IOWA THESPIAN PLAYWORKS
The Iowa Thespian Festival PlayWorks program is an opportunity for student writers to get their work performed by an All-State cast of students in during festival in a staged reading. There are two components to the PlayWorks Program -
If you have any questions, email our PlayWorks coordinator, Alan Strait, at [email protected]
- Playwriting
- All-State Staged Reading
If you have any questions, email our PlayWorks coordinator, Alan Strait, at [email protected]
Playwriting Guidelines
Interested writers may submit a one-act play (10-30 minutes) to be selected for the All-State Staged Reading. The play selected will be chosen by a panel of judges for the staged reading. The panel looks at the potential for the play/playwright to grow in the workshop process, as well as the readability of the script, and audience engagement. The chosen playwright(s) will have the opportunity to work with the staged reading director and cast members during the rehearsal process and performance at the festival.
Based on adjudicator scores, up to two of the original one-act plays will be selected for a staged reading at festival. The playwrights will have the opportunity to work with the staged reading director and cast members during the rehearsal process and performance at festival.
Additional Guidelines
Process
Based on adjudicator scores, up to two of the original one-act plays will be selected for a staged reading at festival. The playwrights will have the opportunity to work with the staged reading director and cast members during the rehearsal process and performance at festival.
- Check out the sample script format: Playwriting Format
- Email your play to Alan Strait ([email protected]) by September 19, 2025
- Adjudicator feedback will be provided and winners will be announced by October 1, 2025
Additional Guidelines
- Any active Thespian from the state of Iowa will be in grades 9-12 for the 2025/2026 school year may submit ONE play
- There is no limit to the number of students who can submit a play from each school
- This event is separate from the Playwriting Thespy competition, but your script can also be submitted for Thespy consideration
- The student writer for the selected play is expected to attend the festival
- Be sure the play is formatted similar to the sample above
- Any school appropriate one-act play may be submitted, musical or non-musical
- If a musical is submitted, the music needs to be written and should be original or public domain
- Be sure to include a cover page which includes: Title of play, Author's Name, Author's Email, Author's Phone Number, Author's School, Troupe Director Name, and Troupe Director Email
Process
- Plays will be submitted and reviewed by theatre professionals that are not affiliated with the playwright's schools
- Feedback will be provided to the student playwrights and the selected script will be announced
- Actors will be selected by the PlayWorks committee for the selected script
- The student playwright will meet with the PlayWorks committee to edit and shape the play for a staged reading
- Rehearsals will be held prior to festival (Zoom) and during festival for the staged reading
- The staged reading will be presented for the full festival delegation on the Gallagher-Bluedorn PAC stage
all-state staged reading guidelines
Prior to festival, a cast of student actors from around the state will be selected to participate in the festival performance. During festival, the selected actors will work with a theatre professional to prepare for the performance. The staged reading will be performed during the festival weekend.
NO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ALL-STATE STAGED READING. The creative team will work with troupe directors to select cast members based on the characters needed. This character breakdown will be determined after the selected script(s) is determined. The creative team may arrange a pre-festival virtual read-thru to familiarize the actors with the script before in-person rehearsals/performance at festival.
NO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ALL-STATE STAGED READING. The creative team will work with troupe directors to select cast members based on the characters needed. This character breakdown will be determined after the selected script(s) is determined. The creative team may arrange a pre-festival virtual read-thru to familiarize the actors with the script before in-person rehearsals/performance at festival.
