Directing a Concert Reading of a National Playwriting Program (NPP)
Region V Ten-Minute Play
For experienced directing students. Student directors must submit an application with supporting materials in advance. Students in this program will direct an original 10-Minute Play in collaboration with NPP and a faculty mentor at the festival. Student playwrights and directors will collaborate on the final product. The student will receive feedback on the final product from one or more professional directors and/or educators during the Festival. Students must submit an application with all required supporting materials, prior to December 7, 2009, in order to be considered for this opportunity.
Criteria:
1. Direct a concert reading of a new 10-minute play chosen from among the finalists for the National Playwriting Program Ten-Minute Play Region V Competition. The playwright will be in attendance and involved in the process. The purpose is to promote collaboration between the director and the playwright. "Concert reading" will be defined as having no sets, props or costumes; actors will stand-up and sit-down only to indicate entrances and exits, and one actor will be cast to read stage directions, if necessary. This method will allow the director and actors to focus on character development, language, subtext, rhythm, and pacing in order to bring the text alive for the playwright and for the audience.
Interested directors are expected to
1. Review the “Guidelines for Working On New Plays” and the “NPP Ten-Minute Play-Reading Guidelines” at the following string:
www.kcactf.org; “Students;” “Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards”
2. Cast their play from the talent pool of actors who choose to audition at the Festival.
3. Rehearse scene in the assigned space and specified hours with their cast and a stage manager. Any attempt to rehearse outside the allotted hours for the project will result in the director's removal from the project. An example of a potential meeting and rehearsal schedule would be:
Exact times subject to change.
Sunday Jan 17 6:00-7:30: 10-Minute Play Orientation
Monday Jan 18 3:30-8:00: 10-Minute Play Auditions and Casting
Tuesday Jan 19 -Thursday Jan 21: 11:00-2:00 Each 10-Minute Play will have a 1 hour rehearsal in one of the three slots between 11:00-2:00 each day
Friday Jan 22 10:30-1:30: 10-Minute Play Festival Dress Rehearsal
Friday Jan 22 2:00-4:00: 10-Minute Play Festival Performance
Saturday Jan 23 9:00-10:30: Response Session
4. Participate in one or more workshops designed to offer new tools or techniques for working with actors and playwrights on new plays.
5. Work closely with a faculty mentor.
6. Receive a response from one or more professional director(s) from outside Region V academic theatre.
Ten-Minute Play Application Process
Selection from among the regional pool of applicants will be limited to the number of plays selected, usually 6, and candidates will be chosen from among applicants with sufficient training and experience to merit the opportunity. Materials will be reviewed by a team of directing professionals/educators who will recommend a slate of participants to the Region V Executive Committee who will confirm the final list of participants. A complete application consists of:
1 - Letter of intent explaining why you want to be a director and how you think the experience of directing an original 10-minute play will benefit you in your studies and your career. Include name, all contact information, affiliated institution, and home faculty mentor.
2 - Statement of intent to attend the entire Region V Festival held in Overland Park, Kansas, January 17-23, 2010, attending the requisite meetings, rehearsals and workshops throughout the week.
3 - Letter of support detailing your accomplishments and potential as a director from a faculty mentor at your home institution and department.
4 - A resume that focuses on your training and experience in directing.
5 - A completed on-line application form.
SUBMIT YOUR SUPPORTING MATERIALS TO
Julie Rae Mollenkamp, Directing Coordinator/KCACTF Region V
Any questions about the application process may be directed to the email address listed above.
Important Reminder: Application materials must be submitted electronically and received no later than December 7, 2009. Electronic submissions of supporting materials are required. A confirmation of receipt of your application will be provided. Please do not assume your application has been received and accepted unless you receive electronic confirmation. Note that if your attachments do not open we cannot declare the submission received.
Leave enough time to make sure email submissions are successfully received by the deadline. Applicants will be notified as soon as possible after the deadline, and not later than January 1, 2010, whether they have been accepted as participants.
WE’RE EXCITED TO SEE YOUR GOOD WORK AT THE FESTIVAL!