Norton J. “Sky” Cooper established the New American Play Prize at Marin Theatre Company in 2007 to celebrate the work of the American playwright and to encourage the creation of bold, powerful new voices and plays for the American stage. The Sky Cooper Prize will be awarded annually to either an established or emerging playwright for an outstanding new work. The play selected as the Sky Cooper winner will receive a full production at Marin Theatre Company as part of the theatre’s annual season and will be given regional and national promotion. In addition, the playwright receives a $10,000 award, as well as travel and accommodations for the MTC rehearsal period.

Guidelines
Plays must be full-length in any genre: comedy, drama, musical, etc. Translations, individual one-acts and any play previously submitted for the Sky Cooper Prize are not eligible. Collaborations are welcomed, in which case prize benefits are shared. Plays may not have received a full-scale, professional production prior to submission. Plays that have had a workshop, reading or non-professional production are still eligible. Playwrights must be citizens of the United States. Playwrights with past production experience are especially encouraged to submit new work. Only one submission per playwright is allowed each year. If you are eligible for the David Calicchio Award you may submit your play to each prize, but please only one play per playwright.

Submission is a two-phase process:

Phase I: Submit a two-page maximum abstract of the play including title, character breakdown, brief story synopsis and playwright bio or resume. Also include 10 pages of consecutive sample dialogue. If submitting a musical, please include a tape or CD of selections from the score. Do not send sheet music or videos. Literary agents may submit full scripts of their client’s work. All abstracts and dialogue samples will be read. From these, selected manuscripts will be solicited for Phase II. Do not send a manuscript with or instead of the abstract. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be read. Submitted materials, including tapes and CDs, will be returned only if a self-addressed, stamped envelope with adequate postage is provided. If you would like notification that your submission was received, please send it with Delivery Confirmation, Certified Mail or Return Receipt through the U.S. Postal Service. Electronic submissions are accepted in Word or PDF format only and paper copies must also be sent to MTC if requested. Please no inquiries.

Phase II: All manuscripts that have been solicited after Phase I will be read. Manuscripts should be neatly typed, securely bound and have the playwright’s name, contact address and phone number clearly visible on the front page. No solicited manuscript will be returned without a self-addressed, stamped envelope with adequate postage.

All final selections are made by Jasson Minadakis, MTC Artistic Director.

Submissions are accepted between April 1 abd August 31, 2008 (postmarked).

Address all submissions to:
The Sky Cooper New American Play Prize
Marin Theatre Company
397 Miller Ave
Mill Valley, CA 94941
or electronically to skycooper@marintheatre.org

The David Calicchio/Marin Theatre Company
Emerging American Playwright Prize

Norton J. “Sky” Cooper established the Emerging American Playwright Prize award at Marin Theatre Company in 2007 in honor of David Calicchio’s lifelong career as a playwright and in support of Marin Theatre Company’s commitment to the discovery and development of new and emerging American playwrights. The Calicchio Prize will be awarded annually to a professionally unproduced playwright for a new work that shows outstanding promise and a distinctive new voice for the American theatre. The play selected as the Calicchio Prize winner will receive 2 public staged readings at Marin Theatre Company as part of the theatre’s annual Nu Werkz Series. The playwright will receive a $2,500 award, as well as travel and accomodations for the MTC rehearsal period (25 hours).

Guidelines
Plays must be full-length in comedy, drama, etc. Musicals, translations, adaptations, individual one-acts and any play previously submitted for the David Calicchio Prize are not eligible. Collaborations are welcomed, in which case prize benefits are shared. Playwrights may not have received a full-scale, professional production of the submitted play, or any of their other works, prior to submission. Plays and playwrights that have had workshop, reading or non-professional productions are still eligible. Playwrights must be citizens of the United States. Only one submission per playwright is allowed each year. If you plan to also submit your play to the Sky Cooper Play Prize you may do so but please only one play per playwright.

Submission is a two-phase process:

Phase I: Submit a two-page maximum abstract of the play including title, character breakdown, brief story synopsis and playwright bio or resume. Also include 10 pages of consecutive sample dialogue. Literary agents may submit full scripts of their client’s work. All abstracts and dialogue samples will be read. From these, selected manuscripts will be solicited for Phase II). Do not send a manuscript with or instead of the abstract. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be read. Submitted materials, including tapes and CDs, will be returned only if a self-addressed, stamped envelope with adequate postage is provided. If you would like notification that your submission was received, please send it with Delivery Confirmation, Certified Mail or Return Receipt through the U.S. Postal Service. Electronic submissions are accepted in Word or PDF format only and paper copies must be sent to MTC if requested. Please no inquiries.

All final selections are made by Jasson Minadakis, MTC Artistic Director.

Submissions are accepted between April 1 abd August 31, 2008 (postmarked).

Address all submissions to:
The David Calicchio/Marin Theatre Company
Emerging American Playwright Prize
Marin Theatre Company
397 Miller Ave
Mill Valley, CA 94941
or electronically to davidcalicchio@marintheatre.org