FAQ
F.A.Q. for THE PLAYGROUND:
Our Program for the Development of Original Work
- How do I submit my script?
- Details and submission info are in the section of the website titled, “Details and Submissions.” - Can I submit it partly complete and let you guys finish it?
- We can only consider scripts that have a completed full draft. - What’s a dramaturg?
- They wear many hats, from researcher, to analyst, to… Stealing a little bit, the definition we like for our Playground is, “Information designer, literary director.” - Deep.
- Thanks. However, perhaps the question you’re really asking is, “Why a dramaturg?” - Okay, why a dramaturg?
- To quote another guy, Brian Quirt, LMDA President, “The dramaturg can ask the questions that no one else has asked because they are immersed in the process in a very particular way… Dramaturgs are different [from other collaborators] in that their responsibility isn’t to a single aspect of the creation…The dramaturg is there to respond to the ideas that are being expressed and to help find the next step in the process.” (Opera America, spring 2008) - Do I have to be a New Yorker to submit it to the Playground?
- No, in fact we’ve considered scripts from as far away as London and Dublin. The logistics of the workshop become more difficult but we’re up for a challenge. - Do I get paid?
- Unfortunately we do not pay anyone for the Playground. We had a money tree, but when we put in the sandbox and jungle gyms for the Playground the tree died. Now all the money goes into producing more Playgrounds
- We do pay our collaborators for full productions. - What is this “blind submission” business?
- Basically, we want to remove any chance of unintended gender, racial or cultural bias from the script selection process – remove the issue from the table and all we’re left with is the script.
Does Blind Submission mean you steal my script?
- Yes.
- I mean no. Definitely no. We have a designated staff member who receives all the scripts and submission information. Each script is assigned a number and the staff member scrubs the scripts of playwright specific info (author name, biographical information, location, personal notes etc. are removed).
- Anytime you submit a script anywhere you should copyright your script. Go to http://www.copyright.gov/ and all your dreams shall come true for a mere $35-$45.
· Hold the phone for a second… my script is about my life story, growing up in my culture with my circumstance. I think that’s very relevant to the script and the audience
- Awesome. Put that passion for life that we absolutely love to see and look for IN the text of the script. Do your best to make your script be the embodiment of that passion and we will do our best to foster the same. Though we highly, highly recommend against it, you can opt out of the blind submission policy if you absolutely must. - I submitted once already and you didn’t pick my perfect and brilliant script. It’s about horse ranching leprechauns. I called it, “Sea McBreeze”. Can you tell me why you didn’t select it?
- Honestly it could be any number of reasons: The script didn’t speak to us, it wasn’t right for our needs at this time, we hate leprechauns… it may not mean that your script is bad. - Can you give me feedback?
- No. Here’s the thing: Even though we employ a team of geniuses for script reading, we may just not connect with your script and end up steering it awry. Maybe we just don’t get it. The only feedback we’ll give is to find someone you trust and respect and work directly with them, or take a class, just keep plugging away at it, or find a company with a team of geniuses more genius-ee than our team of geniuses and get it produced. In the words of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, “Make it so”. - Would it be good for me to submit it again?
- Is it significantly different now? - No. I may fix the title though.
- Then it’s probably not going to help. We read all scripts and keep all scripts on file. If you have made significant changes, or write another script, we’d be happy to look at those. - My script is supposed to be done by a company of mimes. Can I still submit it?
- Well, sure. Mimes can be awesome. Beckett wrote plays without words, though it was closer to clown work. It may be a bit awkward as the Playground culminates in a reading, but we can be creative. - Is there any specific topic you are looking for scripts about?
- No. Just write goodly. - Is there any specific community you are trying to reach?
- Breathing. - What do you have against zombies?
- We support artistic risk-taking but firmly believe that nobody should die or have their brains eaten during a public reading of a script. Our insurance company agrees with us. - What does “Moderated Discussion” mean?
- There are useful comments and… other comments. Audience reactions, confusions, clarities, etc are useful comments that can inform and support a critical or structural analysis to shine light on opportunities for the playwright to really explore their message. Suggestions to rewrite the script as a musical or input on what color the horses would be don’t tend to be more than clever at best.
- You are so wise.
- And good looking too.
- I’ve got a brilliant director in mind; can I submit her to direct the piece?
- The playwright is welcome to submit names for the Director and Actors of the piece, but the ultimate decision will be made by the Executive Producer. We’ve learned that the play is best served by an in-house Dramaturg. - Her name is Julie Taymor.
- If you can get Julie Taymor to direct, we’ll definitely consider her for the position. - What is the production value of the staged reading?
- The intent of the Playground is to bring focus to the script. Costuming will indicate character, props and staging will be used as vitally necessary to the story. However, any expectations of live horses, wire work, or a fancy set may be best kept elsewhere. - I think my script is perfect. Can you guys just produce it?
- We are always looking for that amazing script that speaks to us and has potential to reach the community for State of Play Theatre’s production arm. The Playground series is for script development via a collaborative workshop, however if we find a script submitted to the Playground that knocks us off our feet, that we want to do and feel is ready to be turned into a play you’ll definitely be hearing from us. Also, if we work a play in the Playground and we love it and want to do it you’ll definitely be hearing from us. The short answer is send us your play and we’ll see what happens. - Seriously, no live horses?
- Seriously. No live horses. - What does the “hot little incubator” part of the mission statement mean?
- What does a hot little incubator ever mean? - I think Kanye West should write a song about a hot little incubator.
- If Kanye West were to write a play about a hot little incubator, that might be relevant to this discussion. However, we would still have to consider the structural, thematic, and other aspects of the play, its artistic merit, as well as the potential for production.* - Even if Mr. West gave you lots and lots of money?
- Even if Mr. West gave us lots of money.**
________________
* State of Play Theatre fully supports any effort Mr. Kanye West invests in writing a play.
** If Mr. West or any other individual or entity would like to donate to State of Play Theater, please
visit http://stateofplaytheatre.com/contribute/ for details..