The Elliot Lake Amateur Theatre Ensemble (ELATE) has issued a call for writers to submit scripts for a one-act play.
It is the first time the group has taken on a project since the 2019 collapse of the civic centre roof that destroyed the auditorium where ELATE performed plays and since pandemic restrictions halted all productions being staged at the Collins Hall or Elliot Lake Secondary School auditoriums.
“ELATE has not been able to do anything since the roof collapse and COVID restrictions,” project coordinator Murray Finn said. “This is at least something positive for us.”
What the group is looking for is a play written in monologue style, Finn added.
“The story is told in a series of monologues by each of the characters as if they are writing letters to one another.”
Each play should have a run time of between 20 to 30 minutes that will allow ELATE members to eventually produce the play while conforming to COVID restrictions.
Writers are asked to submit a 'snippet' of the play in a one-page outline that will give a brief synopsis of the story, will list the characters involved with a brief description of their role and include a monologue featuring one of the characters to demonstrate the writer’s ability to write in the monologue style, according to Finn.
The outlines should be submitted under the title snippets to Finn via email to [email protected] by Jan. 31. Writers are asked to include their contact information.
The submissions will be reviewed by an ELATE committee and three will be accepted for final completion. All writers will be informed of the status of their proposal by Feb. 8.
The three winning writers will be contracted to complete a script by March 28. The contract will include submitting an interim draft by March 1 which will allow the committee to review the script and suggest revisions to polish it for final production. It will also allow ELATE the right of first production at no cost while the writer retains the production rights for further productions.
Cash prizes will be awarded upon successful completion.