Frequently Asked Questions
Submitting a play
Q. Is there a submission fee?
A. No.
Q. Are there page limits or character limits?
A. No. We encourage you to structure your play to permit double-casting if your play has a large cast, and to keep your page count at a number that will allow for several runthroughs during the rehearsal/development process.
Q. Why do you need my bio when you get my play? I worry that _________ will make you take me less seriously.
A. Element does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, lack of previous experience with theater, or anything else, but we do reserve the right to make sure that we do not accidentally select four plays by fifty-year-old men, for example. Your play will not be read with your name or bio attached to it.
Q. Can I submit a play that has been previously performed?
A. Yes, as long as you are interested in doing major work on it and you meet our criteria for emerging playwrights. We want to make sure that the process of workshopping will be productive, and that we are assisting the playwrights who need the most help making connections and developing their body of work.
Q. Who will read my play?
A. A panel comprised of writers, directors, and actors, many of whom are previous Element participants.
Q. Can I get feedback on my play if it’s not chosen?
A. Due to the volume of submissions, we can’t provide you with feedback. We plan to waitlist two or three “understudy” plays in case of a cancellation and will notify you if that is what happens with your play.
Q. Will you retain any rights to my play?
A. No. Element reserves the right to use your name, photo and bio, and the play’s title or titles (if you change it) for promotional purposes, but that’s it.
Other questions
Q. I’m not a playwright, but I want to be involved/help with Element. How do I do that?
A. Go here to find information on auditions, becoming a director, and interning with us. We would also be very happy to have your financial support and/or in-kind donations; you can find out more here.
Q. What will it be like to be a director or actor for an Element play?
A. We are committed to helping the playwrights understand their plays' strengths and weaknesses, so we ask that directors and actors approach each play with the goal of interpreting the text as precisely as they are able. It can be challenging to work with a text that is constantly changing,
Q. I still have questions and it makes me all anxious! What do I do?
A. Email Erica Hohn, our executive producer, here.
Q. Is there a submission fee?
A. No.
Q. Are there page limits or character limits?
A. No. We encourage you to structure your play to permit double-casting if your play has a large cast, and to keep your page count at a number that will allow for several runthroughs during the rehearsal/development process.
Q. Why do you need my bio when you get my play? I worry that _________ will make you take me less seriously.
A. Element does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, lack of previous experience with theater, or anything else, but we do reserve the right to make sure that we do not accidentally select four plays by fifty-year-old men, for example. Your play will not be read with your name or bio attached to it.
Q. Can I submit a play that has been previously performed?
A. Yes, as long as you are interested in doing major work on it and you meet our criteria for emerging playwrights. We want to make sure that the process of workshopping will be productive, and that we are assisting the playwrights who need the most help making connections and developing their body of work.
Q. Who will read my play?
A. A panel comprised of writers, directors, and actors, many of whom are previous Element participants.
Q. Can I get feedback on my play if it’s not chosen?
A. Due to the volume of submissions, we can’t provide you with feedback. We plan to waitlist two or three “understudy” plays in case of a cancellation and will notify you if that is what happens with your play.
Q. Will you retain any rights to my play?
A. No. Element reserves the right to use your name, photo and bio, and the play’s title or titles (if you change it) for promotional purposes, but that’s it.
Other questions
Q. I’m not a playwright, but I want to be involved/help with Element. How do I do that?
A. Go here to find information on auditions, becoming a director, and interning with us. We would also be very happy to have your financial support and/or in-kind donations; you can find out more here.
Q. What will it be like to be a director or actor for an Element play?
A. We are committed to helping the playwrights understand their plays' strengths and weaknesses, so we ask that directors and actors approach each play with the goal of interpreting the text as precisely as they are able. It can be challenging to work with a text that is constantly changing,
Q. I still have questions and it makes me all anxious! What do I do?
A. Email Erica Hohn, our executive producer, here.