Playwrights, lyricists and composers: Do you have a short musical or a play that can be adapted into a musical appropriate for children 6-12 years old? For over 20 years, the Arts & Cultural Heritage Division of Prince George’s County’s Department of Parks and Recreation has been producing and touring children’s theatre productions to the hundreds of students enrolled in our summer camp programs. Awards of up to $1,500 will be presented to finalists whose plays will be developed during the Spring of 2019 for production and touring in Summer 2019. Follow the link for full competition details.
The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission is seeking original scripts, in English, either musicals or non-musicals that can be developed with M-NCPCC into musicals. Playwrights submitting nonmusical plays should, if at all possible, incorporate lyrics to make this development process easier. The script will be used for an annual children’s theatre production that tours Prince George’s County as part of M-NCPPC programs. The play will be performed by actors from 16 to 20 years old, and the intended audience is children 6 to 12 years old. Submitted plays should have a run time of 45 minutes to 1 hr. Deadline for submissions is January 18, 2019 at 5 p.m.
Awards of $1,500.00 will be presented to finalists, whose plays shall be developed during the Spring of 2019 and produced by M-NCPPC during the Summer of 2019. Up to two First Prize Awardees may be chosen, though M-NCPPC reserves the right to not choose a winner, or to award the monetary prize but not produce the play. A play submitted with full musical score including recorded soundtrack suitable for performance use shall be eligible for an additional award of $1,500 for Musical Composition. Please email Christel Stevens, Performing Arts Specialist, at christel.stevens@pgparks.com for complete guidelines of the competition.
Competition Guidelines
Plays must be new, original works or adaptations or dramatizations of fairytales, myths or other works. If adapted material is submitted, written proof must also be submitted indicating that the material used for the script is in the public domain. If the source material is not in the public domain, then the owner of the copyright must grant written permission for any adaptation submitted. Obtaining this documentation is the responsibility of the playwright.
Only one submission per playwright or collaborating team will be permitted.
A collaborating team, who will share the First Prize Awards, may write the book, lyrics and musical score. In the case of a play submitted as book and lyrics only, a composer will be selected by The M-NCPPC to score the music and produce the recorded soundtrack.
Plays must be intended for young audiences ages 6 years through 12 years of age.
Plays must have a run time of 45 minutes to 1 hr.
More than one story may be told during the time limit of 45 to 60 minutes.
Plays should require no more than eight (8) actors, though doubling of roles is permitted.
Scenic requirements should be kept to a minimum. Due to the traveling nature of the troupe, actors have only 30 minutes prior to each performance for set-up.
Plays should not be dependent upon theatrical lighting instruments.
Plays may call for a pre-recorded musical sound track and other sound cues, but cannot require a live orchestra or band for production. Electronically synthesized music or pre-recorded piano accompaniment is acceptable. The use of rhythm instruments played by the actors is also acceptable.
While music in the public domain may be used or adapted, commercially available recordings are copyrighted and would not be acceptable for this program. If any music not composed and owned by one of the submitting authors is not in the public domain, then the owner of the copyright must grant written permission for any adaptation submitted. Obtaining this documentation is the responsibility of the playwright or composer.
Scripts under contract for professional production or which have previously received a professional production are not eligible for this competition. M-NCPPC defines a “professional” production as any production in which tickets were sold. Scripts previously produced in an educational setting would still be eligible.
The final production may be videotaped for telecast by M-NCPPC and will be performed only at M-NCPPC venues in Prince George’s County, MD. While the authors of the selected material shall receive due recognition for their work in all official printed materials, no additional remuneration, will be due or payable to the authors, playwrights, composers or lyricists involved.
For additional information contact christel.stevens@pgparks.com, telephone 301-446-3238.
If none of the submissions meet its content standards, the M-NCPPC reserves the right not to make any selections or awards.
To submit a play, you may attach a script by email to christel.stevens@pgparks.com. Electronically submitted scripts are due no later than 5 p.m. on January 18, 2019.
To submit a printed copy, mail it to: M-NCPPC
Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation
Arts and Cultural Heritage Division
c/o Christel Stevens
7833 Walker Drive, Suite 200
Greenbelt, MD 20770
Mailed scripts must be postmarked no later than January 18, 2019.
www.pgparks.com