Premiere Stages announces a new writing initiative during COVID-19
By Lena Zhu | Published by April 20, 2020
Premiere Stages, the professional theatre company at Kean University, announced a new writing initiative during the COVID-19 crisis.
The writing competition, named “Senior Endeavor Awards” will offer $1,000 to a Kean University senior, a rising New Jersey high school senior, and a senior citizen who creates a one-act play related either in a direct or abstract way to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Premiere Stages, a professional theatre company based at Kean University, announces new writing initiative on the topic of COVID-19.” Photo courtesy of premierestages
According to a mass email sent on April 2 to all incoming and current students, the Kean senior who wins the award “will also receive a professional reading of the play” as well as a paid internship with Premiere Stages Literary Office.
The high school senior who wins the award will also receive a professional reading of the play as well as “a letter of recommendation that can be used to support fall college applications.”
Lastly, the senior citizen living in a senior residential community wins the award will receive a professional reading of the play along with a fully sponsored Premiere Stages Legacy Residency for the senior citizens within the winner’s senior community.
Six honorable mention certificates and $100 will be awarded in the three categories, according to the Premiere Stages website.
Premiere Stages will be accepting Microsoft Word document and/or PDF submissions from June 1 to Aug. 1, 2020. The play must be from 10 to 60 pages and the winners of each category will be selected by Sept. 1.
Previous playwright finalists for Premiere Stages include Songbird by Rachel Luann Strayer, Scab by Gino Diiorio, Lyon’s Pride by Bleu Beckford-Burrell, My Mother the Sun by Massimo Monfiletto, and Year One by Erik Gernand.
Songbird details a story about an up and coming singer/songwriter who doesn’t want to talk about why she abandoned her career, is now a full-length play with songs produced by the National New Play Network.
“I think the [Senior Endeavor Awards] is a wonderful and creative way of helping our communities cope with the current situation,” Holly Logue, Department Chair for the Communication and Theatre Department at Kean University, said. “Acknowledging that life is a challenge, the competition allows an outlet to express thoughts and share stories in a meaningful way.”
Any and all further questions should be sent to pfsubmit@kean.edu. All submissions should be submitted through the Premiere Stages website at http://www.premierestagesatkean.com/senior-endeavor-awards
Note: The Senior Endeavor Awards, a writing competition produced by Premiere Stages, and the Play Festival are two separate entities.
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