*Please note that Native Voices only accepts submissions written for the stage or theatre by Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations artists.
DEADLINE: September 15, 2023 SEPTEMBER 30th, 2023
There are many stereotypes that Native Americans - living and dead - have had to contend with. One of the most pervasive in film, history, and wooden statues: the stoic, wise leader.
He never smiles. He rarely speaks. He is always a he.
But we know better. And for Native Voices 14th Annual Short Play Festival, you will, too!
We’re asking our writers to dive into the image of the “Stoic Indian.” Let’s flip that stereotype on its head.
Will you…
Showcase that brilliant wit lurking behind that stoic facade?
Tackle the stories of the very real (and wise)?
Regale us with the playfully mischievous?
Surprise us?
Instead of playing stoic, Native Voices’ 2024 Short Play Festival is asking for stories that play with stoic. Come, make us laugh, teach us a lesson, or show us stoic as we join together for the Autry for our 14th Annual Short Play Festival.
Please keep your plays under 10 minutes! Plays selected to participate in the 14th Annual Short Play Festival will also be entered to win the Thomas Studie Gadugi Audience Prize of $500 and the Von Marie Atchley Excellence in Playwriting Award of $1,000.
Scripts longer than 15 pages or read aloud at longer than 10 minutes will not be accepted. Fresh, surprising perspectives are welcome!
DEADLINE: August 15, 2023
Native Voices is currently accepting submissions of full-length plays (60+ pages) by American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations playwrights addressing all themes and topics.
The Retreat and Festival bring artists to Los Angeles to work on a selected number of plays through a rigorous directorial and dramaturgical commitment for 8–10 days in June. The Retreat culminates in public staged readings of the plays at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles. Selected playwrights receive artistic support as well as an honorarium; out-of-town artists receive roundtrip airfare plus lodging in Southern California.
Selection Process: Full-length plays (60+ pages) received by August 15th, 2023 will be read and evaluated. A select number of playwrights will be invited to submit formal proposals detailing their developmental goals should their play be chosen for the short list. Scripts will then be sent to a committee of nationally recognized theatre artists for further evaluation. With their help, Native Voices selects up to four plays for the Playwrights Retreat and Festival of New Plays. Playwrights will be notified in March 2024.
*Due to budget constraints post-COVID, we cannot accept plays that require more than six actors to produce. Express doubling is encouraged, should it be necessary to complete your vision.
Months prior to residencies, selected playwrights participate in dramaturgical conversations with an assigned director and dramaturg. Workshops with these creative teams and a cast of professional actors commence once the playwright arrives on-site. It is important to note that these conversations and workshops are playwright driven, allowing the writer to shape their own developmental path. Selected playwrights should be prepared to dedicate adequate time to this process prior to arriving on-site.
We accept scripts all year long. Do you have a full-length script that has been developed and produced that you would like us to consider for a future Native Voices production in Los Angeles? Please follow the Checklist for All Submissions below and in the Native Voices Script Submission form check the box for 2024 General Production Consideration.
Please do not send treatments or outlines. Previously produced plays should be submitted under the 2024 General Submission for Production Consideration. Playwrights are encouraged to make multiple submissions (up to three per event), but selection will be limited to only one play per playwright, per event.
We now only accept electronic submission (preferably PDF format).
To submit, fill out our online form and upload your materials here: Native Voices Script Submission Form
NATIVE VOICES SUPPORT COMMITTEE: TONANTZÍN CARMELO • ELENA FINNEY ENDLICH • CAROLE GOLDBERG AND DUANE CHAMPAGNE • KIMBERLY GUERRERO • SHAWN IMITATES DOG • SHELBY JIGGETTS-TIVONY • DIANE LEVINE • HEIDI LEVINE-GONZALEZ • SAMANTHA AND RUDY ORTEGA, JR. • DARYL ROTH • JULIANA SERRANO AND STEVE MADISON • GLORIA STEINEM • MARTI WIEDMAN AND JOHN QUICK
AND OUR ADDITIONAL SPONSORS:
ACTORS EQUITY FOUNDATION • LAURA AND DEAN BERESFORD • DAVID CARTWRIGHT • MAURA DHU AND WES STUDI • THE MAX AND VICTORIA DREYFUS FOUNDATION, INC. • JOYCE AND DAVID EVANS • LEE HORWIN • HELENE JACOBS • JUDY JACOBS • EMILY MANN • SEELEY W. MUDD FOUNDATION • PETER GLENVILLE FOUNDATION • JEAN BRUCE SCOTT AND RANDY REINHOLZ
The Autry Museum of American West acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). We recognize that the Autry Museum and its campuses are located on the traditional lands of Gabrielino/Tongva peoples and we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462
Located northeast of downtown, across from the Los Angeles Zoo.
Map and Directions
Free parking for Autry visitors.
MUSEUM AND STORE HOURS
Tuesday–Friday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
CAFE HOURS
Tuesday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.