East West Players announces Pacific Century, A National Playwriting Competition

East West Players, the nation’s premier Asian American theatre organization, announces Pacific Century, a national playwriting competition with cash prizes awarded to the top three plays, including $5,000 for the first place winner. All winners will be considered for workshop and/or production at East West Players.

“Through Pacific Century East West Players hopes to encourage more works with Asian American themes and characters,” states Producing Artistic Director, Tim Dang. “I recommend that anyone with a new play falling within the requirements of this competition submit their play. I also encourage new comedies as Asian American theatre is in need of more humorous productions to balance an overwhelming majority of dramas. I believe everyone can benefit from more laughter in our world today.”

East West Players previously held a similar competition in 2004 called Got Laughs? The winners of Got Laughs? included Mrinalini Kamath for CELESTIAL MOTIONS, Henrietta Chico Nofre for DRIVING IN L.A. and Jiehae Park for HAPPY MOON DAY, HOLLY WOO.

All our playwriting contests have received major funding from The James Irvine Foundation. Previous EWP writing competition judges have included Philip Kan Gotanda, David Henry Hwang, Gary Shimokawa, Wakako Yamauchi, actress Amy Hill, playwright Alice Tuan, Judith Nihei and Henry Chan.

Submissions will be accepted through June 30, 2008. Notification of winners will take place in January 2009. Submissions must be original, unproduced full-length plays or musicals. Translations or adaptations will not be accepted. Submissions must have Asian Pacific American themes and/or characters as the primary focus. All genres are welcome, comedies are encouraged. Plays should require no more then 6-8 actors. Musicals should require no more then 10-12 actors. The story should be told in less than 2.5 hours including a 15 minute intermission.

All submissions must include a $15 entry free with the Pacific Century entry form which can be found at www.eastwestplayers.org/literary.htm. Submissions should be mailed to PACIFIC CENTURY Playwriting Competition, 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. For additional information contact Literary Manager Jeff Liu at 213.625.7000 x27 or JLiu@EastWestPlayers.org