Anthology of Community Theatre Plays

Theatre Ontario is seeking submissions for a new anthology of full-length plays recently premiered by community theatres in Ontario and written by Ontario playwrights. The anthology will be published by Playwrights Canada Press and will be launched at the 2011 Theatre Ontario Festival as part of Theatre Ontario’s 40th Anniversary celebrations.

Submission Guidelines

1. Open to playwrights who live in Ontario.
2. Each playwright may submit no more than two plays.
3. The submitted script must have had its premiere production by an amateur Ontario community theatre.
4. The submitted script must be substantially as presented, with only minor changes.
5. Scripts must be full-length in English with an estimated running time of at least 75 minutes, with or without intermissions.
6. Submitted material should be suitable for mature performers.
7. Only submissions that include the production history of the play will be considered. This includes the name of the Ontario community theatre that produced the play, the year the play was produced, the author and original director. A list of the original cast and creative staff will be needed eventually if the script is selected for publication.

Please note: Including another writer’s work in your own is an infringement of copyright unless permission is sought from the rights-holder to use the work. Examples of using someone else’s work would be including poetry or lyrics or excerpts from prose. Therefore, when submitting the script, please highlight the use of another writer’s words in your work, should such a situation exist. Should your work be selected for publication, it will be your responsibility at that time, to secure permission from the rights-holder to include the excerpt in your work. You will also be responsible for any costs required to obtain those permissions.

Submission Requirements

1. There are no entry forms or entry fees. Please submit one copy of the script by mail or deliver it to the Theatre Ontario office or to the Community Theatre Co-ordinator. Do not submit scripts electronically or by fax. If selected for publication, your script must be available electronically at a later date.
2. On the submissions title page include the play title, playwright’s name, and full production history of the play (see above explanation of production history). Also include your complete mailing address including e-mail address.
3. Complete scripts must be typewritten or word-processed and printed on 8 ½” x 11” paper. Pages should be numbered sequentially.
4. Submitted scripts will not be returned unless the playwright provides the necessary pre-paid packaging.
5. Receipt of your submission will be acknowledged by e-mail.

Deliver or mail your submission to Theatre Ontario before March 31, 2010 at 5:00pm.

Submit plays to:

Community Theatre Play Anthology
c/o Theatre Ontario
215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 210
Toronto ON M5T 2C7

Selection Process

You will be advised by June 30, 2010 if your play has been accepted for publication. Unsuccessful submissions will be contacted. When permission has been confirmed, the list of successful plays will be published on our website.

If selected, you will receive a permission form, granting Playwrights Canada Press the non-exclusive right to publish your play. You will be paid a fee for the use of the play script in the anthology.

For more information about the Anthology of Community Theatre Plays, please contact Dennis Johnson, Community Theatre Coordinator at dennis@theatreontario.org or 416.408.4556 x.13.
Discuss the Anthology of Community Theatre Plays on the Theatre Ontario Blog.