NOW IN IT’S 20TH YEAR!
The Jeremiah Kaplan Playwriting Competition was founded in 2006 by the Eventide Theatre Company, a Cape Cod non-profit theater organization, to encourage original works by local playwrights. The competition awards a $1000 first place, $500 second place and $250 third place cash prize. The winning unproduced, full-length play, must have a specific focus on Cape Cod and the Islands, requiring a direct connection to the area for submissions. The process includes blind readings of submissions, selection of finalists, public table reads for feedback and revision, and a final judgment by theater professionals.
Key Aspects
- Purpose
The competition aims to showcase and develop new, original, full-length plays written by playwrights connected to the Cape Cod and the Islands region.
- Founder
The competition is a creation of the Eventide Theatre Company, a non-profit theater company based in Dennis, MA, that produces stimulating theater and supports local artists in collaboration with the Kaplan Foundation.
- Eligibility
Submissions are open to full-length plays (including musicals with song recordings) that have not been previously produced.
- Cape Cod Connection
Submissions must have a direct connection to Cape Cod and the Islands, which can include the author’s residency, a play set on the Cape, or major characters with such a connection.
Process
- Submission: Playwrights submit their original, full-length manuscripts.
- Adjudication: Submitted plays receive blind readings by professional theater personnel.
- Finalists: A limited number of finalists are selected.
- Table Reads: Finalists are invited to hold public table reads of their plays to get feedback from the community and make revisions.
- Winner: A winner is selected by judges, receiving a cash prize and recognition.
