OCTA Announces Return Of New Works Playwright Competition

Olathe Civic Theatre Association (OCTA) is thrilled to announce it will once again host its New Works Playwright Competition for the second year in a row. A unique opportunity for local playwrights in the Kansas City Area (Jackson, Clay, Platte, or Cass counties) and Kansas, the competition-style event was a hit with both patrons and participants last season. The public aspect of the competition is comprised of two events: the finalist performances in March and the Winner Workshop performances in July.

OCTA requests submissions of 10-15 minute teasers of full-length plays from aspiring and established local playwrights. Of these, five finalists will be featured in a showcase where audience members will vote on the teaser they wish to see workshopped as a full play. Only submissions that have not previously been professionally produced will be considered, however scripts previously produced at the KC Fringe Festival will now be considered by the selection committee if the show ran 60 minutes or less in its original format. Playwrights are encouraged to e-mail competition chair, Andrew Joseph Brown, at OCTANewWorks@gmail.com for clarification as this is a change from last season and the original call for submissions this season.

Brown is thrilled that OCTA will bring back the competition: "OCTA provides a unique opportunity for local playwrights to get their name out in the community and have a chance to see a workshop performance of their production on stage." The winning play last season was Michelle Tyrene Johnson's The Green Book Wine Club Train Trip, which also received readings at National Black Theatre in New York City and at the new Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center.

The submission deadline is November 25, 2017. The New Works Playwright Competition finals will be held March 2-3, 2018 and the winner workshop is scheduled for July 13-14, 2018. Details can be found at http://olathetheatre.org/new-works-playwright-competition-call-for-submissions/.