Pride Films and Plays Announces LezPlay 2016 Programming

PFP's LezPlay Program, led by PFP Artistic Associate Amber Snyder and Company Member Carolyn Reynolds, announces plans for a full year of LezPlay programming in 2016.

*For the first time, PFP will sell an L Pass allowing admittance to two world premiere productions: Raggedy And by David Valdes Greenwood running March 10-April 10, 2016 at Rivendell Theater, and Resolution by Nancy Nyman and her wife Heather McNama, winner of the 2015 LezPlay Contest running in October 10 - November 10, 2016 also at Rivendell. L Passes will also provide entry to the summer and winter LezFests at Mary's Attic, two LezPlay Film Fests, and the five staged readings during LezPlay Weekend at Center On Halstsed. L passes are only $50 for one pass, $90 for two passes, or $160 for four passes, and can be purchased here.

*At the most recent LezPlay Film Festival, the audience favorite award went to Betty, by writer/director Kristiina Kello. In Betty, an elderly woman lives alone with her plants and memories. One day, a newspaper advertisement catches her eye which invites her to explore her past. We congratulate Kristiina and all the wonderful film makers who shared their work at the festival.

*Pride Films and Plays is excited to announce that submissions for the 2016 LezPlay Contest are now being accepted. The contest seeks stories for stage and screen with lesbian characters or themes, written by women-identified writers. Complete the online entry form at FilmFreeway.

We want stories that elevate and celebrate us, refine and redefine us. We want to introduce audiences to work that reflects, resonates with, and is relevant to their lives. We want stories that have a broad appeal, stories that will enable us to reach individuals of all ages and in all stages of life.

The winner of the 2015 LezPlay Contest was Resolution, a period drama by Nancy Nyman and Heather McNama in which a lesbian couple hide in plain sight. And while PFP makes no promises to produce the work of future contest winners or finalists, Resolution will receive its world premiere with PFP in October at Rivendell Theatre.

From March 1 to April 30, 2016, we welcome submissions of short and full-length scripts from writers who identify as women. Only scripts that have not been professionally produced are eligible. Scripts that have been submitted in the past are not eligible for re-submission.

Scripts will be judged by a panel of industry professionals including directors, artistic directors, filmmakers, playwrights, producers, literary managers, activists, educators, comediennes.

PFP will name ten semi-finalists and five finalists. The scripts that make the finals will be presented as staged readings during LezPlay Weekend, which will take place in Chicago at Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theatre from September 9-11, 2016. Writers whose work is selected for presentation will earn a cash prize of $400 for full-length scripts or $100 for shorts.

Complete the online entry form at FilmFreeway. The entry fee is $15 if the script is received by March 31. The entry fee is $30 if the script is received by April 30. Members of the Dramatists Guild are entitled to submit one (1) entry for free. To make the final deadline, scripts must be received by 11:59pm Central Time on April 30, 2016.

Writers may enter as many scripts as desired, but each entry form can be accompanied by only one (1) script. Each additional entry will require a separate entry form and separate entry fee. Only one free application for Dramatists Guild members may be submitted.

For complete details, click here.

The mission of Pride Films and Plays is to change lives through the generation of diverse new work (or work that is new to Chicago) with LGBTQ+ characters or themes that is essential viewing for all audiences. We accomplish this mission through fully-staged productions, writing contests and staged readings, film screenings, and special events. We foster long term relationships with artists to create programming that is as diverse, unique, and complex as the community we represent. In 2015, Huffington Post called PFP "A powerful and empowering entity."

PFP's current season began with Ten Dollar House at Piccolo Theatre earlier this year. It will continue with Raggedy And at Rivendell Theatre from March 10 to April 10, The Boys Upstairs at Mary's Attic from May 21 to July 2, another new work to be announced, and the world premiere of Resolution at Rivendell October 20 to November 20.

In addition, our script and screenplay development programs continue throughout the year at Center on Halsted, including Gay Play Weekend (April 22-24), LezPlay (October 7-9) featuring plays and screenplays written by women with lesbian characters or themes, and Gay Film Weekend (November 11-13) featuring LGBTQ+ screenplays and screenings.

Other special events include Boys in Briefs: At the Beach! is March 29, and April 26 at Uptown Underground. Queer Bits AltReels is April 25 at Public House Theatre. Nominee Night which celebrates all Chicago theater is May 17 at Sidetrack.

For more information, visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com, and for more about Pride Films and Plays' writing contests, visit pridefilmsandplays.com/industry-professionals/pfp-writing-contests.

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