ScriptFEST 2013 Submissions

web site

ScriptFEST, SART’s annual playwrights’ competition, typically receives 150-200 scripts each year. SART volunteers read each submitted script, and those recommended for further review are read again by a committee of theatre professionals. Once all scripts have been reviewed, SART invites up to six playwrights to the annual conference to hear their plays read by professional actors and theatre arts students. Playwrights join the directors, actors, and audiences in discussions and critiques following each reading. One script may be considered by SART to be included and fully produced in an upcoming summer season.

SART’s Annual Playwrights’ Conference is free and open to the public; all are welcome to attend. Playwrights invited to participate in the Conference receive room and board while attending. If a play is chosen for production by SART, it will be scheduled for a one to three week run in the historic Owen Theatre on the campus of Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, North Carolina during June, July or August of one of the subsequent years. The author will receive a $1,000 honorarium plus room and board.

Submission Guidelines

The submission period of scripts for ScriptFEST 2013 will be August 1, 2012 through September 30, 2012. Scripts postmarked before August 1st or after September 30th will not be eligible. Email submissions will not be accepted.

We welcome your submission and hope the following information will answer your questions. If you need more information, please send an email to scriptfest@mhc.edu or call the SART business office at 828-689-1384.

-New scripts of full-length plays and musicals in English that have not been published nor fully produced, either professionally or by community and/or educational theatres. -No One-Acts. No Children’s Plays. Scripts that have gone through a developmental process or other readings are eligible.
-Playwrights may submit only one title each submission period.
-Excerpts and summaries will not be accepted without the FULL script.No film or television scripts, translations or adaptations.
-Adaptations of novels and short stories are acceptable. -Adaptations of movies and stage scripts are not acceptable.
-If you have submitted a particular title in a previous year, it may be submitted again if and only if you have made significant revisions to the script since it was last submitted. It would be best if you explained this in a cover letter so we wouldn’t have to contact you for verification.
-No scripts will be returned.
Submission Requirements:
-TWO “hard” copies of script on white paper are required. One or two-sided paper format is the author’s choice. All pages much be standard 3-hole punched, or better yet, in a binder.
-Synopsis Page(s) (optional) inserted directly behind the Title Page containing play synopsis, character descriptions, and other notes.
-Do not have the author’s name and/or other identifying information anywhere on the title page, synopsis or pages of the script. If you do, your submission may not be accepted!
-Provide one additional and separate Title Page that includes the author’s name, contact information, date, etc.
Author’s Resume, or detailed background information.
-If you include a cover letter, DO NOT include synopsis, notes, or other important information in the letter. Anything you want the reviewers to read must be included on the inserted synopsis page(s) of the scripts.
Other Information:
-Musicals should also include a score and/or a recording of at least four songs on CD or cassette. Only one score/recording is necessary.
-If you wish notification of receipt of your submission, please include a postage-paid card for us to return to you.
-SART will contact you by email if your submission is not chosen as a finalist. If you would prefer postal mail notification, you must provide a self-addressed stamped envelope with your submission.
Submit to:
SART ScriptFEST
P.O. Box 1720
Mars Hill, NC 28754-1720
(Use the U.S. Postal Service, as UPS will not deliver to PO boxes.)