MadLab Theatre is extending its outreach to young playwrights in local and regional high schools in Central Ohio.  The goal is to produce a group of 10 minute short plays written by high school students for its Young Writers Short Play Festival 2015 in MadLab’s 2016 theatre season.  Playwrights can submit their short play to MadLab any time between now and December 4th, 2015.  Scripts will be selected by December 20, 2015.  After this, high school playwrights will work with known and published adult playwright mentors to workshop, stage read, and revise scripts as needed.  This learning environment will provide education and creativity for young playwrights work to be produced for the very first time.  MadLab will then produce all chosen scripts in end of July 2016.

The Young Writers Short Play Festival began in 2011, with the education program moving through the spring, and the first production in July/August 2012. Since our first program, we have worked with over 32 high school playwrights from all across central ohio. From working with playwright mentors, to stage readings to production, the students in Young Writers enter the program with a script and conclude the program as produced playwrights. This year will be our 5th year of the program and we look forward to working with our new group of students in the very near future.

Below are the submission requirements and also a timeline for the Young Writers Short Play Festival 2016.

Submission Guidelines:

1. Content is open to what playwright wants to write.
2. Up to 10 pages only required.  Must also read at 10 minutes or less. 
3. PDF or MS Word format.
4. All submissions should have the following:
1. Title page (Play name, your name, your school name, your teacher’s name)
2. 3-5 sentence synopsis on front page.
3. Character description
4. Set and prop needs.

1. Play should be able to be produced on a theatre stage.  Your stage directions and needs should be geared toward stage rather than film.
2. All submissions are due to MadLab Theatre by Friday December 4th, 2015.
3. Go to link:  Young Writers Short Play Festival 2016 Submission Form

Deadlines
The following deadlines include when script due dates and also required events for playwrights. 

• Submission deadline: December 4th, 2015.
• Plays will be chosen: December 20, 2015. 
• Playwright workshops:  January 2016 (specific dates TBD).
• Meet and Greet for Parents: January 2016 (specific dates TBD).
• Meet and Greet dinner: January 2016 (specific dates TBD).
• Stage Reading 1 and Stage Reading 2:  February/March 2016 (specific dates TBD).
• Final revised play to be completed by end of April 2016 (specific dates TBD)

Young Writers Short Play Festival 2016 to be produced July 15-30th, 2016.

Education Director:  Michelle Batt
Communication e-mail for Young Writers: michelleb@madlab.net
Communication phone number: 614-226-7273 (Michelle Batt)