Our 2022 Kaplan Playwright competition is now Closed
Welcome to our new Competition Director, Candace Perry
GRAND PRIZE $1000
KAPLAN FINALISTS, PUBLIC TABLE READS
JACOB SEARS MEMORIAL LIBRARY, DENNIS
Finalists in Eventide Theatre Company’s Kaplan Competition were recently announced. The annual New Playwrights, New Plays: the Jeremiah Kaplan Playwriting Competition gives playwrights the opportunity to submit new work, have time for revision and feedback, and then submit final drafts. This year, thirteen finalists were selected and one winner will be announced on September 1. Finalists have until August 1 to submit their revised scripts. Some of the playwrights will hold public table reads of their plays in order to receive audience feedback. Table reads are free and open to the public. Five of the finalists will present their work at the Jacob Sears Memorial Library in Dennis as follows:
JUNE
Jim Dalglish The Playground Saturday, 6/18 at 2:00 pm
Margaret Van Sant Goody Hallett: The Witch of Eastham Saturday, 6/25 at 2:00 pm
JULY
Symphony Shea Going to Adultown Saturday, 7/9 at 4:30 pm
Frank Hughes Work in Progress Saturday, 7/16 at 4:30 pm
We have our finalists!
Thank you to all the playwrights who entered this year’s Kaplan Competition. Because of the high level of scripts, we selected 13 finalists instead of 12. TABLE READS WILL BEGIN IN JUNE! Finalists, alphabetically by playwrights’ first names, are as follows:
| 1 | Candace Hammond | Burying Dad |
| 2 | Frank Hughes | Work in Progress |
| 3 | Gloria Craig | Wisteria and the Clare de Lune |
| 4 | Gwyn Mcallister | Misdemeanor |
| 5 | Jim Dalglish | The Playground |
| 6 | John Dennis Anderson | Cooper’s Town |
| 7 | Jonathon Ward | The Tempest-Tost Theatre |
| 8 | Margaret Van Sant | Goody Hallett: The Witch of Eastham |
| 9 | Meryl Cohn | The Fade-Away Advantage |
| 10 | Robert Cohen | Discovery |
| 11 | Spencer Keasey | Trinity |
| 12 | Susan Lumenello | Dreamsville |
| 13 | Symphony Shea | Going to Adultown |
Now in it’s 15th year, Eventide Theatre Company showcases an array of Cape Cod creative voices, including our annual New Playwrights, New Plays: the Jeremiah Kaplan Playwriting Competition and Performance.
The New Playwrights, New Plays Competition encourages and stimulates the writing and production of new full-length plays by Cape and Island writers. The Competition is sponsored by Eventide Theatre Company, a Cape Cod non-profit organization devoted to producing stimulating theatre for the purpose of inspiring thought and debate and showcasing the work of local artists.
Questions can be directed to Candace Perry, Kaplan Competition Director, at playwrights@eventidearts.org
Significant Dates
January 31
Registration for intent to submit with working title
April 1
Playwrights submit completed drafts of plays
May 15
Up to 12 finalists announced
June/July
Table readings of finalists’ plays with opportunity for feedback
August 1
Finalists submit completed plays
September 1
Winner announced
October
Two performance readings of winning play
Previous Winners
The 2007 winner ~ Meridian Summer by Candace Perry
The 2008 winner ~ Sequel by David Kucher
The 2009 winner ~ Eucatastrophe by Andy Reynolds
The 2010 winner ~ This Verse Business by A.M. Dolan
The 2011 winner ~ To Be in the Game by Tom Gotsill
The 2013 winner ~ A Talented Woman by James Dalglish and Lynda Sturner
The 2014 winner ~ Fifteen Men in a Smoke Filled Room by Colin Crowley
The 2015 winner ~ The Final Say by Meryl Cohn
The 2016 winner ~ Bruno by Raymond van Over
The 2017 winner ~ Colonel of Reason by Tom Gotsill
The 2018 winner ~ Office Noise by Bob Dutton
The 2020 winner ~ Touched By War by James Marlow
Qualification Guidelines
We accept full-length play manuscripts (musicals may be considered IF a recording of the songs is also provided) for consideration as a qualified submission. Plays that have been previously produced will not be considered for this competition.
Qualified Submissions MUST have a direct connection to Cape Cod & the Islands. An example of a direct connection may include:
- A play written by an author with a Cape Cod & the Islands connection (resident, previous resident, summer resident, artist in residence, performer, etc.)
- A play with Cape Cod & the Islands settings, major characters, and/or occurrence which impacts the narrative.
These rules ARE subjective and are subject to the interpretation of the Competition Director. A $25 administrative fee will apply to all submissions. Scholarship opportunities are available and are based on need.
Adjudication
All plays will receive blind readings by a team of playwrights, directors and theater students. Up to 12 plays will be selected to advance as finalists. Readers’ scoring sheets will be available upon request.
Finalists will have the opportunity to produce a table read of their plays before the completed play is due for submission. Finalists’ plays will be read and judged by an advanced theater team, and one winner will be selected.
The playwright chosen as having submitted the best script will receive a $1,000.00 cash prize and a two performance productions. The play may be considered to return in an encore production the following year as a featured previous winner at the discretion of the Artistic Committee.
