Winning scripts will be staged in May 2009 as part of the 2008-2009 Burien Little Theatre season. In addition to being produced, winning plays will also receive monetary prizes.

The submission deadline for all scripts is December 31, 2008. To qualify for the Festival all submissions must follow Playwrights Submission Guidelines detailed below and on the Burien Little Theatre website:

www.burienlittletheatre.com

ABOUT THE BILL AND PEGGY HUNT PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
The mission of the Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival is to encourage, promote and showcase previously unproduced theatre works written by Washington state residents, and stage the winning plays at Burien Little Theatre.

The Festival was named to honor Bill and Peggy Hunt’s dedicated service to community-based theater and their devotion to and involvement with Burien Little Theatre. Peggy Hunt joined Burien’s community theater organization in 1960 with a leading role in the play Harvey. Over the next 35 years both Bill and Peggy appeared in and directed plays, designed and built sets, served on the Board of Directors, and were involved in some aspect of every theater project.

Originally from Canada, Bill and Peggy were familiar with Canadian play competitions and were instrumental in igniting this idea locally. The first staged competitions were theatrical, for play production, not writing, with entries from the greater Seattle area; this competition was held as part of Burien’s Arts Festival in the early 1970s. Later, Peggy suggested establishing a playwriting competition with the winning shows to be produced by Burien Little Theatre. Since officially launching in 1999, Burien Little Theatre has successfully been sponsoring the Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival, celebrating and producing the works of Washington state playwrights.

PLAYWRIGHTS SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

1. Open to any person residing in the state of Washington.
2. Previously produced plays are not eligible. Staged readings are not considered productions.
3. The Festival provides a workshop environment for basic production, so excessive production requirements may result in disqualification. Legal clearance of materials not in the public domain is the full responsibility of the playwright.
4. Submit two copies of the script. Bind entries securely, and include character list, time, setting, and number of scenes. Entries must be post-marked by December 31, 2008.
5. Judging will be blind. Do not show your name, address, or any identifying information on any page or on the cover of your script. A completed, signed copy of the entry form must be attached with a paper clip to each play submitted. Contact info@burienlittletheatre.com or call 206-242-5180 for an entry form.
6. All submissions must be in a standard professional play format. Format guidelines can be obtained from Samuel French or found at http://www.vcu.edu/artweb/playwriting/format.html. Failure to comply will result in rejection from competition.
7. The Festival is designed to be a collaborative process involving the playwright, directors, and performers—facilitating a transition of each work from page to stage. As such, playwrights are encouraged to be involved in the production and rehearsal of their scripts. Selected playwrights will be encouraged to attend a production meeting with the director and producer, at least one rehearsal and all performances.
8. Playwrights are invited to participate in discussions with the audience, following each performance.
9. Submissions will not be returned.
10. Burien Little Theatre will not be responsible for any loss or damage to entries.
11. Winners will be announced February 15, 2009. Plays will be staged in May 2009.

ABOUT BURIEN LITTLE THEATRE
Community-based theater has been a tradition in Burien since 1955. Incorporated in 1980, Burien Little Theatre (BLT) has been a leading producer of quality live theater, serving residents of the Seattle and south Puget Sound areas. Burien Little Theatre’s Mission is to make every audience member’s experience at BLT a welcoming, lively and fun escape from the everyday world, beginning the moment they walk in the door, by providing high-quality, accessible and exciting theater. 
BLT is a non-profit 501c3 entity and operates on revenue from ticket sales, donations and volunteers.

“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” is currently playing at Burien Little Theatre through Dec. 21st, and you can purchase tickets directly online here.

To read a behind-the-scenes story (complete with videos) from one of the cast members, click here.