A.C.T. Announces David Mamet Writing Contest, Submission Deadline Is 10/28

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) is proud to announce its fourth David Mamet Writing Contest in conjunction with its West Coast premiere production of November, Mamet's newest satire on the buffoonery of presidential politics. With a voice all his own, Mamet is one of the best-known modern American Playwrights, and A.C.T. is now accepting submissions of short original work in his unique writing style. The submission deadline is Wednesday, October 28, 2009.

The ten winning scripts, selected by a panel of judges that includes members of A.C.T.'s artistic staff and announced by Friday, November 6, 2009, will be presented at an open reading by members of A.C.T.'s world-renowned M.F.A. Program in Fred's Columbia Room, at the American Conservatory Theater, on Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14, 2009. Winners will receive two tickets to November on the evening their work is performed and have their scripts signed by the cast. Winners also have the chance to win tickets to future A.C.T. productions, movies at Landmark Theatres, dinner at Ponzu, and more. The general public is welcome to attend these late-night events. Submission guidelines and exact information about the contest and the readings can be found on A.C.T.'s website at www.act-sf.org/mametcontest.

The guidelines for the contest are simple: submissions must be no more than one scene, a maximum of three pages in length; written as drama, in script form; include no more than four characters; and fit within one of three themes: 1) a famous moment in U.S. history dramatized in the style of Mamet (e.g., the signing of the Declaration of Independence or the Watergate scandal); 2) a concession speech a Mamet character might give (e.g., Ricky Roma's failed bid for California governor); or 3) an adaptation of a political-themed television show, movie, or play in the Mamet style (e.g., Mr. Smith Goes to Washington or The West Wing, as written by Mamet).

Mamet's works, including Glengarry GLen Ross and American Buffalo, have become American classics in their own time. "At their considerable best," says the New York Times, "Mr. Mamet's plays provide shots of full-strength theatrical adrenaline." The founder of the Mamet Writing Contest, A.C.T. Associate Director of Marketing and Promotions Randy Taradash, comments, "I'm thrilled to be reviving our David Mamet Writing Contest as we begin production on his brilliant political satire, November. Having received more than 300 submissions for our last contest in 2007 from as far away as Norway, we're looking forward to seeing a wide range of scripts this year honoring one of our favorite playwrights and his legendary style." The winners of past contests have come not only from all over the Bay Area to hear their works read at A.C.T., but also from Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and elsewhere. Hilarious winning scripts from past years have included Green Eggs and Ham as written by Mamet and American Survivor, which imagined the three characters from American Buffalo as the three finalists vying to win $1 million on TV's Survivor.

Contest Dates at a Glance:
Submission deadline: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Winners announced: Friday, November 6, 2009
Performance dates: Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14, 2009

 

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