Submission guidelines

​​Eligibility
To be eligible, each play:

1) MUST be an original work written by someone who currently resides in or has previously resided in Louisiana (not merely visited).
 

2) Must include some direct reference to the current theme by phrase, concept, physical prop, or other conspicuous reference. 

 

3) Spectral Sisters Productions is a developmental theater group, and we seek to present the first production of a play. Please do not submit a play that has been accepted for production or is under consideration for production by another entity that would produce your play before our production date. If you submit your play at a later date to a production company that would stage your play before we do, please contact us so we can remove your play from consideration. Staged readings do not count as a production.

4) Must run approximately ten minutes. Figure on approximately 1,800 words. Any play longer than 2,400 words is automatically disqualified. We will read every play of between 1,800 and 2,400 words out loud. Any play reading longer than 12.5 minutes is automatically disqualified. Minimum running time should be 6 minutes.

 

5) Technical requirements must be inexpensive and easily procured. Special lighting and sound e ects are well within our capacity; however, costuming must be simple. For example, we probably can’t provide period-accurate costumes for a wedding set in 1700.

 

6) Must have at least two (2) and no more than five (5) characters that are playable by adults. Try to avoid characters who have fewer than ten lines, such as a waiter, unless they are absolutely required to tell your story. Consider your casting requirements as actors are recruited from the Central Louisiana community. Diversity is encouraged! No children and no animals.

 

7) Cannot be a musical, although including the a cappella singing of an original song would be acceptable, for example.

 

8) Cannot require full or explicit nudity.

 

Further Guidance

 

The play can be a drama or comedy (we love comedies!) but should not be a skit. We love work that is socially relevant.

 

What to Submit

Submissions should include two separate files: 1) the Title Page, and 2) the Body of the play. (An example script is available here.)

 

1) The Title Page of your script should include:

•  the title  

• a “logline” that describes your play in a sentence or two

• the byline (playwright’s name or pen name)

• the playwright’s email address, mailing address, and phone number.

 

The logline should be located approximately midway between the byline and contact information. An example layout is included with this document.

 

2) The first page of the Body of the play should start with a centered title, followed by a list of characters with their brief descriptions. NOTE: The playwright’s name appears only on the Title Page and must not appear anywhere in the Body of the play, including in the header or footer.

 

A brief description of any minor modifications of the set or any required set dressing should precede the first lines of dialogue, which should start on the same page, after a blank line.

 

3) Plays should be typed in standard 12 pt. Roman type, saved in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), and emailed as an attachment to admin@spectralsisters.com. One entry per person.

 

4) There is a $20 submission fee for each entry, submitted to Spectral Sisters via PayPal (link at the bottom of this page). Entries submitted without the submission fee cannot be considered.

 

5) FINAL SUBMISSIONS must be made no later than 11:59 p.m., March 15 in the current festival year. All fees must be received by the submission deadline.

 

Additional Requirements

• All playwrights whose plays are selected for staging must agree to and sign our guidelines for production.

• Only one entry will be accepted from each playwright.

 

How to Submit

Submissions should be emailed as attachments to admin@spectralsisters.com. Submission fees are paid to Spectral Sisters at PayPal.com

 

Judging

All qualified plays are judged and scored anonymously by a panel of professional and independent judges to ensure fairness and impartiality. Up to eight plays will be staged, or fewer in productions including one-act plays.

 

Prizes and Staging

Cash prizes are awarded to the three top-scoring plays:

• First place - $100

• Second place - $75  

• Third place - $50  

 

All winning entries will be staged (if possible) and recorded for Spectral Sisters archives. Spectral Sisters reserves the right of non-production of any play for any reason.

 

Pre-submission Readings

Pre-submission reading sessions offer each participating playwright opportunities to hear their play read aloud, gauge its running time, and receive valuable feedback for changes, cuts, or other improvements or modifications before submission. The sessions are usually held from 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon, on a Saturday at the Rapides Foundation Building in downtown Alexandria. Exact dates and times and location will be publicized in advance.

 

Optional Critique

Plays submitted by February 15 are eligible to receive a free critique by March 1, subject to availability. The playwright may submit a revised play by the March 15 deadline or stick with their original version. NOTE: Individualized critiques are optional and not required, however, we highly recommend a critique for any playwright who has not had multiple plays produced before. If you are submitting by February 15, and desire a critique, indicate this in your submission email to us.