ARKANSAS REPERTORY THEATRE CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR ITS RESIDENCY PROGRAM.

The Arkansas Repertory Theatre announces a request for submissions for its playwrights’ residency program, Voices at the River II. The program, underwritten by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and designed to support African-American and Latino playwrights both nationally and in Arkansas, includes a two-week residency for playwrights, directors and actors at Arkansas Rep. The inaugural Voices at the River developed the works of playwrights Vanessa Garcia, Javon Johnson, Guillermo Reyes, and Ajene D. Washington in 2007, and honored Lynn Nottage and Luis Valdez for their contributions to American theater. Young Arkansan playwright, Spirit Trickey, was mentored in the creation of her play, One Ninth, and with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, it became Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s statewide educational tour in January 2009. Full-length plays, translations and adaptations (providing rights have been secured) will be accepted through 1/31. Submitted work must not have been previously published. Prior readings of submitted work, however, are acceptable. There is a cast limit of 10 actors and a limit of one submission per year. Playwrights should include a biography with script submissions. Drafts or scripts should be sent to Sheridan Essman, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, P.O. Box 110, Little Rock, AR 72203-0110 or emailed in PDF format to sessman@therep.org. Essman can be contacted at 501/378-0445 ext. 211 or at sessman@therep.org. The call for script submissions closes 1/31. Selected participants will be notified mid-March and will be provided with transportation and living expenses for two weeks in July 2010. Interested artists can find more information about Voices at the River II at www.therep.org by clicking on the Programs link. Once selected, Voices at the River II playwrights will take part in a two-week residency at The Rep in July 2010, where they will work alongside directors, actors and Rep staff to refine their specific projects for the stage.

Founded in 1976, Arkansas Repertory Theatre is the state’s largest nonprofit professional theater company. A member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT D), The Rep has produced more than 280 productions, including 40 world premieres, in its historic building in downtown Little Rock. Producing Artistic Director Robert Hupp leads a resident staff of designers, technicians and administrators in the creation of eight to 10 productions for an annual audience in excess of 70,000 for MainStage and SecondStage productions, educational programming and touring. The Rep produces works that range from contemporary comedies and dramas to world premieres and the classics of dramatic literature.

Source: TRU