The National Playwriting Program

The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival’s National Playwriting Program (NPP) seeks to identify student playwrights whose work is promising, dynamic, and above all, creative. NPP’s central mission is to develop young playwrights and their work at Region 2’s Festival. Playwrights who are chosen to receive a concert reading of their work will receive valuable feedback that can be used to further develop and refine their work. This program is executed through the support of the NPP’s team of professional writers, directors, and dramaturgs, who bring their expertise to festival every year. Region 2‘s NPP goals for Festival are:

1. To help the student playwright harness his/her creative vision and see the potential in his/her own work, which is presented before an informed and supportive audience;

2. To provide a forum for the student playwright to receive guidance and sensitive, thought- provoking feedback from talented professionals in the field that will help the playwright further sculpt the work;

3. To teach the student playwright to practice the process and etiquette of new play development.

NPP exists for your growth and development as a playwright, as a dramatist, and so that you can have your voice heard. Take advantage of the many opportunities NPP offers to both undergraduate and graduate playwrights. Remember that writing with more frequency and variety betters your chances of developing your voice and making an impact on the theatre.

To that end, we invite you to join us in our passion: the development of new plays.

NPP follows the Actors Equity Staged Reading Guidelines

• Book in hand, no memorization, only minimum staging with no choreography.

• No set, props, wigs, make-up, or costumes.

• Actors use music stands and may interact with each other.

• Only stage directions that are given circumstances and physical actions should be read.

• Minimal music/sound cues when appropriate.