Hello Friends!
Elemental is tickled to announce that, for the FIRST time ever, we will be accepting submissions for the 2011 GO.GO PLAYS FESTIVAL!
Love writing plays? Always wanted to try to write a play? Do you love the theatre? Are you a famous-yet-reclusive novelist trying to re-ignite your creative furnace and want to join forces with Providence’s hippest theatre artists to remind the world of your literary greatness? [editor's note: We just found out JD Salinger died. So I guess this goes out to Harper Lee?] Or do you just love Elemental?
Then keep your eyes on this page. Because on September 15th, we will be announcing the rules for our FIFTH ANNUAL GO.GO PLAYS FESTIVAL, and this year, we’re opening up the writing process to all our friends. This space will be the place for the details about the shared elements, submission information, and the selection process. And now, your questions…
Q: Why do I have to wait until September 15th?
A: The GO.GO PLAYS are our version of “instant playwriting”; we decide on some common elements and ask our writers to use them in their own way, and then we give them an intentionally short writing period, because it’s kind of fun to see what you come up with when you have a deadline. In addition, these plays are ideally immediate responses to the elements; hopefully, that sense of immediacy translates into the work!
Q: What are these “common elements” that you keep mentioning?
A: Each fall, we select a few randomly-suggested ideas and ask that each playwright find a way to use them in his/her play. Last year, for instance, all the writers had to use the same location (randomly selected: a cabin); a few years ago, each play had to have a broken toy, a public auction, a crack in the sidewalk, a song, and an event “out of time”. These elements don’t have to be the focus of the play, but they do have to appear somewhere in there. We try to pick things that will give our writers inspiration, so have fun and be creative!
Q: I already have a kick-ass play written? Can I just submit that?
A: First of all, congratulations on your kick-ass play. Secondly, we prefer that the GO.GO PLAYS are born out of the unholy union of pressure and the writer’s response to the elements. So, sadly, no.
Q: When can I submit a play?
A: Anytime between September 15th and October 31. That’s six weeks, people! Submission details will follow at this site.
Q: My name is Harper Lee, and I am a famous reclusive author. If I submit a play, will you guarantee that you will produce it?
A: Any Pulitzer winner who is willing to waive her/his usual advances and fees will be STRONGLY considered.
Q: How many plays can I submit and how much is this scam gonna cost me?
A: Submitting is free! But please – one submission per person. We’re a mom-and-pop operation over here.
Hopefully, this answers most of your questions. You can e-mail us here. In the meantime, get excited! Tell your friends! Tell your neighbors! For heaven’s sake, tell Harper Lee! We are super-excited to read your plays, so keep checking here for details!
Love,
Dave Rabinow
Elemental Theatre
