STAR Short Play Program

STEP 1 - Submit your work

STEP 2 - Receive detailed feedback

STEP 3 - Specific plays will qualify for being producing at National STAR Fest 

STEP 4 - These plays will get professionally published annually or bi-annually 

PROGRAM RULES

• All work submitted to the STAR Short Play Program must be original work of a single student writer (18 years old or under)
• Plays should be no longer than 15-20 minutes when read aloud.
• There are no restrictions on content, language or format.
• English or French language submissions will be accepted 
• Character, dialogue, and stage directions must be clearly distinguished.
• Collaborative works or adaptations won't be considered, nor will plays that include music, lyrics, or dialogue written by anyone other than the submitting writer.
• Writers may submit more than one play for consideration.
• Participants may submit scripts for review on or before the deadline of January 1st
• Up to 8 plays will be chosen for performance or workshop readings and development at the National STAR Festival of their choice (STAR West - Metro Vancouver BC, STAR East - Ottawa ON, STAR Central - Winnipeg MB, STAR South - Niagara Falls ON, or STAR Atlantic - Corner Brook NL)

ELIGIBILITY & WINNERS

• Participants must be active members of their school theatre/drama program. Ideally their school program would be an active TAEA STAR Troupe.
• All finalists must be available to attend one of our National STAR Festivals.
• Winners will get officially published through TAEA or a partner publishing house

SUBMISSION PROCEDURES

• All submissions will be done through our student portal -- HERE
• Each student can submit no more then 1 entry per school year.
• Each entry will have a $20 cost to register
• Play scripts must be typed (12-point type preferred)
• Include a header or footer with the title and page numbers.
• A cover page with the following information: the title of your play; your name, school, STAR Troupe number (if they are at a STAR school), e-mail, phone number, director's name, email, phone number
• Followed by the script in the same document. We suggest using google documents and setting it as a public viewing document.
• You will need to provide the URL for your google document (Cover Page & Script Document link) in your application submission in the student portal under "Portfolio/Website Link"
• In your application submission in the student portal you will also need to provide a some basic information including a head-shot and a short bio, etc.

WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCE:

• All short plays entered will get feedback on the writing of their scripts from our adjudicator.

• Short Plays that are recognized will be invited to be performed with either minimal or full tech at one of our National STAR Festivals. They can then use the initial feedback to shape changes to their script in order to prepare it for production. 

• Final versions of these winning scripts will need to be submitted to us by June 15th 2026 for inclusion in our published anthology

• The STAR Festival performance will be graded with the standard short play production rubric used at STAR Fest for the chance to win additional recognition for the playwright, actors and technical support students.

• If a student's school is unable to support them in the staging of their winning script, they will still be invited to participate in play development workshops and script-in-hand readings at the National STAR Festival.

RIGHTS:

Your work is protected by copyright from the moment it is created. As the writer, you have exclusive control of the rights to produce, publish, and adapt it. By submitting your play to the Short Play Writing program, you are agreeing to allow the Theatrical Arts Education Association at its discretion, to mount a performance of your work and showcase it on the website, social media and have it published in our annual anthology of winning works by Gitelman & Good Publishers. All other rights remain the exclusive property of the playwright.

QUESTIONS:

Still have questions? Email us at events@educationaltheatre.ca