One-Act Play Festival

Who

Frostburg State University's Center for Literary Arts

What

The Thirteenth Annual One-Act Play Festival

Where

We plan to hold the 2022 One-Act Festival in person in the historic Palace Theatre. 

When

12 November 2022

How

The One-Act Play Festival traditionally features staged productions of the winning plays of our international One-Act Playwriting Competition; a talkback with writers, actors, and directors; and a reception. This year will be a little different. 

Tickets

Tickets will be available for sale at Main Street Books and on the evening of the performance at the Palace Theatre. 

One-Act Playwriting Competition

Submissions for the Twelfth Annual One-Act Play Competition will be accepted between January 1st, 2022 - June 1st, 2022.

Writers must submit their one-act plays (with a running time of 40 minutes or less) to the Center for Literary Arts by June 1st. 

The first prize winner will receive $750 and a production of his or her play at the Frostburg One-Act Playwriting Festival. Second and third prize winners will receive $250 and $100, respectively, as well as staged readings of their works.

Plays will be judged on the following criteria:

• Plot
• Character Development
• Dialogue
• Overall writing quality

Winning entries will all receive cash prizes and either production (first prize) or staged readings (second and third prizes) as determined by the judges. This playwriting competition is being held in accordance with The Frostburg Center for Literary Arts' mission to provide a variety of opportunities in the literary arts.

Submissions deadline: June 1st, 2022

Playwrights are limited to two (2) submissions.

How to Submit

Please read and follow our submission guidelines. Submissions that are incomplete or do not follow these guidelines will be disqualified. To enter your play, you must submit the following:

1. Three (3) hard copies of your play (we are not accepting electronic submissions at this time).
   • Plays should run 40 minutes or less and be written in the proper playwriting format (when in the proper format, running time is approximately one minute per page):
   • The first page/title page must contain ONLY THE NAME of your play. NOTE: The author's name should not appear anywhere on the work.
   • A list of characters with a brief physical description of each should also be included.
   • Each copy of your play should be bound (no hard cover bindings, please). Loose pages or plays without some form of binding will be discarded.
   • Plays should contain 8 or fewer actors.
   • One person plays are accepted.
   • Plays should have simple staging and technical needs.
   • Previously produced plays are ineligible (however, plays that received staged readings are permitted)
2. A cover letter with the following information (paper clipped to the front page of your play):
   • The name of your play
   • Your name full address, full contact information (including your e-mail and phone number)
   • A brief synopsis of your play (for publicity purposes if your play is selected)
   • A brief biography
3. A check in the amount of $20 (US dollars) for each play submitted, made payable to: Frostburg State University. Please write "One-Act Competition" in the check's memo line.

   The submission package must be sent to:

   Frostburg One-Act Playwriting Competition
   FSU Center for Literary Arts
   Frostburg State University
   101 Braddock Road
   Frostburg, MD 21532

Additional Information

• Registered, certified or hand-delivered mail will not be accepted.
• Plays will NOT be returned and will be recycled.
• The entry fee is nonrefundable.

Prizes

• First Prize: $750 and production of your play.
• Second Prize: $250 and a staged reading of your play.
• Third Prize: $100 and a staged reading of your play.

The production and staged readings will be held at the Frostburg One-Act Play Festival on 12 November 2022 at the Palace Theatre in Frostburg.

FSU is committed to making all of its programs, services and activities accessible to persons with disabilities. To request accommodations through the ADA Compliance Office, call 301.687.4102 or use a Voice Relay Operator at 1.800.735.2258.