No application fee, Princess Grace Playwriting Awards/ Grants, award: $7,000 (USA)

Deadline: 31 March 2011

Grace Kelly was heralded as a talented actress. During Her career and subsequently as Princess of Monaco, She recognized the importance of encouraging emerging artists and supporting them in the pursuit of their artistic goals. To continue Her legacy, Prince Rainier III established the Princess Grace Foundation – USA as a public charity in 1982. Today, the Princess Grace Awards is a national program dedicated to identifying and assisting emerging theater, dance, and film artists who are at the outset of their careers or at early stages of professional development. This mission is accomplished in playwriting through a residency program at New Dramatists, Inc. in New York City.

• All candidates must be United States citizens or have permanent resident status.
• Eligible playwrights must not have had any professional productions other than those using the showcase code or in an off-off-Broadway theater with 99 or fewer seats. (If your show used a higher contract tier than the showcase code, you are not eligible to apply. If your show received a festival production in a theater with more than 99 seats and did not use an Equity contract, you are eligible to apply.) Development opportunities such as readings and workshops are admissible.

Instructions:

Applicants must include the following:

Signed and dated application

Resume, including a list of other plays written and produced, performance venues and dates

One unpublished, full-length play (A full-length play is a single play that constitutes a full evening of theatre. For example, a 90-minute intermissionless play is a full length.)

• There is no restriction on subject matter
• Both story and language must be original; no adaptations.
• May not have received a professional production as defined above
• Please submit the typed script in a binder (e.g. three-ring, or duotang), using accepted format.
• No permanent binding is permitted (e.g. spiral binding.)

Personal statement: Please describe, in your own words, your views and expectations of your role as a theater artist now and in the future. Please elaborate on your “emerging status” and how you plan to utilize this fellowship. (Not to exceed one page; minimum font: 12pt)

Applicants are also encouraged to submit a letter of recommendation from a theater professional (director, dramaturg, etc.) addressing how the applicant has demonstrated his/her excellence in the field; promise as an outstanding young artist; and why he/she is deserving of a Princess Grace Award.

If you would like confirmation that your application materials have been received, please include a self-addressed stamped postcard with your application. If you would like your script returned, you must include self-addressed packaging (envelope, box, etc.) with appropriate postage, or your script will not be returned. Please do not date or meter the return packaging. Use stamps only. The Foundation cannot be responsible for any loss or damage. Please note, the Award winner’s script is retained by the Foundation.

Applications must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2011 and should be addressed to:

Princess Grace Playwriting Grant
c/o New Dramatists
424 West 44th Street
New York, New York 10036
(212) 757-6960

Have questions? Visit the FAQ section of our website at www.pgfusa.org

The mission of the Princess Grace Awards is to assist emerging artists at the outset of their careers. What does this mean? Essentially, we encourage emerging playwrights to apply at the beginning of their careers so that through the New Dramatists Fellowship, they can develop their work as well as benefit from being a part of a unique, diverse, dynamic community of professional playwrights. An applicant’s status as an emerging playwright is evaluated during the
adjudication process. Past Playwriting Fellowship recipients include: Bridget Carpenter (’97), Sheila Callaghan (’00), Kipp Erante Cheng (’96), Kara Lee Corthron (’08), Madeleine George (’02), Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (’09), Jesse Kellerman (’03), Kenneth Lin (’05), Victor Lodato (’98), James McManus (’06), Kara Manning (’07), Rogelio Martinez (’01), A. Rey Pamatmat (’10), Adam Rapp (’99), Kate Robin (’95), Edwin Sanchez (’94), and Don Zolidis (’04). To learn more about these Award winners, visit www.pgfusa.org.

Grant Period: September 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012

One playwright will be selected to receive:

• A grant in the amount of $7,500
• A residency (including transportation costs) at New Dramatists, Inc. in New York City
• Inclusion of script in New Dramatists’ library
• National distribution of the recipient’s script to scriptshare subscribers for the duration of the fellowship
• Opportunity for winning play to be licensed and published by Samuel French, Inc.

More information here.