National Playwriting Program

The National Playwriting Program seeks to identify dynamic student voices and develop their new works for the stage via concert readings, workshops, and guest-artist panels. Student Playwrights are selected from our submission pool in three distinct categories: ten-minute plays, one-act plays, and full-length plays. On top of being invited to the regional festival, those distinguished playwrights then have concert reading of their new works at the regional level, and are placed into consideration for national advancement.

*Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.*

Rules

The National Playwriting Program’s Mission Statement

The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival National Playwriting Program is dedicated to supporting student playwrights in the development of their original work for the stage, with dramaturgical and performance opportunities that emphasize respect of the written word and for the playwright’s contribution to the theatrical process.

The distinguished playwright and screenwriter Michael Kanin (1910 - 1993) arranged for a remarkable series of awards to be given to student writers whose plays are entered as part of the festival. The purpose of the program is to encourage college students to write for the stage by providing the opportunity for them to engage in the playwriting process.
Both Participating and Associate productions receive outside response on their home campuses and, with some exceptions, are eligible for all KCACTF-sponsored awards. Schools may:

Nominate one bona fide student performer from its entry for participation in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions;
Nominate student designers to participate in the scenic, sound, costume, and lighting design programs; Be considered for all applicable playwriting awards (Associate entries are not eligible for the National Student Playwriting Award or the John Cauble Short Play Award); and be considered for all other applicable KCACTF awards.

KCACTF reserves the right to withhold any award.

Play Eligibility

A new play or musical may be a collaboration, adaptation, company-written play, or a play based on factual materials but may not be a translation. To be eligible, adaptations from other works must include written permission for works under copyright and must involve substantial changes in form and/or expression.
A full-length play is defined as either one major work or two or more shorter works written by the same playwright, based on a single theme, or encompassed within a unifying framework. In all cases, the entry must provide a full evening of theater-approximately one and one-half hours or longer, including intermissions. (See the John Cauble Award for Outstanding Short Play for productions that may not fit this category.)
College theaters may produce plays written by students other than their own, provided the students meet the requirements detailed in Play Eligibility.
All student-written original plays entered in the current KCACTF year are eligible for any of the appropriate playwriting awards.
Each new play registered as a Participating production will be considered for regional and national festival presentation with other entries. The festival expects the same high standard of production support for original scripts as is given any entry.
Student playwrights interested in participating in the Ten-Minute Play Award category, or the John Cauble Short Play Award category should see the information below and contact the regional chair for specific information because scripts entered in those categories are screened at the regional level.