The Theater Project's 8th Annual Young Playwrights Competition Seeks Submissions from NJ High School Student Playwrights

The Theater Project, Union County College's Professional Theater Company, is accepting submissions for its 8th annual Young Playwrights ' Competition. The competition seeks original works only, no adaptations. All submissions must be at least 10 but no more than 30 pages typed in play format, and all entrants must be New Jersey residents in secondary schools (ages 13 to 18). Entries must be postmarked by January 31, 2010.

The winning scripts will be performed in 2010 by The Theater Project. Monetary prizes and certificates will be awarded at that time to all winning authors. First place will receive a $600 savings bond, second place will receive a $400 savings bond and third place will receive a $200 savings bond.

The goal of the Young Playwrights' Competition is to encourage the next generation of theater practitioners and audience by honoring their work and bringing it to life. The competition was inspired by a generous donation from Linden resident Bill Mesce, Jr., an award-winning playwright and screenwriter, whose recent novel The Advocate was published by Bantam Books.

How to Enter: By January 31, 2010, please submit a 10-30 page script to The Theater Project, Union County College, 1033 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, NJ, 07016 or e-mail to TheaterProject@aol.com. All entries must include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope), a 50 word biography of the author including contact information, and the $5 entrance fee (check or money order, payable to THE THEATER PROJECT) which can be sent via snail mail for emailed scripts. Only one entry per author. Please remember that you must be a resident of New Jersey and a secondary school student in the 2009- 2010 academic year to be eligible.

BACKGROUND - 2009 winning playwrights included:

First Prize:
John Saavedra, Jr. (Linden)

Second Prize:
Natalie James (Hazlet)

Tied for Third Prize:
Lauren Ciaravalli (Summit), Andrea Seymore (Plainfield)

Honorable Mentions:
Claushelle Achille (Irvington), Lisa Cavallo (Westfield), joint entry: Charles Kennedy and James Nissenbaum (Watchung), Melissa Marques (Hazlet), Jessica Milne (New Milford), and Kaitlin Nolan (Colonia)