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This electronic form must be SUBMITTED with the fee of $10 per entry PAID and an ELECTRONIC version of the script UPLOADED and RECEIVED by THURSDAY,

Nov. 10, 2022.

Schools must register by the December deadline in order to participate in the FESTIVAL.

INTENT to PARTICIPATE link will be active from October 1

  until December 8, 2022.

Need this information in a printable format? Click below:

Deadline Extended to Wed. Nov. 30

PDA Original One-Acts

Due Wednesday, November 30, 2022

ORIGINAL PLAYWRITING AWARDS:

First, Second, Third are invited to perform at the festival using a modified READER'S THEATRE format.

Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth (or Honorable Mentions) are awarded at the discretion of the judges

 

Original One-Act Play Entries & ADJUDICATION INFORMATION

Original One-Act Plays should conform to the following criteria and will be judged with these guidelines:

FORMAT

  • Adjudicated on a scale of  -1 to +1.

  • A title page, cast of characters, description of setting (Time/Place) and appropriate stage directions should be included. Entries should be typed, and pages should be numbered.

Important Note:  Only the name of the school may appear on the title page of the play; the student's name is not permitted to appear there.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

  • Adjudicated on a scale of 1 to 5.

  • Clear relationship of characters to each other.

  • Characters should be vivid and three-dimensional.

  • Characters should be named.

  • An age range for characters should be indicated.

  • Include a brief physical description of each character.

PLOT DEVELOPMENT

  • Adjudicated on a scale of 1 to 5.

  • Clear Beginning, Middle, End.

  • Exposition, Inciting Incident, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Conclusion.

EFFECTIVE DIALOGUE

  • Adjudicated on a scale of 1 to 5.

  • Active (versus narrative).

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Any number of original, one-act plays may be submitted by a school; but teachers are encouraged to exercise discretion in selecting plays to be submitted. For each play submitted there is a $10.00 entry fee.

  • Original one-act plays may be written by no more than three (3) authors in collaboration. PLAYS WRITTEN BY A CLASS OR BY A GROUP (of more than 3) FOR A CLASS PROJECT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.

  • Plays will be read and critiqued by a playwriting committee comprised of professional playwrights and/or playwriting instructors.

  • Up to the "top" six plays will be recognized, with the top three performing during the festival.

  • The PDA President will notify schools in ample time. (No later than the re-opening of school in January.)

DEADLINE for ORIGINAL ONE ACTS: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022.  Please SUBMIT an electronic version of the Original One Act by clicking the icon at the top of the page.

Deadline Extended to Wed. Nov. 30

FORMAT for Presenting the Original One-Acts at the Festival:

The emphasis on the Original One-Act competition is on the writing; therefore the presentation at festival follows a Reader's Theatre format instead of a main stage production.  Schools will not need to provide a full set, and costuming can be either all-blacks or a simple use of color to represent characters. The use of hand-held props are allowed, and blocking should be at a minimal. Chairs or stools, small tables and music stands for scripts will be available from the host school. In order to accommodate more schools in the one-act festival, the Originals will be presented on Saturday in a studio setting instead of the main stage. Only the top three scripts selected by the playwriting judges will be presented at the festival.

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