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The SETC/Stage Rights Ready to Publish Award is a program dedicated to developing, publishing, and licensing new works.
In partnership with the Southeastern Theatre Conference, Stage Rights, one of the leading independent theatrical publishers in the country, announces the opening of submissions for the SETC/Stage Rights Ready to Publish Award.
The Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and dynamic membership organization serving a diverse constituency and reaching out across 10 states in the southeast region of the United States and across the nation. SETC is recognized as one of the strongest and broadest networks of theatre practitioners in the United States and provides extensive resources and year-round opportunities for its constituents. Its services, publications, and products contribute to the careers of emerging artists, seasoned professionals, and academicians.
Stage Rights
Founded in 2000, Stage Rights is a Los Angeles-based theatrical publisher, licensing musicals and plays to commercial producers, regional theaters, community theaters and educational theaters across the country and around the world. As an agency for playwrights, Stage Rights is primarily a royalty house, administering performance rights, and collecting & distributing royalties for our authors. We print-on-demand for perusal and production purposes, as well as publish print editions for distribution online, at theaters, at conventions, and in bookstores.
One Selected Play/Playwright Will Receive:
- Publication in the Stage Rights catalog of plays and musicals
- A panel reading of the play at the 2022 SETC Convention, hosted by the SETC Playwriting Committee
- Prominent display of the final published play by Stage Rights at the 2023 SETC Convention
- $400 to support travel expenses to attend SETC Convention 2022 in Memphis, TN *
- SETC Convention Registration and One-Year Membership
- Playwright retains all copyright ownership
* The goal is to have the selected Playwright attend Convention in-person to present. We understand COVID may prevent this and SETC will work to offer a virtual option. If selected Playwright does not attend in-person, the $400 travel stipend will not be applicable.
Submission Requirements:
- There is no charge for submission and the competition is open to all
- Playwrights may submit up to two plays (separate applications, please)
- Play must be suitable for professional, amateur, community, and/or educational theatre venues
- Play must be full-length (no musicals, short plays, or short play compilations)
- Play must be unpublished and produced one or more times
- Playwrights already published by Stage Rights are not eligible
- Previous winners of Ready to Publish are not eligible
- All submissions must be complete for entry
- Once your materials are submitted no changes may be made
- Playwright must attend the SETC Convention in Memphis, TN (See exception above.)
Information & Materials Required for Application (ALL PDF Format):
- Contact information for the Playwright
- Biographical details, resume, headshot, and social media handles
- Title of the play
- Genre of the play defined as a comedy, drama, history or other
- Recommended rating (i.e. G, PG, PG-13 or R)
- One paragraph description of the piece
- A longer, more detailed synopsis of the piece (2-3 pages)
- A complete copy of the script in PDF format
- Details about cast numbers (male, female, other, ensemble, etc.)
- Character breakdown/descriptions
- Description of setting
- Description of scenic/technical requirements
- Production history details
- Marketing materials of previous production
Relevant Dates
- Oct. 12 – Nov. 18, 2021: Window for open submission
- Dec. 2, 2021: Notification of finalists
- Jan. 20, 2022: Announcement of selected play
- Mar. 9 – Mar. 13, 2022: 73rd Annual SETC Convention in Memphis, TN (Note: The panel reading will take place between March 10 - 12.)