"Destination: Playwriting"

Contest Guidelines

The following guidelines govern all entries.  Two categories exist for submissions:  student and adult.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

1. For entrance in either category, all submissions (“The Play”) must be original, unpublished works residents of the St. Louis Metropolitan area.  One writer or a collaboration of two may write the play providing both meet the residency requirements.  Adaptations or parodies will not be accepted.  Writers may submit one play per contest year whether written alone or in collaboration.

2. The student category is for plays written by students in grades 5 through 12 for the current contest year.  For a collaboration script to be allowed in the student category, both writers must meet the age requirement.

3. The adult category is for plays written alone or in a collaboration where one or both of the writers are above grade twelve in the current contest year whether or not they are currently attending school.

FORMAT OF SCRIPT

4. The play must be a total of 12 to 17 typed pages including a title page, a character/setting page and 10 to 15 pages of script.
5. A title page, on each of the three copies, should include the following information: the title of your play, the name(s) of the playwright(s) (with the primary contact name listed first), contact address, contact phone number, contact e-mail address, contest category (student or adult), the name of your school (for student category only), and the words “New Play Contest Submission”.

CONTENT OF SCRIPT

6. Whereas scene changes tend to break up the action of the play, the play should be made up of no more than four scenes whether they take place in the same or different locations.  Scenes are defined simply as necessary breaks in the action such as where time between two sections are not continuous or the location changes.
7. Whereas character development is vital in the process of playwriting, the play should have 2 to 10 characters.  If two or more plays are equal in quality, the play with the fewer number of characters will be chosen.
8. Destination Theatre Company is a Christian theatre company.  While it is not required that scripts present a Christian theme or message, all scripts must uphold Christian morals and a Christian worldview.
9. The play can be about any appropriate subject.  Musicals cannot be considered, nor can plays that include copyrighted music or song lyrics.
10. Any scripts containing cursing; innuendo or any content, theme or action deemed inappropriate, in the sole opinion of the judges, will be disqualified by the theatre company with no requirement that the script be read in its entirety.

SUBMISSION OF SCRIPT

11. All submissions must be received by the deadline of the contest year in order to be eligible.  Plays not meeting this deadline will not be acknowledged or returned.  Submission fee, less return postage, will be returned for plays not received by the deadline.  The theatre company is not responsible for lost, delayed or damaged scripts.  Scripts should be mailed, postage paid, to Destination Theatre Company New Play Contest; 1370 Swallow Ln.; Florissant MO, 63031.
12. The Submission Form and the $5 Submission Fee must accompany all submissions.
13. All submissions must include three complete bound or stapled copies of the script and a digital copy of the script on CD-ROM in either a WORD (2000 or earlier), TEXT or .pdf file.  If you do not have access to the capability of creating a CD-ROM, the play may be emailed to contest@destinationtc.org.  If this method is used, indicate such use on the submission form.  Emails will not be downloaded nor attachments opened until submission form has been received.  Hard copies must still be included as stated above.  All pages should have the play title and page number in the upper right-hand corner in case the pages of the script become separated.  Do not put the playwright(s) name(s) on any page of the scripts except the title page.  
14. All plays received by the deadline will be acknowledged with a “Receipt of Work Postcard” as soon as possible.  Be sure to retain a copy of your work, as scripts will not be returned.
15. All playwrights making submissions agree that sections (up to one complete page) of the script may be used for marketing purposes on the website or in print advertising for the company for up to two years after the conclusion of the contest and performance.

JUDGING SCRIPTS

16. All scripts received, regardless of the age of the playwright(s), will be judged on the same standards.  Scripts will only be divided based on the chosen entry category.
17. The judges who will choose the finalists will read plays received.  The decisions of the judges are final. 
18. Plays will be judged based on appropriate length, appropriate number of scenes and characters, easily followed story line, simplicity of staging and perceived overall quality of the script.

FINALISTS

19. The titles and playwrights’ names of the plays chosen as finalists will be put on the theatre’s website prior to auditions.
20. A meeting with all of the finalists will be held prior to auditions.  All finalists must be in attendance.
21. Finalists are encouraged to have friends and family audition for the plays.  Auditions will be open to the public.
22. All finalists must be in attendance for dress rehearsal and performance of their play.  Dates will be announced for each contest year.
23. The remainder of the rehearsal dates will be decided after discussion with the individual finalists.
24. Once plays are chosen and announced, non-chosen playwrights may contact the theatre company for feedback on the script but must understand that it may not be possible for all such requests to be addressed quickly or at all depending on the number of such requests.

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