Arena Stage Calls for Monologue Submissions Inspired by OUR WAR

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces a national call for monologue submissions inspired by the world-premiere theatrical event Our War, a commission of 25 American playwrights as part of The National Civil War Project. Monologues should address or react to the American Civil War and how it reverberates in America today, and up to three winners will be selected to receive a performance of their monologue at Arena Stage by members of the cast of Our War at a post-show public reading on November 6 following the 8:00 p.m. performance. Directed by Anita Maynard-Losh, Our War runs October 21 - November 9, 2014 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Selected writers will also receive a session with American Voices New Play Institute Dramaturg Jocelyn Clarke, a listing in the Our War program and an award certificate. Video clips of the performed monologues will be posted on Arena Stage's website and shared via social media.

"A driving force behind The National Civil War Project is to create a dialogue around war and its reverberations, and what better way to start a conversation than by representing many different points of view from around the country," shares Artistic Director Molly Smith.

Monologues must be no more than three minutes (approximately 600 words in length), may be fictitious or based on family history and should be told from the point of view of a character associated with the American Civil War. Published and amateur writers, as well as students ages 18 and up, are encouraged to participate. The monologue may not have been previously published and must be written by one writer. No previous theater experience is required.

Applicants must submit their written monologue, name, address, phone number, email address and, if applicable, school name and grade to kogodcradle@arenastage.org by August 11, 2014. Submissions will be read by Arena Stage staff and board members, local theater artists and community partners. Monologues will be judged based on originality, character, storytelling, structure and theatricality. Winners will be announced in September and a list of winning monologues will be posted at arenastage.org.

For additional details and competition guidelines visit arenastage.org/ourwar.

For additional information on Our War and Arena Stage's 2014-15 season visit arenastage.org/shows-tickets/the-season.