Kennedy Center Now Accepting Submissions for TINY PLAYS FOR IRELAND AND AMERICA

The Kennedy Center today announced that it is now accepting new play submissions for Tiny Plays for Ireland and America, as part of its upcoming international festival Ireland 100: Celebrating a Century of Irish Arts and Culture. In March 2016, the Kennedy Center will select six "tiny" plays (500 words or less) that are representative of John F. Kennedy's legacy as it lives on in the country today to present as staged readings in the Terrace Gallery from May 24 - 25, 2016, followed by a performance at the Irish Arts Center in New York City on May 26, 2016. Selected playwrights will receive a $500 honorarium, one pair of tickets to attend their play in DC and NYC, round-trip travel and hotel accommodations, an invitation to participate in a post-show Q & A, and a bound copy of all plays selected for performance.

The open call for new play submissions is based on the original project, Tiny Plays for Ireland hosted in 2011 by Fishamble: The New Play Company in Ireland. The call to action sought plays that explored contemporary life in Ireland. After receiving an astounding number of tiny play submissions from people of all ages from all over Ireland, Fishamble selected 50 tiny plays that were presented in two performances and published in a book.

As President Kennedy's 100th birthday approaches on May 29, 2017, the Kennedy Center, in collaboration with Fishamble: The New Play Company and the Irish Arts Center, encourages U.S. residents to write an original "tiny" play (500 words or less) examining his legacy as it lives on in the country today and responding to the call, "Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country." The Kennedy Center seeks plays from across the United States, from people from all walks of life and all backgrounds, from writers young and old, from those who have written many times, to those who have never written a play before. One play will be selected from each of the following six categories: Middle school (grade 6-8 or equivalents) or ages 11-13, High school (grade 9-12 or equivalents) or ages 14-17, Adults ages 18-26, Adults ages 27-59, Adults ages 60 and over, and Kennedy Center family (staff, volunteers, and their immediate family members). Workshops and online tutorials will be provided by the Kennedy Center to assist writers in the development of their plays. Additional submission criteria and official rules can be found here.

All submissions must be received by February 19, 2016. Plays may be submitted online at tkc.co/submittinyplays or by mail to: Kennedy Center, Education Division, ATTN: Tiny Plays, P.O. Box 101510, Washington, DC 20566.

For more information about Ireland 100: Celebrating a Century of Irish Arts and Culture please visit: www.kennedy-center.org/ireland100.