TFA’s First Light Play Development Program
Overview
Theater of the First Amendment's First Light Discovery Program provides playwrights with an opportunity to continue to develop new plays while working with professional directors, dramaturgs and actors. The weeklong workshop culminates in a public staged reading with audience feedback.
First Light features the work of professional playwrights, as well as winning plays from the Student Playwright Competition and Mentorship Program for George Mason University students.
For Mason Students
TFA’s First Light Mentoring Program
and Competition for Mason Playwrights
Want to write a play?
Theater of the First Amendment announces the return of the professional mentoring program and playwriting competition open to all current students at George Mason University.
Selected applicants will be invited to work with a professional playwright, director or dramaturg to develop their plays this fall and winter.
Plays must be new works for the stage, requiring no more than 8 actors. At the end of the mentoring program, all students will submit their final drafts to TFA’s First Light Play Development Program and Competition for Mason playwrights.
The winning entries will receive a professional five-day workshop and public reading during the 11th Annual First Light Discovery Program, May 31 – June 5, 2011.
To apply, please send an email to smaloney@gmu.edu with the following information:
• Your name, phone number, and email address
• Your Major
• Name and email address of a reference familiar with your writing (e.g., a professor)
• A cover letter explaining your goals for developing your play
• A five-page writing sample that includes dialogue.
Your emailed information and writing sample must be received by October 29, 2010!
Selected applicants will be notified by email and required to attend an informational session with a local professional playwright who will speak on the topic of the playwright's craft. This talk will be held on Saturday, November 13 at 1:00 pm at George Mason University. Immediately afterwards, playwrights will be matched with professional artist mentors specializing in new play development. The mentors will set up deadlines for drafts and establish a schedule for providing feedback. Mentors will monitor students' progress from November through the final draft submission deadline February 25, 2011. The winners will be contacted in mid-March.
No registration fee is required to enter the competition. Selected applicants must be available to attend workshops and reading at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, May 31 – June 5, 2011. Times of day or evening to be determined.
If you need further information, please email Suzanne Maloney at smaloney@gmu.edu. Please include "First Light" in the subject line.
For Professional Playwrights
Theater of the First Amendment invites professional playwrights to submit a treatment, sample, or draft of any current project you would like us to consider for this intensive workshop. Also include a cover letter explaining your goals for developing the piece.
TFA’s 11th Annual First Light Discovery Program for professional playwrights will be held in June 2011. During the week prior to the event, selected playwrights will work with directors, dramaturgs and actors to further develop their plays. Two to three plays will be presented to the public as staged readings.
Materials must be submitted to the TFA office by November 15, 2010 in order to be considered for the 2011 program. Playwrights will be contacted about the status of their submissions in early March 2011.
To submit a project for consideration, mail to:
First Light – Theater of the First Amendment
George Mason University
4400 University Drive, MS 3E6
Fairfax VA 22030-4444
Or submit electronically to: smaloney@gmu.edu