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TNT POPS!
TNT New Play Development:
Playwriting Project 2014
IT'S ALMOST HERE - TIME TO POLISH UP THAT ORIGINAL SCRIPT AND GET IT READY FOR SUBMISSION!
TNT’s Production of Original PlayS (POPS) is a biennial (every two years) project. The next submission deadline for the 2014 TNT POPS! New Play Project will be August 1 through September 16, 2013. Only full length plays and musicals will be accepted (musicals must be accompanied by sample songs sent digitally, and have a performance CD, lead sheets and musical arrangements available), and a total of four (4) will be selected. Once selected, each play will be produced during the 2014-15 season, either on a mainstage or in a second space, by a TNT member theatre company. In addition, each of the four shows will be given a staged reading of an exerpt of about 20 minutes each at the 2014 TNT Annual Conference.

TNT will accept one hundred (100) full length scripts on a first come, first served basis, submitted between the dates listed above. Please read the following Rules and Submission Process carefully. We also suggest you read the 2014 TNT POPS! FAQS. If you have additional questions, please don't hesitate to call us at 817-731-2238.

The selected plays/musicals will be announced by January 27th, 2014.

2014 TNT POPS! Rules & Submission Process 2014 TNT POPS! FAQS
2014 TNT POPS! Checklist 2014 TNT POPS! Submission Form

Scripts Accepted: Between Monday, August 1, 2013 and midnight Central Standard Time on Monday, September 16, 2013. Scripts received before or after these dates will not be accepted.

Number of copies: Emailed only (no hard copies accepted)- One (1) Microsoft Word file or pdf file; Limit: 1 script per playwright

Length:
Full Length
    The script includes set requirements.
    The script includes a cast list.
    The script includes brief character description(s).
    The script does NOT contain playwright name and/or contact information.
Type Size: 12 pt Times New Roman or 12 pt Courier.

Format: Standard Stage Format. Final Draft format is acceptable - preferably sent as a PDF file.

Topic or theme: Open

Cost:
$20 Entry Fee per script

Selections announced: January 27, 2014
Interview with TNT POPS! New Play winners Barbara Klaskin Silberg and Bob Silberg
Bob and Barb traveled from Los Angeles, California to Bastrop, Texas to attend the world premiere of their new family musical comedy, Mr. Potcher's Holiday. Produced by Bastrop Opera House at the Jerry Fay Wilhelm Center for the Performing Arts, the musical had three performances from April 25 through 27th, 2013. This is the first full-length musical for the duo, whose professional credits can be viewed here.
Interview with TNT POPS! New Play Project winner Marjorie Bicknell
Marjorie made the trip from Camp Hill, PA in March 2013 to attend the world premiere of her play, The Boys Club at Henderson County Performing Arts Center in Athens, Texas. She is a working playwright, director and actress and holds a BA in Theatre and English Literature from Mundelein College in Chicago, and an MA in Speech from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Marjorie is a member of the Dramatists Guild and a founding member of The Playwrights Alliance of Pennsylvania.
Interview with TNT POPS! New Play Project winner Michael Greenberg
First-time playwright Michael Greenberg of San Antonio, Texas, didn't know what to expect when his play, "Three Views of a Waterfall" was selected as one of the four winners in the 2010-11 TNT POPS! New Play Project. The play received its world premiere on Friday, October 14th, 2011 at Bastrop Opera House in Bastrop, Texas. After the show and the subsequent talkback with members of the audience, Mike talked about his experience.
Interview with TNT POPS! New Play Project winner Jeff Stolzer
Playwright Jeff Stozer talks about the creation of his play, The Lost Tribe, one of the winners of the Texas Nonprofit Theatres' 2010-11 TNT POPS! New Play Project. His play received its premiere at Baytown Little Theater, Baytown, Texas in May 2011. Post production letter from Jeff.
Interview with TNT POPS! New Play Project winner Carl Williams
Houston playwright Carl Williams talks about his experience with the TNT POPS! New Play Project, for which his play, A Thirties Affair, was chosen and had its premiere at Henderson County Performing Arts Center in Athens, Texas on April 1, 2011.
Interview with TNT POPS! New Play Project winner Micah McCoy
Playwright Micah McCoy talks about submitting his play Homegrown Tomatoes to the Texas Nonprofit Theatres' 2010-11 TNT POPS! New Play Project. His play was selected as a winner and received its premiere at San Pedro Playhouses' Cellar Theatre in San Antonio, Texas in October 2010.
Bill Evans, whose play, No. 5, was one of the winning plays in 2008, attended the performance at San Pedro Playhouse in San Antonio on February 14, 2009. While on the No. 5 set, he speaks of his experience . . .

(double click on picture to start movie clip)


New Play Development Project

In 1996, the Texas Nonprofit Theatres Board of Governors adopted a resolution stating:

    We, the members of the Board of Texas Nonprofit Theatres, Inc. agree that a goal of our member theatres is to promote and improve live theatre.

    In order to achieve this goal, we recognize the value of showcasing new plays. Playwrights provide the heart of the creative dramatic process, but most do not have a theatre available to them to see their works come to life.

    We hereby recognize that local playwrights, as much as other local theatre professionals, need a place to develop and use their talents. We believe the theatre will gain prestige, expanded audiences, and extra publicity by presenting premiere productions of new plays by local authors.

    In support of this resolution, TNT Board members will encourage TNT member organizations to nurture this playwriting talent at their own theatres.

Encouragement developed into an actual pilot project in the Houston area, where former TNT Board member Diana Weeks began the process of matching playwrights with theatres. Eventually, twenty-one theatres participated. Some of those were:
  • Gypsy Productions - Rosemary Poole-Carter, Resident Playwright
  • Harbour Playhouse - Matt Carlin, Resident Playwright
  • Express Theater - Kate Paxton, Resident Playwright
  • Rice University Drama Dept. - Bren Dubey, Resident Playwright
  • Prairie View A & M Drama Dept. - Je' Caryons Johnson, Resident Playwright
  • The Ensemble Theatre - Celeste Bedford Walker, Resident Playwright
  • Company on Stage - Fredrick Keyser, Resident Playwright
  • Country Playhouse - Diana Howie, Resident Playwright
  • Renaissance Performing Arts Center - Tyrone Dargins, Resident Playwright
  • Unicorn School of Acting - Hope Shiver (musicals), Robyn Drake (adult), and Kati Lamkin (children's), Resident Playwrights
  • Pasadena Little Theatre - Pat Morgan, Resident Playwright
And, outside the Houston area:
  • S.T.A.G.E., Inc., Bulverde - Tim Hess, Resident Playwright
  • Angelo Civic Theatre, San Angelo - Chris Ellery, Resident Playwright

This initial program accomplished many things, but basically the program sought to connect a theatre with a local playwright, creating the connection between the people who write for the stage and the professionals who bring the words to life.

Please note that the program was not about money, but rather "encouraging new works to preserve live theatre for our grandchildren's children, luring the eighteen to thirty year old movie market into theatres, generating more publicity for local theatres, and capturing a greater share of the tourist market and grant monies for all theatres."

For those wishing to connect with a theatre, sample guidelines for your negotiations are below.

In 2002 the TNT Board embarked on a new program dubbed the New Play Development Project, with a pilot project that took place at the TNT Annual Conference in Arlington. New play submissions from Texas playwrights were solicited, four were chosen for staged readings during the conference. This project became a biennial favorite.

In 2008, the New Play Development Project was expanded to included full length submissions and adding productions by TNT member theatres. Currently four plays are chosen every two years, given staged readings at the annual TNT Conference and then produced by a TNT member theatre.



Guidelines for relationships between Theatre & Local Resident Playwright

Advantages for Theatre

  • Development of new audiences interested in seeing new works.
  • Increased creative activity for resident Actors and Director.
  • Chance to discover "hot" new plays for world premieres.
  • Enhance eligibility for funding by philanthropic community.
  • additional publicity in the media.

Theatre Provides

  • Public announcements of selection of Resident Playwright.
  • Inclusion of Playwright's name in public listings of Artistic Staff.
  • Rehearsed public readings of Playwright's new work.
  • Stipend for Playwright (Optional).

Playwright Provides

  • Right of first refusal for Theatre to produce any new plays written during residency.
  • Right of first refusal for area production of any plays written prior to residency.
  • Percentage of future royalties from plays Theatre premieres.
  • Mention of Theatre's name in media interviews and biographies.
  • Introduction of Theatre to potential sources of funding.
  • Evaluation of unsolicited scripts submitted to Theatre (Optional).
  • Coordination of public series of rehearsed readings of new plays (Optional).

Please refer all inquiries to TNT at (817) 731-2238 or E-mail tnt@texastheatres.org.




Texas Nonprofit Theatres, Inc.
1300 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Phone: (817) 731-2238, Fax: (817) 731-2239, E-mail: tnt@texastheatres.org
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