We received an overwhelming number of play submissions for our Young at Heartland troupe! We were touched by the response to our call for scripts. Thank you, playwrights!
PLAYS SELECTED FOR FALL 2024 SESSION:
In order of submission –
GALS by Edward Palumbo, Warwick RI
MYSTERY, SHE WROTE by Eileen Mitchell
SHARKS, MUD, AND OTHER HAZARDS by John Patrick Bray, Athens GA
THE THIRD TIME by Dan Borengasser, Springdale AR
SWIPE, CLICK, ENTER, WHATEVER by Mara Dresner, Rocky HIll CN
‘TAINT LIKE IT USED TO BE by Bob Weldon, Bloomington IL
THE EARLY BIRD SPECIAL by Andrew Smith, Tulsa OK
PANCAKE BREAKFAST by Deb Bomeli
SALTY DOG by Devon Lovell (Pending actor availability)
FINALISTS FOR SPRING 2025:
In order of submission –
CELEBRITY CHALLENGE by Mark Saunders
HOME BREW by Roy Van Hooykonk
CAPPUCCINO by Jordan R. Young
GO FISH by Nancy Machlis Rechtman
PUZZLING by Dagny Waldron
MARY PAYSON AND THE CASE OF THE SEEDY SPEEDO by Steve Gossard
HARVEST MOON UNCHAINED by Elbert Traylor
AFTER THE PROM by Bruce Boeck
THE RUMMAGE SALE by Diane Kirschner
SEMI-FINALISTS, PLAYS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR CONSIDERATION IN OUR 2025 SEASON, DESERVING OF A SECOND READ:
In order of submission – IDOLING AWAY and OUTSIDE BETHLEHEM by Eric Weil, THE COOKIE CONSPIRACY CAPER by Rachel Stanford-Montgomery and Joel Montgomery, PRESS PRAY by Seth Freeman, MOVIE REEL by Jack Rushton, COLLEGE HUNK MOVERS by Les Abromovitz, GHOSTED by Lisa Marciano, FIRST FOURTH DATE by Debra Gilbert Rosenberg, PICKUP by Theo Gallagher, DOG DAY AFTERNOON by Carol White (not Ann B. White), BABYSITTING THE WEE ONE by Debra Cole, EARLY BIRD SPECIAL (#2) by Stephan Deghelder, GRANDMA by Lewis Shilane, DOUBLE PLOTZ by Lorraine Midanik, THE BRIDGE CLUB by Steve Gossard, THE CHANGE UP by Charles West, LOVE LANGUAGES by Clementine Findlay, THE JUMPIN’ JACK FLASH by John F. Backe, THE ROAD RE-TAKEN by Linda Berry, and THE MEN IN THE MIRROR by Ken Preuss
Young at Heartland, our senior (55+) acting troupe, is looking for new mini-scripts (really, really short – about 5 minutes) for their showcase performances and touring troupe in the community. There is a Spring and a Fall semester, where scripts will be called for. The best scripts deal with a senior moment, conflict or situation.
We take into consideration the following when selecting scripts:
Script Details
This helps keep things uniform so we can see lines and pages at a glance:
3-5 page scripts, figuring one page = one minute.
Please submit your play “blind” without your name or information on it.
Courier New font, 12 point.
1-inch margins.
Character name centered above the line.
We try to keep each performance piece around 4-5 minutes.
Three pages isn’t too short. The average scene is taking at least 1.5 minutes per page.
NO MONOLOGUES, PLEASE.
Touring Troupe
Young at Heartland mainly performs on the road, with minimal staging requirements.
Short Lines and Sentences
It works well when dialogue between characters is 1 or 2 sentences. Longer responses tend to slow down the performance. An occasionally longer response is OK. Just use sparingly.
Conflict
Every script needs some sort of conflict. It can be between people, between people and a situation, or even people and the world at large. It’s the conflict and its possible resolution that keeps it interesting!
Humor
Humor is another essential in most of our scripts. We do have the occasional drama, but mostly we do comedies.
Keeping it light-hearted, with banter and humor helps.
Topics that need a cautious approach
Our group enjoys a variety of topics and mayhems, however, we have found our audiences have some sensitivity when hearing certain conversations. In some instances, the following topics work well in the script, but please use caution with the following:
- Innocent, flirtations, or romantic gestures work well, but please refrain from sexual innuendos.
- We love animals! Please avoid conversation surrounding hunting or even pest extermination, unless the critters end up outsmarting the humans!
Scripts with Women and some with Men
If your inspired piece calls for a male, that is fine. We have a few of those. but only a few! In the past, if we don’t have enough parts for women, we have asked a playwright if they would consider altering a part to accommodate the female role.
How to Submit Your Script
Send your script to [email protected] in an email with your name and with your script attached in PDF format.
Be sure to put your full name and title of the play in the Subject Line. Once all scripts are reviewed, selections will be made and you will be notified if your script is a good fit and if we can use your script. Those scripts selected will be announced at the top of this webpage.
YOU will be notified if your script is selected for performance, or if we are going to hold it for the next semester. Selected scripts will be posted on this web page, but the playwrights of those scripts not selected will not be notified. We appreciate the efforts of all playwrights who submit their scripts.