The Smith PRIZE
In the Spring of 2006, NNPN began administering a new, annual play prize. Funded by a gift from novelist and playwright Timothy Smith, The Smith Prize is awarded to a play that specifically focuses on American politics - examining our civic institutions, particularly our democratic institutions - and asks: Who are Americans as a people? What are we becoming? What are our global responsibilities? The prize carries a $5,000 cash award, which is split between the playwright and the first National New Play Network member theater that chooses to produce the winning play.
The winner of the first annual award, announced in December 2006, was Topsy Turvy Mouse by Peter Gil-Sheridan. In November 2007, Black Gold by Seth Rozin was announced as the winner of the second Smith Prize, and went on to productions at InterAct Theatre Company (Philadelphia), Prop Thtr (Chicago) and Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis) as part of the Continued Life of New Plays program. The 2008 prizewinner - Y York's dark comedy ...And LA is Burning, received its first NNPN member production from Florida Studio Theatre in March 2009.
THE DEADLINE FOR THE 2010 SMITH PRIZE HAS PASSED. PLEASE CHECK THIS PAGE FOR 2011 SUBMISSION GUIDELINES IN JUNE.
REQUIREMENTS:
1) Only full-length, non-musical plays will be accepted.
2) The play's theme must focus on American politics, as explained above, illuminating issues that can only be dealt with at the national or global level, even if the story is told from an individual perspective.
3) At the time of application, the play must not have had a LORT or New York Equity production.
There are two steps to the application process:
1) Send a letter with the title of your script and your email address, along with a $10 application fee to the National New Play Network, c/o Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
2) Email your script (MSWord or PDF only) to jason@nnpn.org.
The deadline for receipt of both the script and application fee is December 30, 2009. The winner will be announced in June 2010.
