Can you use $1,000?

Enter your script into competition for the Thirteenth Annual Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival. Eight finalists will receive full productions at the Cook Theatre in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, May 10-11.

For details see Guidelines.

To inspire you, here are the winners of last year’s Festival

The Twelfth Annual Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival played to full houses, and in the words of Theatre Odyssey’s President, Michael Bille, “shows us the future of playwriting…these young people tell us of the complexity of the human condition with both seriousness and humor.”

**Delaney Lockwood’s The CATIDS wins Verna Safran Prize**

The CATIDS by Delaney Lockwood of Venice High School is the story of a high school teacher creating a lesson plan using international figures making a difference in history. Delaney wins the Verna Safran Prize and $1,000.

Team Lockwood — Tami Vaughan, playwright Delaney Lockwood, director Leona Collesano, Lindsey Nickel, Evangeline De La O, Julee Breehne, and Derek Dutcher.

No Entry by Dylan Humphrey is Runner-up

Dylan Humphrey, of Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, wrote the Runner-up play, No Entry, and won $500 for his effort. Set in medieval England, two knights chat as they guard a door commissioned to protect for the day. They are interrupted by a woman who seeks entry and discover it is not the home they thought.

ANOTHER STATISTIC—Scott Ehrenpreis, playwright Giovanni Porreca, director Cinda Goeken, James Kassees

AS RED PEARLS ADORN THE WHITE ROSE—Haley Hines, director Seva Anthony, Isabella Liberti, playwright Chloe Johnson, James Kassees, Dylan Jones

THE COFFEE SHOP OF THE GODS—Jill Schroeder, director J.K. Musser, playwright Seamus Kehoe, Eric Henry, Lucinda Schlotterback, Luca Polito

CONFESSIONS—Evangeline De La O, director Glenn Schudel, Eric Henry, playwright E'Nayshja Cousins, Nate Konuch, Mars Dave

ONE LAST REFLECTION—Susan Jones, Mike DeMaio, playwright Jaylen Benony, Jude DeMaio, director Jan Wallace, Philippe Koenig, Ari Graiver

SOMETHING FISHY—Director Scott Keys, Susan Jones, Mike DeMaio, playwright Patrick Van Eyck, Jude DeMaio, Ari Graiver, Philippe Koenig

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE COMPLETE FESTIVAL PLAYBILL

Student playwrights who may have little theater experience are advised to consider the difference between writing for the stage and writing for cinema—your drama or English teacher likely has a selection of books for guidance. This brief instructional video by local teacher/playwright Connie Schindewolf which will be very helpful. It is important to understand the Guidelines for Festival entries—especially requirements for running time, size of cast, and originality.

What makes a good ten-minute play? We suggest studying some excellent examples: the finalists in Theatre Odyssey festivals. All four volumes, covering festivals from 2006 to 2022, are available from Amazon.