AACT NewPlayFest - Theatre Guidelines
AACT NewPlayFest is a national new play festival that takes place over a two year period. But unlike AACTFest, productions don’t travel. Selected theatres produce the winning scripts in their local communities. AACT spreads the buzz with nation-wide promotion!
AACT has selected seven member theatres to produce the winning plays.
Theatres selected will reap these benefits:
- prestige of being selected for a national program
- premiere a national award-winning play
- national publicity
- excitement of working directly with the playwright
- honor of introducing the playwright to the community
- impact on the future of the work: The interpretations of the director and the actors may reveal insights to the playwright on what works or doesn’t work, leading to rewrites.
- possible funding
Theatre Responsibilities
- Provide documentation of nonprofit status
- Rank the plays that reach the final round, indicating your top choices for a production at your theatre
- Provide a fully realized production between June 2015 and December 2016
- A full production includes casting, rehearsing, and staging (costumes, lights, set design, props) of the script.
- Present at least three (3) performances of the work
- Pay a royalty of $25 per performance to the playwright
- Bring in the playwright for a rehearsal or a performance
- Advertise the production as part of AACT NewPlayFest
- Sign contract agreeing to these responsibilities
- Maintain AACT Organizational membership
AACT will
- Select and announce producing theatres
- Conduct national new play contest, including script solicitation, recruitment of readers, tabulation of scores, and announcement of winners
- Execute contracts for producing theatres and playwrights
- Guide theatres in working with playwrights
- Compile and publish a calendar of AACT NewPlayFest productions
- Provide national advertising via websites, e-promos, social media, and news releases
- Provide news release templates and guidance (as needed) for local promotion
- Seek sponsorships or grants to help fund AACT expenses and/or theatre production expenses
Note: Producing Theatre Application is now closed.
