Beginning in May of each year, non-rehearsed readings are held in Pine Mountain Club by local volunteers. The readers will complete a rating-based feedback form. The top rated plays are then chosen for Festival presentation. If your play is selected, you will be notified by June 30 and will be offered an opportunity to produce your own play, if you wish to do that. What this means is that you can work at your local location, pick your own director, actors, and all staging and costuming. You and your production crew would then come to Pine Mountain Club for dress and tech rehearsals as well as the Festival public presentation.
The Staged ReadingThere are various companies which provide "table readings," "staged readings," and even "Full-Fledged Production" of new plays by playwrights. Many of these services only accept work from established playwrights. Others charge significant fees to read and comment on a playwright's work. And there are professional acting companies which a playwright can hire to take a play through all phases. We are different. In fact, we find ourselves unique in this field, for we offer an opportunity for the beginning amateur playwright. Playwriting isn't your profession. But you have a vision of a story which can impact our social direction. However, you have no funds to hire an expensive company to turn your vision into a reality. We offer an opportunity for you to witness a short form--10 minutes--of your vision, played out in front of a "real people" community audience. In Readers Theater style, our actor/readers perform your vision with scripts in hand. We provide all creative personnel, and film your vision for viewing on YouTube and provide you with a DVD copy. Beginning with Season 2012, after the performance, the audience will be engaged in a moderated "talkback," which may provide valuable feedback for the future direction of your vision--whether to enlarge it to a one-act or full play or refine the 10-minute version. This "talkback" will be recorded for your archival use. You can invite your own audience (family, friends, and colleagues) as this is an event open to the community. The Center of the World Festival can be your first step for your "work in progress." And a first step which could bring you a $500 Grant Prize to be used towards the promotion of your creation! |