Los Angeles' The Blank Theatre Company is now accepting submissions for its ninth annual "Young Playwrights Festival" through April 1. Winning plays will be produced by professional actors and directors in June, 2001.
The national competition is open to playwrights 19 or younger on April 1, 200l. There are no submission fees. Co-written plays are acceptable provided co- writers meet eligibility requirements. Limit three plays per playwright.
Between eight and twelve plays will reach the production level. To date, the Festival has produced over 80 plays by young playwrights since 1993. Each winning playwright will be assigned a mentor: a professional writer who will help the entrant hone his or her work for performance. Past mentors have included Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally, Gordon Hunt, Constance M. Barge, Nora Dunn, Garry Marshall and many others. The plays will then receive a fully staged workshop production performed by industry professionals.
Previous actors taking part in the Festival include Noah Wylie, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, James Marsters, Debra Messing, Jeremy Sisto, Richard Ruccolo and Edward Asner.
Submission must be postmarked by April 1 and must include a cover sheet with playwright's name, date of birth, school (if any), home address and home phone number. Manuscripts will not be returned; do not send originals.Send to Blank Theatre Co., Young Playwrights Festival, 1301 Lucile Ave., L.A., CA. 90026. For more information visit www.youngplaywrights.com
— By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent
