Mission

Through UnderDevelopment, Different Strokes! hopes to foster new playwrights in the development and production of powerful new plays which not only entertain, but inform, enlighten, and deepen audience awareness of socially significant issues.

UnderDevelopment offers several services to Playwrights in the development of their original works. We are devoted to developing new works in a safe and nurturing environment, one which serves the creative integrity of the artist. Every step of the process involves the writer. We offer Writers:

  • a chance to see and hear their work read aloud by experienced actors.
  • to develop their work with actors and an audience
  • a network of experienced Actors, Directors, Playwrights, Dramaturgy, and Critics
  • a chance to have a third party facilitate feedback on their work
  • Critical Analysis

Different Strokes! is proud to foster new playwrights in the development and production of powerful new plays which  entertain, inform, and enlighten audiences, and deepen their awareness of socially significant issues, and racial equity and diversity. UnderDevelopment offers playwrights a chance to develop their work with experienced actors and an eventually audience of their peers and contemporaries. “Different Strokes! has long been committed to equity, and diversity, which includes acknowledging the ever apparent lack of diversity and unequivocal under-representation of BIPOC playwrights in our industry. While we are always interested in receiving plays from all Playwrights, this call is specifically for Black/African American Playwrights with a desire to portray the joys of our Black Experiences – our distinct language, our music, our style…how we say ‘whassup’…”. We are  currently soliciting 60 to 90 minute  original plays written by Black Playwrights,. 

 

Submission Guidelines for Consideration

 All submissions must be the author’s own work. Plays shall be free from copyright restrictions, and the author agrees to hold Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective, its Agents and Directors free and harmless from all copyright claims

As a  theater that produces plays that reflect the human situation and mirrors our vision of a more diverse world, we remain open to as wide a range of plays — and approaches to playwriting — as possible.

Please use a standard playwriting format. We accept unsolicited manuscripts of full-length, original plays by writers who have established residence in Western North Carolina.  

We do not accept into the program:

  • Adaptations (without accompanying authorizations, if not in public domain)
  • Screenplays
  • Musicals
  • Plays that are in the development process with another company, or have already been produced. Plays with previous production history should be submitted directly to playsubmissions@differentstrokespac.org

We are most interested in:

  • Plays with contemporary themes that speak to diverse audiences.
  • One act or full-length play (45-90 minutes) that has not previously been produced in any setting. If the play has undergone a workshop, staged reading or development of any kind, the playwright must inform Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective of the specifics, on the *online form.
  • The play must require 5 actors or less.  If there are more than 5 characters, doubling must be clearly explained in the synopsis section on the *online form.

After you have read our Submission Guidelines and wish to proceed, please complete *online submission application. All submissions are confidential; we are committed to protecting your intellectual property.

Thank you in advance for your patience while we process your script; our typical response time is 6-8 months.