Playwriting Guidelines and Rules

MTA Playwriting Guidelines and Rules:                                                                                                                 Spring 2022        
  • All submissions must be under 10-12 minutes (5-8 pages).
  • All submissions must be a comedy or contain comedic elements.
  • All submissions must be family friendly - but may contain adult themes.  Limit the use of profanity.
  • All submissions must include 1 to 4 actors only.
  • All characters must be 16 years or older.
  • All submissions must be in English.
  • All submissions must be a Microsoft Word or a PDF document.
  • All submissions must include a cover page with name, phone number and email address.
  • Cover page will be removed prior to judging.  Submissions will be blind judged.
  • All submissions must be original, and the playwright must own all rights to it.
  • All submissions must be free of any and all contractual obligations.
  • All submissions must be easily performed in a variety of locations.  Do not use any special technical effects and/or limiting staging or props. 
  • Deadline for submissions:  July 15 2022. 
  • Submissions received after July 15, 2022 will be accepted but may not be considered for judging.
  • There is no limit to the number of submissions that can be entered into the competition.
  • All submissions must be emailed to mtaplaywritingcompetition@gmail.com
Additional Information:
  • Selected playwrights will have their plays produced over the course of one weekend in Fall 2022. 
  • Selected playwrights and a guest will be invited to attend their production at no cost. 
  • Selected playwrights will be paid $20.
  • Selected submissions will become part of the MTA’s “Take it on the Road” schedule for the upcoming season. 
  • Selected playwrights must give the MTA one year of exclusive rights to produce their selected work.
  • The MTA’s “Take it on the Road” series will include ongoing performances for private functions, local businesses, and other events in the surrounding central Illinois community. 
  • Selected playwrights may request to direct and cast their production for the weekend kickoff event in Fall 2022; however, all subsequent performances may be re-cast by MTA. 
  • More information about this will be provided with notification of selection.