Grand Rapids Civic Theatre is thrilled to present the Ten for All Festival, a celebration of locally-sourced ten-minute plays.
Written by all. Performed for all. Voted on by all. Ten for All.
THE BASICS
The Ten for All 10-minute playwriting festival is a celebration of everything that makes our creative community so spectacular. For this fourth year of the contest, we are making some exciting updates to showcase the creativity of our West Michigan playwrights!
From many submissions, up to 3 semi-finalists will be chosen in each ADULT DIVISION category and up to 9 semi-finalists will be chosen in the YOUTH DIVISION. Semi-Finalists will receive a reading at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, adjudication by a guest judge, and receive a cash prize. Then a single play in each ADULT DIVISION category and up to 3 plays in the YOUTH DIVISION category will be fully produced for a live audience in performances on May 17 and 18 at Spectrum Theater on the campus of Grand Rapids Community College.
NEW IN 2024
- The COMEDY and DRAMA Categories in the ADULT DIVISION will be open submission to any adult playwright who resides within the West Michigan Area. (Your home address must be within 2 hours driving distance from Grand Rapids Civic Theatre).
- NEW in the Adult Division – the COLLEGE PLAYWRIGHT category will be open to any West Michigan Playwright who is enrolled in a West Michigan college during the 2023-24 Academic Year.
- PLAYWRIGHTS MAY ONLY SUBMIT ONE PLAY TO THE FESTIVAL! (For example, you may NOT submit plays to both the Comedy AND Drama categories, even if they are separate titles).
- YOUTH PLAYWRIGHTS will submit to a single Division, regardless of age/grade, and up to 9 Semi-Finalists will be chosen.
THE PROCESS
YOUTH DIVISION
YOUTH (Grades 1-12)
ADULT CATEGORIES (ages 18+)
COMEDY
DRAMA
COLLEGE PLAYWRIGHTS
Playwrights are invited to submit their original 10-minute work in ONE of the categories above.
Submission guidelines are available below (How to Submit).
SUBMISSION PERIOD: OCTOBER 10 – JANUARY 1
SEMIFINAL READINGS
Up to three scripts from each ADULT category and up to nine scripts from the YOUTH category will be chosen by a panel of local theatre enthusiasts following a points rubric (see below). These Semifinalists will be notified around February 19th. Semifinalists will receive a cash prize of $25 each and a 30 minute meeting with the director assigned to their piece to prepare for the semifinal readings. A cast of local actors will perform a public reading of the semi-final scripts on the Meijer Majestic stage, on March 11th. Three judges will score the plays, and Civic will announce the finalists the week of March 18th.
CLICK HERE to reserve your tickets for Semi-Finals on March 11th at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre!
Admission is free; catch our Youth Semi-Finalists at 6pm and our Adult Semi-Finalists at 7pm!
Finalists will receive an additional cash prize of $50 and their scripts will be fully produced in a series of public, ticketed performances May 17 and 18, with a final awards ceremony on May 18th. The production will use the same director as the readings, and the playwright will be invited to attend two rehearsals during the production period (see rules below for more information).
One script per category awarded by audience vote
Up to six finalists will also be eligible for the Audience Choice Award and an additional $100 cash prize during the public performance period. Everyone who attends the public performances will be allowed one vote per ticket purchased and two Audience Choice Awards will be announced at awards ceremony after the May 18th performance.
THE RULES
CLICK HERE for details.
ADJUDICATION & PRODUCTION PROCESS
In the first round, plays will be adjudicated by a panel of readers based on THIS RUBRIC. Adjudicators will not know the name or any other identifying information about the playwright.
For complete details on the production process, CLICK HERE.
SEEKING DIRECTORS & STAGE MANAGERS
We are looking for early to mid-career Directors and Stage Managers with a passion for shaping new work, nurturing volunteer performers, and creating theatre magic within a limited budget. CLICK HERE for complete details, supporting documents, and instructions on how to apply by February 2, 2024.