Under the supervision of Bill McCann, host of our series on Kentucky theater production and performance, WEKU and Eastern Standard present a series of ten-minute "theatre of the mind" radio plays, written, directed and acted by Kentucky talent.
Performances:
May 5, 2022 - "Jockey Jim" is the story of the rise and fall of Black American champion jockey Jimmy Winkfield. Excerpted from his full-length play and introduced by Louisville playwright Larry Muhammad, directed by Patrick Mitchell, starring Emmanuel Thurman. LISTEN
Have a concept? Our submission rules & requirements:
1. Open for submissions from listeners and friends of WEKU Radio residing in Kentucky.
2. Contestants must be 18 years of age or older. There is no submission fee.
3. Submissions must be written in English and submitted to es@eku.edu no later than 11:59 pm on May 15, 2022. Contestants may submit ONE entry only. All entries must be submitted via email to es@eku.edu. No mailed entries will be accepted.
4. Plays must be written in a standard Radio Play Script Format. (Click here to view)
5. Plays may be on any subject, either comedy or drama. Plays may not be musicals. Adult language is not permissible. Winning plays will be broadcast and children of all ages may be assumed to be listening.
6. Plays must be no shorter than 7 minutes nor longer than 10 minutes. Time your script before submitting it. If it is shorter than 7 minutes or longer than 10 minutes, then your script will be disqualified. One page in Courier 12 pt. font double spaced is ONE MINUTE of airtime
7. Plays may have any number of characters but must be able to be acted by no more than four actors. On the first page of the script list each character by NAME, age, and characteristics. On the same page, or the next show a breakdown of the characters to be portrayed by each ACTOR.
Example: CHARACTERS
Ebenezer SCROOGE 60s-70s Miserly, miserable old man
BOB Cratchit—40’s, kind, meek and mild clerk who works for Scrooge
Tiny TIM: BOB’s son, less than 7, crippled from birth
Jacob MARLEY—dead seven years, the former partner of Scrooge, condemned to wander the earth in heavy clanking chains
GHOST #1 (Christmas Past)
GHOST #2 (Christmas Present)
GHOST #3 (Christmas Future)
FRED – mid-30’s Scrooge’s nephew, a genial fellow who loves Christmas
FEZZIWIG—50’s-60’s the merchant Scrooge was apprenticed to, gave great Christmas parties
BELLE—20’s the love of Scrooge’s life before he fell in love with money
PETER Cratchit—15 Bob’s oldest son
MARTHA Cratchit—Bob’s oldest daughter, 17, works in a millinery shop.
FAN: about 20 Scrooge’s sister, Fred’s mother (seen in a flashback)
Gentleman ONE – 40’s Comes seeking charitable donations from Scrooge
Gentleman TWO—50’s Comes seeking charitable contributions also
MRS CRATCHIT – mid to late 30’s, Bob’s wife
ACTOR 1:
Ebenezer Scrooge
ACTOR 2:
BOB
#1
FRED
MARLEY
GHOST #2
FEZZIWIG
ACTOR 3:
#2
TIM
GHOST 1
GHOST 3
PETER
ACTOR 4:
BELLE
MARTHA
FAN
MRS CRATCHIT
8. Scripts will be judged blind. Submit two copies of the Cover Sheet—one should have ONLY the name of the play on it; the second cover sheet should have the name of the author and his/her/their contact information on it. The author’s name should not be on any page of the script except on the second cover sheet. (Upload in three documents: Cover Sheet #1, Cover Sheet #2, Script). Script pages should be numbered. IF an actor is to play multiple parts designate how those are to be split up. (See rule 7 for an example.)
9. Each submission may be subject to two rounds of judging. First round will identify up to twelve (12) finalists. The second round will select the four winners. Plays must tell a compelling story which uses both the vocal qualities of actors AND sound effects to create a world and story in the minds of those who hear it. (Reminder: these plays will only be heard, not seen. So write a sound effects rich script.)
10. Winning playwrights will be notified by email.
11. As many as four (4) winning scripts may be selected for full production: rehearsal, taping, editing, and airing on a future Eastern Standard program. No other remuneration will be given.
12. Each play will be rehearsed, taped and edited separate from the others on a schedule determined by WEKU, Eastern Standard or its designees.
13. Winning playwright/s may attend the rehearsals and taping/s of their show.
14. Works must be the original work of the playwright. Copyright of the play belongs to the author. Copyright of the broadcast belongs to WEKU (88.9 FM) its heirs or assigns.
15. Judges may disqualify improperly formatted scripts, scripts that are not topically appropriate (see rule #4), in instances where the play is not appropriate for children and adults of all ages, or which do not comply with contest rules.
16. Only winning playwrights will be notified, and no comments will be made about submissions by judges or sponsors (or their representatives).
17. Judges decisions shall be final and unappealable.
18. At their discretion, sponsors may announce no, fewer, or more than 4 winners of this contest.
19. Submitting playwrights agree to abide by all rules and accept the decisions of the judges and sponsors as final.
20. A PLAYWRIGHT'S TYPED NAME BELOW SHALL BE ACCEPTED AS LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT THAT THE PLAYWRIGHT UNDERSTANDS AND ACCEPTS THESE RULES AND WILL ABIDE BY THEM. DATE MUST BE TYPED IN FOR THE SIGNATURE TO BE VALID. Click HERE to download and sign. Send to es@eku.edu.
____________________ _________________
Name of Playwright Date signed