Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Announces Start of Open Submissions for 2006 Summer Conferences

September 28, 2005

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, 305 Great Neck Road, Waterford, Connecticut is beginning its Open Submissions process for projects to be included in its July ­ August, 2006 national new works conferences. Applicants are invited to submit projects for the O'Neill's National Playwrights Conference and National Music Theater Conference.

The O'Neill's Open Submission Process is unique in the field of developing works for the stage. It is a key element in its Conference mission to encourage creativity and develop diverse voices and new works for the American stage. Applicants may submit work for consideration through a multi-tiered selection process involving multiple readers and a panel of theater professionals who consider projects based on each writer's voice as presented in the script and not on a recognizable name or previous accomplishments. This anonymity is what enables the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center to continue to seek and develop new voices for the stage.

Wendy C. Goldberg, Artistic Director of the National Playwrights Conference, noted, "It is a priority for me to choose the majority of the work in the National Playwrights Conference from our open submissions. This Conference belongs to the playwrights and in saying that, it is imperative, as it has been since the Conference's founding, to allow these playwrights who submit their work, the opportunity to have their plays read and considered seriously for the conference."

Paulette Haupt, co-founder and Artistic Director of the National Music Theater Conference, describes the open submission policy as 'the heart of our mission.' ' Maury Yeston, Tan Dun, Jeannine Tesori, Kirsten Childs, Andrew Lippa, among hundreds of other artists all came to our attention through the open submission process. At the time they sent us their work, they were unknown. We take great pride in having enabled them to receive the attention they deserved at an early point in their careers.'

Submissions for the National Playwrights Conference must be postmarked from October 1, 2005 through October 31, 2005. Submissions for the Music Theater Conference must be postmarked from October 1, 2005 through December 12, 2005. Details of submission requirements for the Music Theater Conference are available at the O'Neill's website. Details of submission requirements for the National Playwrights Conference are available at the O'Neill's website. For further information about the programs, please contact David White, Literary Manager and Director of Educational Outreach, 860-443-5378, x227.