The Mike Sockol

NEW WORKS SERIES 2024

Produced by Darren Nye

See your work performed in a live Reading!

And possibly be selected for a Full Production Run!

Villagers Theatre in Somerset NJ (Franklin Township) is now accepting submissions for this season's Mike Sockol New Works Series. Selected plays can be presented as seated Play Readings, or Staged Readings, in our Zaidi Black Box from approximately February to April of 2024.

Submission Criteria

The Playwright must be a resident of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania or Delaware.

Submission timeframe and deadline is ONLY January 1 2024 till January 21st 2024.

Only 1 play may be submitted per playwright, per season, so select your best!

Please, no musicals.

A maximum of 20 plays will be reviewed per season.

The plays will be reviewed in the sequential order received, so submit early.

There is no restriction on the subjects and topics that can be submitted for consideration.

The series is open to artists of all ages, religions, races and creed.

Script word count should be 20,000 words or less.

The script should ideally take 60 minutes to 2 hours to perform.

Plays with smaller casts (under 7 characters) are PREFERRED, but larger cast size will be considered. We also prefer shows designed to be performed on one set, with an eye toward future community theatre productions.

Scripts must be original, COMPLETED, unpublished works of professional quality.

No hardcopy paper manuscripts will be accepted. All submissions must be digital and sent via e-mail to [email protected]

However for the reading, the playwright must provide enough full-page printed copies of the script, for all members of the cast.

Important!!!!!

The body of the email that contains the attached script MUST BE FORMATTED EXACTLY AS FOLLOWS:

1. Authors name, address, phone number and email

2. Title of play

3. Genre of play (comedy, drama etc.)

4. Word count

5. Number of Characters

6. Brief description of story’s premise

7. Character breakdown

8. Detailed Synopsis of play

9. Brief Bio of Author

10. Where and when have you held reading workshops for submission(s)?

11. Are you seeking a seated Play Reading, or a Staged Reading?

Due to time and budgetary restraints, a maximum of 3 plays will be selected for a Reading. Plays are selected based on a review system conducted by volunteers who read and score the plays.

Playwrights chosen for this series are required to attend the readings and to participate in talk-backs with the audience. If your play is selected for a Reading, you may work with the Producer Darren Nye to select a Director, Cast and Crew (if necessary). You can also request that Darren handle all these details - if time permits.

What are the different types of "Readings"?

1. A "Play Reading" is the simplest form of a reading, which just involves actors sitting in chairs, facing the audience, with scripts on music stands. The performance is done through just their voices. They may not even look at the other actors. Stage Directions are read by a Stage Manager. There is no set, no costumes, no props, no lighting and no sound effects. This is just actors speaking - it's like a radio program. It involves listening - it's not visual. This method is used when a playwright mostly wants to HEAR the play. If the playwright has not yet held a Play Reading with a full script, this is where they should typically start.
2. A "Workshop" may be similar to a Staged Reading, and may sometimes include set elements and potential props and sound effects. But the name implies that the playwright is still working on the material. The script is not in its final form, and may not be appropriate to present to a full audience. The New Works Series is NOT intended to be a Workshop.
3. A "Staged Reading" is a step above. Staged Readings do not have a real set, or costumes or lighting. However, their intention is to "show" the potential of a production with both actor voices and visual elements. Props may signify potential set areas, and simple furniture may be used. Actors will have movement (blocking) and interaction on stage. But there is little line memorization and they will have scripts in hand. Still, actors should be familiar with the script and perform with not just emotion, but physicality. This method is used when a playwright or theatre wants to both HEAR and SEE what a production could look like. Audience members should feel like they are watching a play.

With the above in mind, prior to submitting your play to the Villagers New Works Series, you should have already gone through several basic "readings" and "workshops" with your material. Your script should be final or close to it.

Goals of the New Works Series

1. To provide playwrights with a opportunity to glimpse the performance potential of their play.
2. To provide alternative performance opportunities for local actors and directors.
3. Expose our audience to new works.

Selections for a Full Production Run...

In 2024, 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2030, as part of the Mike Sockol New Works Series, the best play submitted for the season, will be granted a Full Production Run. The decision will be based on the above volunteer review/ ranking system, in addition to audience response to the Readings or Staged Readings.

Also as per Mike Sockol's wishes, in 2025, Villagers will produce Mike's "Pets (and Their Humans)" and in 2028 they will produce his "Horseshoes" play, instead of selecting a script from those submitted in those seasons/years.

If you had a Reading or Staged Reading conducted as part of the Mike Sockol New Works Series, during a year when we are producing a Mike Sockol production (2025, 2028) - your play will be considered for a Full Production the following season, along with considering the Readings or Staged Readings that were conducted as part of that next season. [So yes, the year after a Mike Sockol production, may be twice as difficult to be granted a Full Production.]

Darren will Produce the selected Full Production show, which would be performed in the Black Box in September, at the beginning of a new season. He can also Direct the production, or the Playwright may suggest a Director and Crew. We urge the Playwright NOT to request directing their own play. Darren will define the budget with the Villagers Board, and make arrangements for media promotion and ticket sales.

Our New Works Series is named after Mike Sockol, who passed away on October 1st 2022. He was dedicated to giving back to the community and the arts.

Mike's pride and passion for New Works has allowed aspiring and accomplished writers to feel heard. We respectfully continue his legacy with "Mike Sockol’s New Works Series", which was established in 2021 with Mike before his passing, to encourage writers to always follow their passions.