Hanover College Playwriting Contest
Calling All High School Playwrights! 
Do you dream of working in the magical world of the theatre? Have you ever written a play but don't know if it's any good or not? Find out from the professionals at Hanover College. We're looking for 10-15 minute plays with strong action, high stakes and freshly imagined characters. A team of judges, including Hanover College Theatre faculty and advanced playwriting students, will choose four winning plays.
Hanover College Theatre makes student playwriting a first priority. Our students have won awards like the National Student Playwriting Award and the Fourth Freedom Award from the American College Theatre Festival. They've also seen their plays produced in professional productions from New York to Los Angeles. Some of our graduates have taken these skills and gone on to successful careers in film and television.
What Do I Win?
Winners will receive $100 each, play-coaching advice from Hanover College theatre faculty and a reading of the play directed by an advanced college theatre student. Winners may also be eligible for a four-year theatre scholarship from Hanover — worth $2,000-$3,000 per year!
Here's what kind of play we'd like to see:
- 10-15 minute with strong action, high stakes, and freshly imagined characters.
- Something significant should happen in the play. A play is not about people talking. It's about people (or a person) doing something in the face of an obstacle or obstacles.
- Keep the number of characters small (2-4 works best for a short play).
- Avoid clichés, such as plays about writing a play, plays about telling off one's parents and "coming-out" plays.
- Avoid any non-essential violence and profanity.
- Let's hear your personal voice as a writer!
Contest Rules:
- The Festival will culminate in a public reading of the plays April 5, 2008.
- Playwrights have the option of bringing up to four high school actors with them. Playwrights and actors will receive free meals and housing at the College during the 2-day workshop. Playwrights also have the option of having Hanover College student actors read their play.
- Plays are due at Hanover College Jan. 18, 2008.
- The playwright must be a currently enrolled high school student.
- Playwrights may enter any number of plays, but scripts are non-returnable. Hanover College Theatre will shred and recycle all hard-copy plays not selected for the festival.
- Hanover College Theatre will select and notify the four winning playwrights by Feb. 15, 2008.
- The playwright must be willing and able to attend the two-day High School Playwrights Festival that runs from 7:00 p.m., Friday, April 4, 2008 to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, April 5, 2008.
- High school students will live and dine with Hanover College students during their stay and will have a student host.
- Parents and other friends or family are very welcome to attend and may find accommodation in Hanover or Madison, Ind. Hanover College Theatre can offer advice about the best places to stay.
- If accompanied by parents or family, high school students may elect to stay with their families rather than on campus.
- Send all hard-copy manuscripts to:
Dr. Mark Fearnow
Playwrights Festival Director
Hanover College
P.O. Box 890
Hanover, IN 47243 - You may e-mail your play instead as an attached Word document to: fearnow@hanover.edu . Be sure to include your name and contact information!
- Questions? E-mail at the above address or call Dr. Fearnow at (812) 866- 6191.
Summary of dates and deadlines
Jan. 18, 2008
All plays due at Hanover College
Feb. 15, 2008
Hanover College Theatre will contact the winners by e-mail or telephone
April 4, 2008
7:00 p.m.: Playwrights and actors meet with Hanover College staff and students for a first reading and feedback session.
April 5, 2008
9am-12 noon: Playwrights work on revisions based on feedback.
2:00 p.m.: Rehearsals of play readings with Hanover College directors
4:00 p.m.: Public reading of the four winning plays. Presentation of award checks.