ASUNCION PLAYWRIGHTS PROJECT...
2009 Deadline has been extended!!!

The new deadline for the 2009 Playwrights competition has been extended to February 28, 2009.

The submission period for the 2008-09 Asunción Playwrights Project play competition is now open. Finalists and public reading schedule for the 2009 series will be announced in April 2009. See below form more information on how to submitt your work.

A Showcase for LATINO Playwrights!
Pregones Theater's Asunción Playwrights Project showcases the work of Latino playwrights exploring issues of difference and transformation at the limits of queer identity. Through its own public readings and workshop production series, the project fosters fun and genuine dialogue between playwrights, theatermakers, LGBTQ communities, and a general audience. For the play competition component, Latino playwrights whose work explicitly addresses issues of gender and sexuality are invited to apply. The project especially seeks works that challenge normative straight/gay binaries. Submissions by women writers are encouraged. Both Spanish and English language manuscripts are welcome.

Each year, up to four finalists are selected and given a public reading at Pregones Theater in the South Bronx. Readings are followed by an open discussion with the playwright, fellow artists, and audience members. A panel of jurors makes the final selection of the year's winning play.

The winner recieves a $500 award and the play is given a professionally cast, fully staged workshop production at Pregones' state-of-the-arts facility.

SELECTION PROCESS
The selection process is made up of two preliminary rounds.

The first round is open to any author interested in submitting his/her work. A completed application form must be submitted together with a 10 page sample of the work. Only the top eight works move on to the second round.

The second round is by invitation only. The top eight playwrights from the first selection round are invited to submit their work in its entirety for final consideration. The public readings are selected from this group of finalists. Asunción organizes and promotes the readings, and offers administrative support and rehearsal space for the reading.

All plays must be original, full length works for the stage that have never been produced and are not currently under option. Plays may be submitted in Spanish or English, and there are no restrictions on style or structure. Asunción will only consider works of superior artistic rigor that meet one or more of the project's criteria:

• explore issues of difference and transformation at the limits of queer identity;
• challenge normative assumptions of gender;
• present Latino spiritual and sensual explorations beyond the boundaries of gender and essentialist notions of sexual orientation;
• go beyond coming out stories;
• challenge normative notions of family;
• dwell in alterity and encounter;
• place queer expectations of love and sex in a Latino cultural/historical context;
• are significant to the lives of Latino lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer people.

The Asunción Playwrights Project is recognized with an special merit recognition from HOLA Organization of Latin Actors.

APPLICATION guidelines
1. Complete the Asunción Application Form. The form consists of a series of questions and be downloaded in PDF format at the Pregones Theater website. You may also request a hard copy by sending a self-addressed, stamped, letter-sized envelope to: Jorge B. Merced, Associate Artistic Director, Asunción Application Request, Pregones Theater, 571-575 Walton Avenue, Bronx NY 10451.
2. All applications must be written, signed, and submitted by the playwright. Include a brief description of the play and two copies of a 10-page sample of the script. DO NOT INCLUDE A FULL COPY OF THE SCRIPT.
3. You must include a copy of your resume with the application.
4. The first round of selection is based on samples of no more than ten consecutive pages from any segment of the work. Samples must be typewritten or word-processed in typeface no smaller than 12 point, double-spaced and on 8½" X 11" white paper. You may submit works in either English or Spanish.
5. If you are submitting more than one script, you must complete an application for each work. No more than two entries per writer will be accepted each year.
6. Please include a self-addressed stamped postcard, or e-mail address to confirm receipt of your entry. COD Deliveries will not be accepted.
7. Only those authors invited to the second round of selection must, at such time, send two unbound copies of the full script, typewritten or word-processed in typeface no smaller than 12 point, double-spaced and on 8½" X 11" white paper. On the first page of each copy you must include the title and a brief description of the play.
8. Please include a return package with sufficient postage if you would like your script returned.

APPLICATION Deadline
The current application deadline is February 28, 2009 (postmarked).
Faxed, e-mailed, or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Don't forget to submit the Application Form.