Thespy Playwriting
This program is an opportunity for Georgia Thespians to see their original scripts workshopped at Georgia Thespian Conference. One or two submitted selection(s) will be chosen to participate in a staged reading, including an audience talkback session at ThesCon.
Eligibility
Writers must be inducted Thespians enrolled in high school during the current school year and registered to attend the upcoming Georgia Thespian Conference.
Submission Guidelines
- Plays must be the original work of a single Thespian writer. Collaborative works or adaptations won’t be considered, nor will plays that include music, lyrics, or dialogue written by anyone other than the submitting writer.
- Plays can be about any subject but should have a running time of up to 10 minutes (approximately ten typed pages).
- Playwrights should adhere to the modern stage play format linked under resources.
- Playwrights should include a title page and a cast list. The title page and cast list do not count as script pages.
- Writers may submit more than one play for consideration.
- Judging criteria is based on play structure, characterization, and dialogue.
Once registration materials are submitted and payment is made, troupe directors should email scripts to playwriting@gathespians.org. Finished scripts must be emailed by the registration deadline.
Script Support
Teachers and students are welcome to utilize the Playwriting Unit Plan as a tool to get started writing. This unit plan aligns with the Georgia Standards of Excellence in both the theatre courses and the Dramatic Writing course. The unit is designed for new and emerging playwrights to build the skills that are essential for creating successful plays. It consists of writing exercises and smaller projects that culminate in the writing of a one act play suitable for admission in the Thespy Playwriting event.
Thespy Playwriting Event at Conference
One or two selected pieces from submitted works will be presented as a live staged reading at the conference. The playwright(s) will be contacted in December and announced at the January LeadCon. The lead committee member for the event will collaborate with volunteer actors to bring the text to life. Audience members will observe the readings and participate in a guided talk-back. The reading and talk-back process may be attended by any conference attendee.
Rights
Your work is protected by copyright from the moment it is created. As the writer, you own the play and have exclusive control of the rights to produce, publish, and adapt it. By submitting your script for this event, you are agreeing to allow Georgia Thespians to mount a staged reading of your play. All other rights remain the exclusive property of the playwright.
Qualification for ITF
Thespy playwriting participants receiving a Superior rating will be eligible to submit their plays to the International Thespian Festival national event held in the summer. It is the responsibility of the troupe director to register eligible students for this event.