THE ARTHUR W. STONE PLAYWRITING AWARD

PURPOSE

The Arthur W. Stone Playwriting Award was established in 2006 by the Stone Theatre at Louisiana Tech University. Arthur W. Stone was Director of Theatre at Louisiana Tech from 1947-1975. During his years of active service to theatre in Louisiana, “Papa” Stone was a strong advocate for playwrights and their art and craft. The award intends to encourage and stimulate playwrights through the production of their work.

JUDGING

Each play will be read and judged by a screening committee, the composition of which will be determined by the Director of the School of the Performing Arts at Louisiana Tech. Semi-Finalists and Finalist will be considered by a select departmental committee.

AWARD

$500 cast award to the winning playwright.
A fully-mounted production during the 2009-2010 Stone Theatre Season.
The winning playwright will be invited to Ruston to serve as Artist-in-Residence the week of the show. Louisiana Tech University will provide up to $500 to the winning playwright to assist with travel, accommodations, and per diem.
Classroom and media appearances, along with conducting seminars and workshops will be part of the residency.

WINNING PLAYWRIGHT

Louisiana Tech University has the right to produce the play for up to eight performances, as part of the Stone Theatre season and for any additional performances if entered in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Louisiana Tech University has the right and permission to make rehearsal copies of the text.
Louisiana Tech University has the right to use the title of the play and the author's name in publicity and promotion.
Louisiana Tech University has the right to negotiate with the playwright for future productions of the work.
In the event of all subsequent publications or productions of the winning manuscript (or versions thereof) and as one of the stipulations of the award, the author agrees to indicate in a footnote or in the playbill that the script won the Arthur W. Stone Playwriting Award and was produced by the Stone Theatre at Louisiana Tech University.
Louisiana Tech University will not make any additional claims to the use of the script.
The winning playwright is ineligible to enter future playwriting competitions at Louisiana Tech University.
The Stone Theatre reserves the right to video tape the production for archival purposes and possible airing over local and regional television stations.

RULES

1. There are no theme or genre restrictions. The winning script will be one that will suit the skills of the student performers and technicians and will comply with the production limitations inherent in college and university seasons.

2. The competition is open to any and all playwrights, but only one play per playwright may be entered.

3. Entries must be original, full-length plays or musicals and belong to the playwright. Co-authored scripts or adaptations are acceptable. The legal clearance of materials not in the public domain is the full responsibility of the playwright.

4. One-act plays and works previously entered in playwriting competitions sponsored by Louisiana Tech University are not eligible.

5. Submission is restricted to plays that have been previously produced no more than two times. Previously published scripts are not eligible.

6. No revisions will be accepted once a script has been submitted.

7. Scripts must be securely bound within a notebook, cover or folder and clearly identified. All entries must be accompanied with a synopsis, unbound from the script, of no more than one page and a bio of the author. Electronic submissions will be accepted as long as the text is in rich text format, Microsoft Word, or Final Draft Pro.

8. Scripts will be accepted between October 1, 2008, and March 1, 2009. The Winner will be announced in May, 2009.

9. Louisiana Tech University reserves the right to accept or reject any play entered in the Arthur W. Stone Playwriting Award competition.

10. No written or oral critique will be given on plays submitted. Plays without SASE adequate for handling via the US Postal Service will not be returned.

11. All entries will be handled with extreme care, but Louisiana Tech University cannot assume responsibility for lost or damaged scripts. It is suggested that playwrights retain copies of their scripts.

SUBMISSION

One copy of each play submitted should be mailed to: The Arthur W. Stone Playwriting Award, School of the Performing Arts, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272. Electronic submissions may be sent via attachment to: stoneplaywritingaward@yahoo.com.