Chicago Dramatists' call for submissions for The Many Voices Project (July 10-23, 2006) Deadline: March 15, 2006

GRAND PRIZE - $1,500
2ND and 3RD PLACE PRIZES - $100
10-MINUTE PRIZE - $100

The Sara Lee Foundation is the exclusive sponsor of The Many Voices Project Chicago Dramatists' Many Voices Project is Chicago's first playwriting contest and developmental showcase that embraces all playwrights of color. The Project will bring together at Chicago Dramatists the city's race and ethnic-specific theatres to search out, develop, and showcase unproduced, full-length and 10-minute plays by U.S.A. playwrights of color, including, for instance, playwrights of African, Latin, Caribbean, Pacific Island, Asian, East Indian, Arab, and Native American descent.

The Many Voices Project is a national competition for full-length plays with a two-week festival of staged readings (approximately July 10 - 23, 2006) at Chicago Dramatists' theatre. It also will include a panel discussion with theatre leaders of color and a special edition of Chicago Dramatists' popular 10-Minute Workshop, solely devoted to playwrights of color (with Guest Judge and Director Derrick Sanders, Artistic Director, Congo Square Theatre Company). The Project will culminate in a Grand Prize of $1,500 (plus 2nd and 3rd Place Prizes of $100 each, and a 10-Minute Play Prize of $100). Winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded on July 24, 2006, the day following the last day of the festival, at Chicago Dramatists' Annual Gala Benefit (to be held at The Mercury Theater in Chicago).

PURPOSE The Many Voices Project was created in response to the staff's and Resident Playwrights' desire to work with more playwrights of color. It is also intended to provide opportunities to playwrights of color for new play development and for professional networking that may lead to productions of their plays. Chicago Dramatists sees this as a project with long-range impact that will expand and deepen the theatre's work and relationships with playwrights (and all artists) of color for years to come.

THEATRE PARTNERS Chicago's many race and ethnic-specific theatres will partner with Chicago Dramatists for The Many Voices Project. These partner theatres will provide readers/judges to help Chicago Dramatists select festival plays and prize winners and also will recommend actors and directors for the festival of staged readings. Theatres that have agreed to participate to date include Congo Square Theater Company, Chicago Theatre Company, Teatro Luna, and Rasaka Theatre Company.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE March 15, 2006 (postmark deadline)
Participant playwrights will be announced by May 15, 2006. Prize winners will be announced and prizes awarded on July 24, 2006.

SUBMISSION RULES AND GUIDELINES Submissions that do not adhere to the rules and guidelines will not be considered. The contest is open to all playwrights of color who are U.S.A. residents, including, for instance, artists of African, Latin, Caribbean, Pacific Island, Asian, East Indian, Arab, and Native American descent. Any type of play and topic will be welcome (plays do not have to be about race or ethnicity). Plays must be in English or primarily in English, unproduced (though readings and workshops are fine), and either full-length (minimum 70 minutes) or under 10 minutes (maximum 10 pages, minimum #12 point typeface). Submitted plays must be in standard industry format and include a standard list of character descriptions/ages and how many actors are needed. Plays must be submitted either not bound or with three hole punch-type binding. No musicals (though plays with music are fine) and no adaptations of works by other authors. No e-mail or fax submissions will be accepted. Include a playwright's bio or resume. Individual playwrights may submit no more than one full-length play and one 10-minute play. Include SASP if notice of receipt is desired. Include SASE if return of manuscript is desired. Otherwise, submissions will not be returned. Submissions must specify the playwrights' name, race or ethnicity, address, e-mail, and all phone numbers. The theatre will provide travel stipends (and will attempt to provide housing) for out-of-town playwrights in the full-length play festival; however, playwrights in the 10-Minute Workshop portion must provide their own travel and housing. All plays will be read at least twice, by different judges from different theatres. Mail submissions by March 15, 2006, (postmark deadline) to:

Ms. Ilesa Duncan
Many Voices Project Director
Chicago Dramatists
1105 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622

Please address all inquiries or questions to Ms. Duncan at the above address, or at
iduncan@chicagodramatists.org
or at (312) 633-0630 ext. 4#.