NEW PLAY PROJECT
Pioneers in Values-Driven Theatre
Getting Involved
If you’re excited about New Play Project and its mission, there are a number of ways you can get involved.
OPEN STAFF MEETINGS
Anyone who wants a voice in our management and is willing to volunteer for assignments is welcome to our Open Staff meetings, the first and third Monday of each month. Email newplayproject@gmail.com for details.
For notes from the most recent meeting, click here.
WRITING
The heart of New Play Project is new work. We welcome submissions from anyone for our themed productions. Take a look at the prompts under “Season Schedule” and submit a script anytime before the deadline. If you submit early, we’d be happy to give you feedback, something very few theatre companies are able and willing to do. Just request feedback and allow us enough time to give it. We also have a workshop program for playwrights trying to develop their short and full-length scripts. For more information on our workshop program, email Bianca Dillard.
ACTING
Be in a play where rehearsal don't take over your life! Because New Play Project generally produces short plays, actors get the chance to create a character, but only need to spend 2-5 hours per week in rehearsal and have a much lower memorization burden than in most plays. No previous acting experience is required from actors at New Play Project. Planned audition dates for each New Play Project Production are listed under “Season Schedule.” Exact times and places will be announced closer to the audition dates.
DIRECTING
As with acting, the ten-minute play form is an excellent opportunity for beginning as well as experienced directors to find and express the emotional heart of a play without all the drudgery of managing and blocking a full-length production. Ten-minute play directors tend to sleep easier than their full-length directing counterparts. Directors should apply by email prior to the script submission deadline for a given show (see “Season Schedule” for script submission deadlines). Previous directing or acting experience is required for directors. In choosing directors, preference will be given those who have worked on previous New Play Project production in any capacity.
DRAMATURGY
A dramaturg is a scholar and an artist with two basic functions. The first is to help find additional information and images related to the script in order to help the director and actors better understand the script in terms of its larger context. The second is to create written and visual aids that help the audience connect the script with issues in their own lives and the world around them. Dramaturgs are often also used during the script development process to give articulate feedback on scripts and help scripts become the best they possibly can. Dramaturgs, like directors, should apply to work on a given production prior to that production’s deadline. Dramaturgs will also be needed in our workshop program.
STAGE MANAGEMENT
If you are specifically interested in stage management, or just interested in seeing how the theatre process works before trying your hand at other things, New Play Project has numerous opportunities for you. Stage managers help organize the theatrical process by keeping records of blocking and script revisions, managing props and set pieces, and generally assisting the director. If you’d like to help out but can’t commit to the full rehearsal process, we can often also use stage managers to help out with auditions, etc. Email us at any time for the latest information on current stage management opportunities.
SET, COSTUME, & SOUND DESIGN
New Play Project Productions tend to be low-tech, partly to put the focus on the script itself, and most to make the logistics of performance easier and save money. This does not mean, however, that there is no room for set, costume, and sound design in our plays. Because they have to be minimalist, few choices in set design go unnoticed. And while costumes for each individual play tend to be less elaborate than in full-length productions, the shorter play format means that there are more characters to costume and a broad range of possible styles. Feel free to contact us at any time expressing interest in set, costume, or sound design.
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED IF I DON’T LIVE IN PROVO?
Because New Play Project is a unique theatre company, filling a niche no other theatre company in the nation covers, we want to be able to involve people from across the country as much as possible. While you have to be local in order to act, direct, or stage manage for New Play Project, we welcome script submissions from across the country as well as long-distance dramaturgy, set design, and sound design. If you have access to an email account and a telephone, we can work with you. We’re also hoping to eventually set up “chapters” of New Play Project in cities like Salt Lake, Ogden, and Rexburg with large numbers of students who might be interested in the New Play Project vision. Chapters could use our existing script library for their own local productions and receive logistical and creative support from our veteran Provo members whenever possible. If you’re interested in possibly participating in a chapter organization in your city, please email newplayproject@gmail.com at any time. As soon as a chapter organization is organized, we’ll contact you.
HOW ELSE CAN I SUPPORT NEW PLAY PROJECT?
Obviously, we need an audience. Mark the dates of our productions, listed under “Season Schedule” on your calendar and try to attend whenever possible. Invite friends to come with you: word of mouth is the most powerful advertising force there is. Our goal is to keep admission to all New Play Project productions low so that everyone, regardless of economic status, can become a part of the theatergoing community we try to foster.
Producing theatre, however, is hardly free, and we encourage people who believe in our mission and enjoy our shows to donate generously when they can. For more information on how to give a tax-deductible donation to New Play Project, click here.
An easy way to support us is to get people to do their internet searches and shopping using GoodSearch.com. Half of the proceeds from searches, and from 3%-30% from shopping go to New Play Project.
OPEN STAFF MEETINGS
Anyone who wants a voice in our management and is willing to volunteer for assignments is welcome to our Open Staff meetings, the first and third Monday of each month. Email newplayproject@gmail.com for details.
For notes from the most recent meeting, click here.
WRITING
The heart of New Play Project is new work. We welcome submissions from anyone for our themed productions. Take a look at the prompts under “Season Schedule” and submit a script anytime before the deadline. If you submit early, we’d be happy to give you feedback, something very few theatre companies are able and willing to do. Just request feedback and allow us enough time to give it. We also have a workshop program for playwrights trying to develop their short and full-length scripts. For more information on our workshop program, email Bianca Dillard.
ACTING
Be in a play where rehearsal don't take over your life! Because New Play Project generally produces short plays, actors get the chance to create a character, but only need to spend 2-5 hours per week in rehearsal and have a much lower memorization burden than in most plays. No previous acting experience is required from actors at New Play Project. Planned audition dates for each New Play Project Production are listed under “Season Schedule.” Exact times and places will be announced closer to the audition dates.
DIRECTING
As with acting, the ten-minute play form is an excellent opportunity for beginning as well as experienced directors to find and express the emotional heart of a play without all the drudgery of managing and blocking a full-length production. Ten-minute play directors tend to sleep easier than their full-length directing counterparts. Directors should apply by email prior to the script submission deadline for a given show (see “Season Schedule” for script submission deadlines). Previous directing or acting experience is required for directors. In choosing directors, preference will be given those who have worked on previous New Play Project production in any capacity.
DRAMATURGY
A dramaturg is a scholar and an artist with two basic functions. The first is to help find additional information and images related to the script in order to help the director and actors better understand the script in terms of its larger context. The second is to create written and visual aids that help the audience connect the script with issues in their own lives and the world around them. Dramaturgs are often also used during the script development process to give articulate feedback on scripts and help scripts become the best they possibly can. Dramaturgs, like directors, should apply to work on a given production prior to that production’s deadline. Dramaturgs will also be needed in our workshop program.
STAGE MANAGEMENT
If you are specifically interested in stage management, or just interested in seeing how the theatre process works before trying your hand at other things, New Play Project has numerous opportunities for you. Stage managers help organize the theatrical process by keeping records of blocking and script revisions, managing props and set pieces, and generally assisting the director. If you’d like to help out but can’t commit to the full rehearsal process, we can often also use stage managers to help out with auditions, etc. Email us at any time for the latest information on current stage management opportunities.
SET, COSTUME, & SOUND DESIGN
New Play Project Productions tend to be low-tech, partly to put the focus on the script itself, and most to make the logistics of performance easier and save money. This does not mean, however, that there is no room for set, costume, and sound design in our plays. Because they have to be minimalist, few choices in set design go unnoticed. And while costumes for each individual play tend to be less elaborate than in full-length productions, the shorter play format means that there are more characters to costume and a broad range of possible styles. Feel free to contact us at any time expressing interest in set, costume, or sound design.
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED IF I DON’T LIVE IN PROVO?
Because New Play Project is a unique theatre company, filling a niche no other theatre company in the nation covers, we want to be able to involve people from across the country as much as possible. While you have to be local in order to act, direct, or stage manage for New Play Project, we welcome script submissions from across the country as well as long-distance dramaturgy, set design, and sound design. If you have access to an email account and a telephone, we can work with you. We’re also hoping to eventually set up “chapters” of New Play Project in cities like Salt Lake, Ogden, and Rexburg with large numbers of students who might be interested in the New Play Project vision. Chapters could use our existing script library for their own local productions and receive logistical and creative support from our veteran Provo members whenever possible. If you’re interested in possibly participating in a chapter organization in your city, please email newplayproject@gmail.com at any time. As soon as a chapter organization is organized, we’ll contact you.
HOW ELSE CAN I SUPPORT NEW PLAY PROJECT?
Obviously, we need an audience. Mark the dates of our productions, listed under “Season Schedule” on your calendar and try to attend whenever possible. Invite friends to come with you: word of mouth is the most powerful advertising force there is. Our goal is to keep admission to all New Play Project productions low so that everyone, regardless of economic status, can become a part of the theatergoing community we try to foster.
Producing theatre, however, is hardly free, and we encourage people who believe in our mission and enjoy our shows to donate generously when they can. For more information on how to give a tax-deductible donation to New Play Project, click here.
An easy way to support us is to get people to do their internet searches and shopping using GoodSearch.com. Half of the proceeds from searches, and from 3%-30% from shopping go to New Play Project.