comics (15 pages max—you can send text submission if it’s not inked yet, or send a full first draft)
Plays and choreopoems (15 pages max)
Performance essays / documentation (20 pages max including images—you must have permission to use all images submitted.)
What we are looking for from contributors:
We are looking for new work (or pieces that have not appeared in a full-length collection that you have retained the rights to) that address memory, care and futures. All work must be submitted in English and you must be open to working with an editor. Pieces that utilize other languages are welcome as long as the piece is primarily in English. This anthology will not publish work that considers Blackness as a monolithic experience. All published writings will receive a modest honorarium.
Submissions:
Please include your name, contact info, and a 50-word bio.
DEADLINE: December 1, 2020
http://www.alanpelaez.com/afro-latinx-anthology/
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2021 NATIONAL LATINX PLAYWRITING AWARD
Arizona Theatre Company
INFO: Submissions for the 2021 National Latinx Playwriting Award are now open. Latinx playwrights residing in the United States, its territories or Mexico are encouraged to submit scripts for the award. Each script will be read and evaluated by a culturally diverse panel of theatre artists; finalists will be judged by ATC artistic staff.
We have extended the submission deadline for the 2021 National Latinx Playwriting Award to December 1, 2020.
Submission Procedure
We respectfully ask that you adhere to the following application requirements:
Submit a single script electronically or via U.S. mail if you prefer.
All submissions must be received by December 1, 2020. Please include a title page on the script that includes the play’s title, the author’s name, and contact information (including a phone number, mailing address, and email).
Include a cover letter of no more than one page, describing the play’s developmental history, and how the play fits into the playwright’s broader career trajectory.
Submit manuscripts to:
OR
National Latinx Playwriting Award
ATTN: Elaine Romero, Playwright-in-Residence
Arizona Theatre Company
343 S. Scott Ave. Tucson, AZ 85701
Eligibility
The award is open to all Latino playwrights currently residing in the United States, its territories, or Mexico.
Scripts may be in English, English and Spanish, or solely in Spanish. (Spanish-language and bilingual scripts must be accompanied by an English translation.)
Plays must be unpublished, professionally unproduced, and not currently under option at the time of submission.
Full-length and one-act plays (minimum length: 50 pages) on any subject will be accepted.
Scripts
The physical scripts become the property of Arizona Theatre Company and will not be returned. In this case, “property” means the physical property of the theatre, not the intellectual property or any rights to the play.
The winner will be notified by Fall 2021.
For more information contact Elaine Romero, ATC Playwright-in Residence: info@arizonatheatre.org.
DEADLINE: Extended to December 1, 2020
https://arizonatheatre.org/national-latino-playwriting-award/
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MANY VOICES FELLOWSHIPS
Playwrights' Center
INFO: The Many Voices Fellowship is intended to support early career Black playwrights, playwrights of color, and/or Indigenous playwrights who demonstrate extraordinary potential, artistic vision, and a commitment to spending a year in residence in Minnesota developing their work with the Playwrights' Center in community with other fellows. The fellowship is additionally supported by a professional theater artist mentor. Past mentors include Martine Green-Rogers, Christina Ham, Daniel Alexander Jones, and Mark Valdez.
AWARD: Many Voices Fellows will receive an $18,000 stipend and $2,500 in development support. Fellows spend a year-long residency in Minnesota (July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022), working in an individualized and hands-on way with the Playwrights' Center artistic staff—some of the most experienced and connected theater professionals in the country. Beyond the financial stipend, the value of fellowships is more than doubled with the year-long support the Playwrights' Center adds through workshops with professional directors, dramaturgs, and actors and through the connections the Center makes between playwrights and producers of new work. This holistic and customized combination of financial support, connections with other artists, and professional connections is career-changing for most playwrights.
ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must reside in, and have the legal right to work in, the U.S. during the fellowship term. Applicants may not have had more than one play fully produced by professional theaters at the time of the application. (Note for 2020: If you had a production that was canceled or postponed due to COVID-19, that does not count when determining eligibility. Even if the play technically opened before cancellation, you do not need to count that production, so you will still be eligible for this fellowship. Please be sure to mark cancellations or postponements clearly on your resume.) Fellows commit to spending the fellowship period in Minnesota and actively participated in the Center's programs. Housing and travel are not provided. Playwrights may not receive more than two Many Voices Fellowships. A previous Many Voices Fellow applying for a second fellowship must submit a different play than the play that accompanied the previous successful application. Recipients may not receive other Playwrights' Center fellowships during the year.
The Many Voices Fellowship was created in 1994 in partnership with the Jerome Foundation in order to create a home for early career playwrights of color and Indigenous playwrights who would provide the American theater scene with diverse voices and aesthetics. Since that time, the Many Voices program has provided over 140 fellowships for more than 100 early career playwrights, offering class instruction, play development workshops, and mentoring opportunities. Many Voices fellowship recipients include Marvin González De León, Jessica Huang, Naomi Iizuka, Candrice Jones, Daniel Alexander Jones, Aditi Kapil, Janaki Ranpura, Josh Wilder, Harrison David Rivers, Aamera Siddiqui, Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay, and Kit Yan. In response to a national field study commissioned by the Playwrights' Center and the Jerome Foundation, the Many Voices Fellowships was significantly expanded in the 2013-14 fellowship year, offering a doubled award and opening to writers residing outside of Minnesota.
DEADLINE: December 3, 2020 at 11:59pm CST
https://pwcenter.org/programs/many-voices-fellowships
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MCKNIGHT NATIONAL RESIDENCY AND COMMISSION
Playwrights' Center
INFO: The intent of the McKnight National Residency and Commission is to support an established playwright from outside of Minnesota who demonstrates a sustained body of work, commitment, and artistic excellence. The Recipient of the Residency and Commission will create a new play which will be developed with the Playwrights' Center through a series of workshops and will culminate in a public reading of the play.
AWARD: Recipients will not move to Minnesota but will have opportunities to engage with local artists and the Playwrights' Center staff and fellows throughout their term (July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022). One of the goals of this program is to create dialogue between Minnesota-based artists and those outside of the community. Benefits include: A $15,000 commission, up to $12,250 in workshop funds to support the development of the play, and a public reading. Past recipients include: Kia Corthron, Erik Ehn, Idris Goodwin, Karen Hartman, Daniel Alexander Jones, Sibyl Kempson, Taylor Mac, Dan O'Brien, Heather Raffo, Betty Shamieh, and Mfoniso Udofia.
ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must reside in and have the legal right to work in the U.S. Applicants must be nationally recognized playwrights who have had at least two different plays fully produced by professional theaters at the time of application. (Note for 2020: If you had a production that was canceled or postponed due to COVID-19, that does count when determining eligibility. Even if the play was canceled before opening, you may count that production, so you will still be eligible for this fellowship. Please be sure to mark productions that were canceled/postponed as professional productions on your resume.) Minnesota-based playwrights are not eligible for this award. Recipients of the 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 McKnight Artist Fellowships in any discipline are not eligible. Full-time students are not eligible. Staff and board members of the McKnight Foundation and the Playwrights' Center of their immediate families are not eligible. Recipients may not receive any other Playwrights' Center fellowships or Core Writer benefits during the grant year. If a recipient is a Core Writer, their Core term will be extended by one year. Applicants may only apply for one McKnight Artist Fellowship each year in any discipline. Recipients must create a new play according to the terms of the contract.
DEADLINE: December 10, 2020, at 11:59pm CST
https://pwcenter.org/programs/mcknight-national-residency-and-commission
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2020 FICTION PODCAST CONTEST
Shore Scripts
INFO: Podcasts are kind of a big deal! Over 100 million people in USA listen to at least one Podcast a month and that rate is increasing by 20 million year on year. Fiction podcasts are taking a century’s worth of entertainment in radio plays and pushing the boundaries to tell stories in fresh and innovative ways, quickly becoming the fastest-growing sub-section of this booming industry. Many writers, including our Judges, have forged successful careers for themselves through Podcasts. Hollywood’s taking notice too! More and more of these shows are being adapted for Televsion: Homecoming, Limetown, Carrier, Left Right Game & LORE to name but a few.
The beauty of the fiction Podcast format is that it allows you as a writer to be completely free to tell the story you wish to tell, without having to factor in the budgetary constraints of filmmaking. Our Podcast Contest offers more in funding and prize money than any other.
In collaboration with our winning writers, Shore Scripts will produce both episodes, making use of our industry connections to find talented cast and crew. We will look to attach a named actor/actress to each episode to further elevate the show and draw in a larger audience. Once both episodes are live, we will contact commissioners in an attempt to greenlight the series. The writers have final say on all potential commissioning offers.
This is a great opportunity to get your work commissioned and voice heard in this ever-growing industry. You don’t even need to write an episode from scratch. Perhaps you have a screenplay, novel or stageplay that could be adapted to fit this medium. Read our How to Adapt my Screenplay into a Podcast for some pointers.
We accept screenplay, radio and stageplay format. Check out our Rules and FAQ’s for all the info.
AWARD:
Two winners will be chosen to have their pilot scripts produce, each with a budget of $5,000
Plus, each winner will also receive $1000 Cash!
DEADLINES:
Regular - December 18, 2020
Final - January 21, 2021
https://filmfreeway.com/ShoreScriptsFictionPodcastContest
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CALL FOR SCRIPTS: New Play Festival 2021
KC Melting Pot Theatre
INFO: KC Melting Pot Theatre (Kansas City, MO) is calling for original, full length plays by Black playwrights. The play should be a new work with no production history (readings are acceptable). Last year we saw our inaugural festival end with both the first place and second place winner being selected for a full production as part of our 2020-2021 season which will resume in February 2021. This year, we will narrow down the pieces we receive to three finalists. The finalists will have their work performed as a staged reading during our New Play Festival July 9 – 11, 2021. From these pieces, one winner will be chosen to receive a workshop production in 2022.
This is a development opportunity, which means it is our goal to provide a platform and support system to emerging playwrights that will ensure they end up writing the exact story they set out to tell. The development process for the winning play will include table readings with seasoned actors and experienced directors, Q &A sessions between the cast and playwright and a fully rehearsed show culminating in a workshop production that will incorporate at least two talkbacks with the audience. There are no restrictions on theme and the play can be a comedy, drama, futuristic, abstract, or otherwise experimental piece. We are not accepting musicals, children shows nor one person shows at this time.
TO SUBMIT: 1 – Email your play to newplays@kcmeltingpot.com. 2 – The play should be either a Word or pdf document in 12pt font. Preferably Times New Roman or New Courier. 3 – Please do not submit a resume or bio. All we need is the script. The script should include a title page with your name and email address, a breakdown of the cast (name age, race/ethnicity, gender if these items matter) and numbered pages. 4 – Please include a 3-5 sentence synopsis of the play.
DEADLINE: December 31, 2020
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New World Theatre
New World Theatre acknowledges that there is a crisis of understanding and awareness that is deeply rooted in our history of racism, and if we are ever going to fully dismantle the institutions of systemic racism, we need to stop... and listen to those who continue to suffer simply because they are black. We can no longer afford to ignore what is happening to our fellow human beings, which is why we are creating a collection of monologues that will give voice to those who can no longer remain silent. Through the power of writing and theatre, we can do our part to amplify the stories of systemic racism and raise the level of awareness and understanding to effect meaningful change in the human heart.
This is an open call to black writers to submit monologues that reflect their personal experience of living while black. The selected works will be published in an anthology entitled, 08:46.
All the profits from the sale of the publication will be split between the contributing writers and charitable organizations that are committed to dismantling systemic racism.
Submission Guidelines:
Only submissions from black writers will be accepted.
One submission per writer.
The monologue may be part of a larger work or a stand-alone piece.
Deadline for submissions is January 1, 2021
We thank you for using the power of the written word to share your experience, and we greatly look forward to hearing your voice.
https://www.newworldtheatre.org/08m46s/
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ONGOING
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Theatre [Untitled]
INFO: We are seeking original plays or musicals that celebrate stories not yet told on stage and uplift underrepresented people. Women, BIPOC, and LQBTQ+ strongly encouraged to submit. We are always looking for new pieces to produce. We are committed to exposing up and coming playwrights and their works.
If you would like to submit your play to us, please email theatreuntitled@theatreuntitled.com with the subject line "New Play Submission" with:
Your play as a PDF and
Tell us a little about yourself and your artistic viewpoint in the body of the email.
DEADLINE: Ongoing
http://www.theatreuntitled.com
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EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS FUND
Audible
INFO: In 2017, Audible launched a theater initiative, intended to radically increase access to exceptional plays and performances. A core pillar of the initiative is the Emerging Playwrights Fund, a program that invests in and nurtures self-identifying emerging playwrights, some of our most inventive, delightful, and provocative storytellers. Through the Fund, Audible aims to connect extraordinary performers with remarkable original work, amplifying new voices and harnessing the power and potential of audio to reach millions of listeners.
The Fund specifically supports the creation of original dramatic work, written with audio in mind, but theatrical in spirit. If you are looking to submit an idea for an audio project that is not a play, please visit www.audible.com/pitch.
Audible is dedicated to commissioning, developing, and producing work that reflects the diversity of our members and our world. To accomplish this, Audible is committed to granting at least 50% of emerging playwright commissions to artists of color and women.
GUIDELINES:
To be considered as an applicant for a commission, please submit all of the following to AudibleTheater@audible.com:
1. One full-length script for an original or adapted play (in English language only) that represents your voice ("Script"). The Script can be in any genre and may include one-acts and solo pieces;
2. A short biography; and
3. A brief statement about why audio plays appeal to you.
If you have an idea for an original audio play, you are welcome to include a pitch or summary along with your statement (this is encouraged, but not required).
ELIGIBILITY: Any applicant over the age of 18 may submit a Script. Employees or independent contractors, or immediate family members (spouses, domestic partners, parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and grandchildren) or those living in the same household of employees or independent contractors of Audible Inc., Amazon or any entity involved in any aspect of the Theater Fund may not submit a Script for consideration, unless it is determined by Audible in its sole discretion in accordance with Audible’s then current policies and procedures that no conflict of interest exists in connection with accepting the relevant submission for consideration.
CONDITIONS: All submissions must be the original creations of the applicants. By submitting a Script, each applicant represents and warrants that: (a) the submitted work is his/her 100% original creation, (b) the submitted work will not violate or infringe the rights (including copyrights and rights of privacy and publicity) of any other person or party, and (c) all materials and elements comprising the submitted work are exclusively owned or controlled by the applicant. Audible may determine, in its sole discretion, that an applicant is ineligible to submit a work for consideration if these requirements, and others described in these Guidelines, are not satisfied to Audible’s satisfaction.
Applicants understand and acknowledge that (i) Audible is in the business of developing and distributing content, (ii) Audible receives numerous submissions (both from outside and from within Audible) of content ideas and creative materials, (iii) Audible is continually developing ideas, formats, shows, stories, concepts, artwork, music, and the like, and (iv) content developed or distributed by Audible may resemble, be similar to, or contain identical material or elements found in works submitted to Audible for consideration. By submitting a project via this program, each applicant understands and agrees that Audible is not prohibited or restricted from developing or distributing content that may contain elements similar or identical to an applicant’s submission, and Audible will not be obligated to any applicant in any manner if such similar or identical elements were developed or obtained by Audible either independently or from sources other than the applicant’s submitted work.
DEADLINE: Submissions are accepted year-round. Due to the number of Scripts that Audible receives, Audible will only consider one Script at a time from each applicant and will not consider resubmissions, including those that have been significantly revised. The Audible team evaluates submissions on a rolling basis, and applicants will be notified regarding the status of their submissions via email. Thanks in advance for your patience while we process your Script; our typical response time is 6-8 months.