SUBMIT A PLAY
Submit your play for consideration to be part of the DCPA Middle School and High School Playwriting Competition.
Submissions for this year’s Middle School and High School Playwriting Competition will open in October.
For questions please contact education@dcpa.org.
Submission Requirements:
High school submissions must be:
- An original, unpublished one-act play
- Previously unproduced
- A minimum of 15 pages and a maximum of 35 pages.
- Limited to 2-8 characters
- Submitted online or postmarked no later than the closing date of submissions at midnight (check the submission page for the exact date)
- Formatted according to the DCPA formatting guidelines (see below).
- Required formatting guidelines click here
- Formatting example click here
- Students may submit co-written plays with a maximum of two playwrights per submission
Middle school submissions must be:
- An original, unpublished 10-minute play
- A minimum of 10 pages and maximum of 15 pages.
- Limited to 2-4 characters
- Have a unit set – one location only
- Submitted online or postmarked no later than the closing date of submissions at midnight (check the submission page for the exact date)
- Students my submit co-written plays with a maximum of two playwrights per submission.
Submissions cannot:
- Be a translation or excerpt
- Have the playwright’s name anywhere on the manuscript. Submissions are read blindly. Students submitting online enter their contact information separately from their manuscript. If submitting by mail, please include all contact information on a separate sheet of paper.
Additional guidelines:
- All playwrights must be enrolled in a Colorado middle school, high school, or home school.
- Playwrights can only submit one entry per year.
Playwriting Competition FAQs
How should I format my play?
Please refer to the DCPA formatting guidelines below.
All winners will be required to format their plays according to these guidelines.
What is the difference between a screenplay and a play?
A screenplay is a script written exclusively for television or film. It is written with the camera in mind. A one-act play is for the stage and is written for a live audience. A successful play focuses on dialogue and discovery through dialogue. A screenplay focuses on visual story telling through action and multiple locations.
Can I submit an adaptation?
We are looking for original work. However, if you are inspired by a well-known story but are creating your own original interpretation, we’ll consider it. For example, West Side Story is inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet but is an original work.
What kind of subject material are you looking for?
You have stories to tell. Trust your own experience and know that it has value. We don’t need you to re-write Hunger Games for the stage. We want original work with your authentic voice. We will not dictate subject matter; however, gratuitous violence, adult language or adult themes do not necessarily make a great play.
How many pages can I write?
High school plays must be between 15-35 pages including the title page.
Middle school plays must be between 10-15 pages including the title page.
Follow the formatting guidelines so that your page numbers are accurate.
Plays that do not fall within these length requirements will not be considered for the competition.
Should I write my name on my manuscript?
No. Manuscripts are read blindly. If you submit online you can fill out contact information separately on your profile. Your uploaded document should be free of any identifying information. If you choose to mail-in or hand deliver your manuscript, please include your contact information, including your high school and parent/guardian name and phone number on a separate piece of paper.
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