They say Southerners are born storytellers, and here’s a chance to share some of yours with the world. STAAR Theatre in Pulaski, Tennessee is excited to announce its first One Act Play Contest. Writers of all ages and experience levels are invited to submit original works set in this place we call home. That’s the only request, that your play take place in the South.
If you have an idea you can dramatize in play form, submissions will be accepted between April 1st and June 30th. Previously unproduced short plays (20 pages maximum) will be judged by a panel of local theatre veterans. Those chosen as finalists will be presented by actors in a public reading on August 15th. The top three plays will be given a full theatrical production at a later date.
The contest will have two divisions: Junior (9-18) and Adult. Those in the Adult level are asked to submit plays in one of six categories: Drama, Historic, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, or Cultural. The Junior level is open to all genres. Adult submissions will close when 300 plays have been received. Three Junior plays and six Adult works will be chosen as finalists.
Submission Guidelines
- Playwrights should currently live in the South and plays should in some way reference life in the South.
- Unfortunately, musicals cannot be considered.
- Playwrights are asked to attend the festival in person.
- Plays should be unpublished and unproduced as of August 2026.
- Playwrights grant STAAR Theatre a one-time permission to produce the winning plays without compensation; otherwise, writers retain all rights to their work.
- Length: 20 pages maximum.
- Please submit plays in PDF.
- Adult division playwrights are asked enter their work in one of the following categories:
- Drama
- Historical
- Comedy
- Romance
- Fantasy
- Cultural
- Each play submitted will be read by a judge for the category you designate. Plays moving on to the finals will be presented before all the judges.
- Junior division plays may be of any genre.
- Cast should be limited to 5 if at all possible. Additional roles will be read by actors doubling up parts, should your play be chosen for the finals.
- Playwrights may use their own actors if desired.
- One finalist will be chosen from each category in the Adult division and announced approximately two weeks before the public presentation.
- Three finalists will be chosen in the Junior division.
- All plays chosen as finalists will receive a reading, open to the public, on August 15th.
- Rehearsals will be held on August 13th and 14th from 6:00-8:30 PM. The public reading for the Junior division will be August 15th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The Adult level readings will be in two sessions, from 3:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM.
- Audience members will be invited to share thoughts on the plays.
- During the public presentation, judges will offer comments and suggestions after each reading.
- In the Adult division, three plays will be chosen as winners; a single winner will be chosen in the Junior division.
- These plays will receive a fully-produced presentation at a later date (TBD).
- Submissions will close after the first 300 scripts are received.
- Due to the volume of submissions anticipated, we regret that individual feedback cannot be provided.
Formatting Guidelines
Online submissions should be a single PDF file with the following information:
File name should be Title of Play and Playwright’s Last Name.
File should include:
- Title Page with play title, playwright’s name and contact information. (Playwright’s name and contact information will not be available to the judges).
- Page with one paragraph synopsis of play
- Page with character breakdown and descriptions
- The play, 20 pages maximum (begin page numbering after character descriptions)
Sample format from the Dramatist Guild:
These guidelines are designed for Microsoft Word or a similar word processing program. Your play should have standard one-inch margins. All text should be single-spaced, in a font such as 12 point Times New Roman. When separating characters’ lines or longer stage directions, double space.
When a character is speaking, his or her name should be either centered or set 3.5” from the Left Edge of the Paper in ALL CAPS. If continuing a character’s speech from a previous page, insert (Cont.) after the name on the same line. Any other brief direction (one-word) can also go on this line in parentheses. Longer directions belong on the following line in parentheses, three indents in.
Each new scene should numbered: 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. and underlined. Include a short description of the setting at the beginning of each scene.