Playwright Submissions OPEN - Black Motherhood & Parenting New Play Festival 2023 Season - Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival

Blackboard Plays and Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) partner to uplift the experiences of Black Parenthood. The Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival was established to tell stories from and about Black artists with families.



MISSION STATEMENT

Since 2008, Blackboard Plays has been devoted to Black Playwrights throughout the African Diaspora. Blackboard Reading Series was incubated at Nancy Manocherian's the cell in Chelsea's Manhattan as a resident series for 10 years before Blackboard made its home in The Mary Rodgers Room at The Dramatists Guild in 2018. Feature Readings and Community Nights are two ways that Blackboard supports the development of new work by Black Playwrights. Blackboard was founded by Garlia Cornelia Jones.



Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) is a national advocacy organization serving as a resource hub, community, and solutions generator for caregivers in the performing arts and media and the institutions who support them. PAAL created the first all-gender, all-discipline national PAAL Childcare Grants for individuals and institutions. PAAL has participated internationally in think tanks, on panels, and facilitated workshops on parenting in the arts at multiple gatherings, including the national TCG conferences, BroadwayCon, Actors Equity Association, Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, and the first national conversation on caregiving in the Latinx community at the Latinx Theatre Commons Annual Convening, Miami in Motion, in 2019. PAAL commits to anti-racist roots in structure, practice, policy, principle, and production, through Vertical 50/50, centering support on BIPOC artists, and gathering resources for active anti-racism in caregiver support.





PURPOSE STATEMENT

PAAL and Blackboard established #BMPFest to showcase the creative output of Black parent playwrights. They issued an open call in October 2020 for writers who identify as Black parents or caregivers to submit up to 10 pages of work that they would develop into a one-act.

SEEKING

The Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival (#BMPFest) is seeking new plays by those that identify ad Black playwrights for its upcoming theatre festival in the Fall of 2023/2024.

#BMPFest is seeking stories centering the Black family experience.

This includes, but is not limited to stories from artists with family responsibilities.

PAAL and Blackboard are transgender and non-binary affirming spaces. All language referencing "mother," "parent," "dad," "caregiver," and their derivatives include and refer to any individual who identifies with them.



SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Has been extended to February 10, 2022 at 11:59pm EST

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Please submit up to 10 pages MAX of a play that you would develop into a One-Act (30 - 45 minutes.)

Six (6) Semi-Finalists will have a feature digital (zoom) reading as part of Blackboard Plays’ 2023/24 Season.



Four (4) Finalists will develop their One-Act centering on Black family experiences to premiere digitally during Fall of 2024. Leading up to the virtual premiere will be a development process.

Once selected, we will ask our 10-semifinalists to submit a full script for review.

We will then select our 4 finalists.

Between the start of rehearsal and your selection as a finalist, you will have the opportunity to expand upon your work.

Diverse Gender representation will be prioritized in the review and selection process.

Each produced play will have digital production elements and an assigned director.

Although we ask for a sample of 10-pages, this is not a 10-minute play festival. Video Submissions will not be accepted.

LOCATION

The Final four (4) plays will be produced virtually.

Pending partner theatre preferences, we will consider a hybrid presentation.

Vaccination will be required for all participants of in-person productions

COMPENSATION

Each of the four (4) Finalists will be paid a stipend of $1,000. USD, as well as a $500. USD Caregiver Reimbursement Stipend per artist.





FAQ

Question: What if my play has already had a reading or what if it has been produced somewhere else. Can I still submit it?

While we encourage new work we also support the developmental process. If your piece is in development, has had a reading, or been produced at smaller theatres then send it along.

Question: I was one of the top four finalists for the 2022 season, can I submit for the 2023 season?

We would like for our finalists to wait one year (or one BMPFest season) before resubmitting.





Submission Link: https://bit.ly/bmpfest23submit


Salary: $1000