I have been honored to be a participant in the Thespis Theater Festival, performing in my show Kennedy/Reagan. I have been pleased with the professionalism shown by the managment who has been completely prepared and shown me great hospitality. I have been astounded by the high caliber of audience members, many who are very engaged and volunteer helpful comments after the show. I would recommend Thespis to all playwrights as a means of presenting their new work. John C. Kendall – Playwright of Reagan/Kennedy
The Thespis Theater Festival is a playwright’s contest designed to offer writers a chance to direct their own, shows, helping them to develop a sense of casting, staging, use of lights and direction. With Thespis, it is our intention to give writers a unique chance to create their vision from the first stroke of their pen to the last scene of their play. Thespis is not only a festival; it’s a competition as well. That means that there are prizes! The winner of Best Play will receive a prize of $3,500. Winner of Best Actor will receive $500 and Best Actress $500. Thespis, as well as our wintertime festival, Venus, is hosted by the CabriniRepTheater.com, a beautiful, proscenium theater in uptown Manhattan.
Accepted plays will be considered on a first - come first served basis. (The earlier you submit, the better your chances to be part of the Festival.) Acceptance might close before June 1, 2014 if the number of plays that will run in the Festival will be reached earlier.
Cabrini Repertory Theater wants to make staging your show a pleasure.
First-time writers are more then welcome!
We’ll help you with everything you need to stage your play.
What The Thespis Festival offers:
- Shows will be not be packed into a cramped festival schedule.
- At Thespis only prime time schedule. That is why the festival last more then 2 months.
- Musical playing life music are more then welcome, we offer a large area in front of the stage for the orchestra to play and the use of a fantastic Baby Grand Piano The stage is 4′ elevated from the floor level
- Six-hour tech/dress rehearsal (as opposed to getting just double your show’s run time)
- Professional, easy-to-use lighting/sound system that anyone on your cast can learn to use
- Free lessons in how to use the system
- Free venue director from the Cabrini Repertory Theater team-you won’t have to hire an outsider.
- Constant contact with the Artistic Director of the venue should you have any questions about staging, lighting, sound or theater rules. You will never be forced to wait on answers, causing your production process to be held up.
- Email blasts announcing your show to the theater’s mailing list
- Set pieces and props that are already stored in the theater, saving you time, energy and money in transporting stage sets (Set Pieces and Props slideshow)
- Storage space for your own props and set pieces should you decide to keep them in the theater during your show’s run.
- The possibility to drive your props to the front door of the theater and temporarily park your vehicle there
- Free box office management
- A beautiful 21′ by 17′ proscenium theater.
- Three performances, all during prime theater-going hours
- Every show in the festival will be performed in the Cabrini Repertory Theater—no outside venues will be rented.
- All festival participants can see all other festival shows for free.
- The possibility to be covered by reviewers should you make it to the Finals
- An exciting Prize Ceremony
large projection wall (21×12′) at the back of the
stage and a quality projector.
Rules
Only plays from New York & New Jersey, will be accepted.
Submissions must be between 60 and 90 minutes long.
THESPIS THEATER FESTIVAL IS FOR
NON-UNION / NON-EQUITY MEMBERS ONLY.
Each applicant is fully responsible for all elements of their production. These include directing, casting, stage-managing.
