Deadline Approaching for The Theatre Project's Short Play Competition

The Theater Project, an award-winning, professional theater in Maplewood, NJ, is now soliciting short plays for "Think Fast," its fifth annual short play competition February 16-18, 2018. The contest is open to adult playwrights in the New Jersey-New York area. The Theater Project, which also offers a competition for high school playwrights and presentations of original plays by New Jersey authors, sees this as a logical extension of its mission. THINK FAST! is the brainchild of the members of The Theater Project's Playwrights' Workshop, who act as judges for the competition.

"We were looking for ways to support playwrights in the metropolitan area," says Joseph Vitale, a member of the workshop whose plays have been produced in New York and New Jersey. "Our event gives writers the opportunity to stage their works in a professional theater and in a vibrant, culturally sophisticated community."

"One acts allow writers to experiment with a range of characters, topics and plots. Nothing is more exciting than seeing new work take shape, and we're happy to be able to share that with our community." says Mark Spina, artistic director of The Theater Project.

Plays can be either dramas or comedies but must be no more than 15 minutes running time. The deadline for submitting plays is November 17, 2017. Plays selected will have three performances - on Friday, February 16, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, February 17 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, February 18 at 2 p.m. At each performance, the audience will vote for its favorite play. The winner will receive the "Audience Choice" award after the Sunday performance. In addition, a panel of judges will bestow awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Play. The recipient of the "Judges' Choice" award for Best Play, will receive a $500 prize.

Performances will take place The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ. There is no submission charge but plays selected for "Think Fast" will be required to submit a $150 production fee to help underwrite the cost of the competition. Complete submission details are available on our theater's web site: www.thetheaterproject.org/short-play-competition.html.

The competition accepts electronic submissions only at OneActFest@TheTheaterProject.org. Include in the Subject line: "Submission + the Title of Your Play."

The Theater Project, a professional theater company based in Maplewood, NJ, began in 1994 with the goal of bringing the best contemporary plays to our community. The company is known for presenting outrageous comedy as well as drama with social commentary. It presents performances and classes in Cranford, Maplewood, Rahway and Union.