Playwriting Contest Information

The Playwriting Contest, co-sponsored by the Henderson County Public Schools and Flat Rock Playhouse YouTheatre, was originally approved by the Curriculum Committee of the Henderson County School Board in January 1993 as an acceptable extra-curricular activity.  Each year the contest includes two divisions--one for Middle Schools and the other for High Schools in Henderson County.

Students are instructed to write a one-act play with ten (or fewer) characters that takes place in

a single location. 

Students should read through the LETTER TO FINAL JUDGES to have an idea of what the judges are looking for, and print a copy of the COVER SHEET and attach it to their script.  Scripts must be submitted to the School Contact (listed below) by March 17, 2008.  The School Contact will forward up to five scripts from your school to the final panel of judges at the Playhouse by April 4, 2008.

A winning entry and a runner-up are selected in each division and schools are notified in mid-April.

• Winning and second-place entries are performed as readings and the playwrights receive cash honorariums. (Winners receive a $200 cash prize plus a Season Pass for the Summer Plays at Flat Rock Playhouse and Runners-up receive a $50 cash prize.  If scripts are co-written the cash prize is divided among the co-writers.)
• The original production of winning and runner-up scripts as “readings” will occur in May and a discussion aimed at aiding the playwright’s revision process will follow the presentation.
• In addition, Flat Rock Playhouse will offer the playwrights a chance to work with mentor-playwrights to further develop their scripts. 
• The final step in the process will be a performance of the winning scripts in the Fall/Winter of the following year with the potential of remounting the production at the playwright’s school.

2008 winners ARE:

• WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS by Jesse Siak of East Henderson High School
• JUST TAKES ONE TIME by Nicole Jones of Flat Rock Middle School

2007 winners WERE:

• GOOD NIGHT, PETE by Jesse Siak of East Henderson High School
• CRIME IN THE EMERALD CITY by Katie O'Shea of Rugby Middle School

2006 winners were:

• ONE GIGANTIC DOSTOEVSKY NOVEL, STARRING CLOWNS by Alex Foote & Brian Rose of West Henderson High School
• JUXTAPOSITION by Olivia Palmer of Hendersonville Middle School

Submit play to your School Contact (listed below) by March 17, 2008--The School Contact will submit the five scripts from each school to Flat Rock Playhouse by April 4, 2008.

SCHOOL CONTACTS

• East Henderson High School - Zach Walker
• Hendersonville High School - Todd Weakley
• North Henderson High School - Fran Nelson
• West Henderson High School - Kelly Cooper
• Apple Valley Middle School -  Theresa Davis
• Flat Rock Middle School - Renee Davenport
• Hendersonville Middle School - Todd Weakley
• Rugby Middle School - Kristy Wagner

Forms

Final Judges Copy/Letter (32k PDF)

Cover Sheet (44k PDF)

Info for School Contacts (32k PDF)

Playwriting Poster (2.4m PDF)* large file