WINNING PLAYS & PLAYWRIGHTS FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2025:
Cappuccino
by Jordan R. Young – Orange CA
College Hunk Movers
by Les Abromovitz – Boco Raton FL
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
by John F. Backe – New York, NY
Just a Suggestion
by Deb Bomeli – Bloomington IL
Mary Payson and the Case of the Speedy Speedo
by Steve Gossard – Bloomington IL
Puzzling
by Dagny Waldron – Lancaster VA
The Rummage Sale
by Diane Kirschner – Brooklyn, NY
Salty Dog
by Devon Lovell – Bloomington IL
Pizza! Pizza!
by Bruce Boeck – Normal IL
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
Complete the entry form, attach your play and press “submit.”
Your script must be “blind,” meaning it will not have your name or contact information on it.
ENTRY FORM
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.