May 29, 2007

write a story poem

To get started on a story poem, begin by quickly writing down a sequence of events from beginning to end.

For this poem, try one of the following:

1) Write about something that happened within the past week. This doesn't have to be a major, life changing event. Just start right in and write through a quick draft to get started.

2) Write about something that happened at least five years ago. Pick an event you've had time to reflect on, something that stands out now as playing an important part in who you are today. As you write, don't tell why this event is important, just concentrate on getting your reader into the feel of actually being there. Provide plenty of concrete, specific details to make the story come alive.

Whichever of the above options you choose, keep the poem short, compressed, to the point--no more than 24 lines as an absolute maximum. You may want to write this out first as prose, then add line breaks and stanza breaks when you complete your first draft.

Maybe you can combine the two to find the similarities or differences between the two events.

A beautiful example of a story poem:

TOMATOES
by Stephen Dobyns

A woman travels to Brazil for plastic
surgery and a face-lift. She is sixty
and has the usual desire to stay pretty.
Once she is healed, she takes her new face
out on the streets of Rio. A young man
with a gun wants her money. Bang, she’s dead.
The body is shipped back to New York,
but in the morgue there is a mix-up. The son
is sent for. He is told that his mother
is one of these ten different women.
Each has been shot. Such is modern life.
He studies them all but can’t find her.
With her new face, she has become a stranger.
Maybe it’s this one, maybe it’s that one.
He looks at their breasts. Which ones nursed him?
He presses their hands to his cheek.
Which ones consoled him? He even tries
climbing onto their laps to see which
feels most familiar but the coroner stops him.
Well, says the coroner, which is your mother?
They all are, says the young man, let me
take them as a package. The coroner hesitates,
then agrees. Actually, it solved a lot of problems.
The young man has the ten women shipped home,
then cremates them all together. You’ve seen
how some people have a little urn on the mantel?
This man has a huge silver garbage can.
In the spring, he drags the garbage can
out to the garden and begins working the teeth,
the ash, the bits of bone into the soil.
Then he plants tomatoes. His mother loved tomatoes.
They grow straight from seed, so fast and big
that the young man is amazed. He takes the first
ten into the kitchen. In their roundness,
he sees his mother’s breasts. In their smoothness
he finds the consoling touch of her hands.
Mother, mother, he cries, and flings himself
on the tomatoes. Forget about the knife, the fork,
the pinch of salt. Try to imagine the filial
starvation, think of his ravenous kisses.
LARRY JOE CAMPBELL, XANDER BERKELY, KURT FULLER, BRAD RAIDER AND MICHAEL HITCHCOCK STAR IN SECOND "NEW FROM NYU" READING

This veteran all-star cast appears in GRAND DELUSION, the second reading in New From NYU (Spring Series). The play is written by David Rock, whose piece "Enron: Not a Fair Accounting" was featured in this year's NYU TV Writers & Actors Showcase at The Friars.

New From NYU showcases six nights of panels and readings of new plays and screenplays providing a venue to connect TSOA Alumni writers, directors and actors to the legit, tv and film industries. Join us at The Odyssey for the second reading. Reservations accepted at nyuwriters@yahoo.com

GRAND DELUSION
a new play
by David Rock

directed by
Danny Goldstein

starring
Xander Berkeley, Larry Joe Campbell, Michael Hitchcock and Kurt Fuller

and Tisch Alumni
Brad Raider
Niamh McCormally

Monday, June 4th
8 pm - Reading
9:30 pm – Private Post Show Party - see below for how to attend
(free wine, beer, munchies)

The Odyssey Theatre
2055 South Sepulveda Blvd.
(north of Olympic)
Free Parking in Lot or Street
RSVP: nyuwriters@yahoo.com

$10 at door GETS YOU IN to the private post show party! All money made at the door supports the progamming of NYU WRITERS LAB WEST.

NYU Writers Lab West is a network of NYU Tisch School of the Arts alumni working as professional playwrights, screenwriters and television writers. The Lab exists to increase the visibility of Tisch writers working in the entertainment industry by creating and implementing the NYU New TV Writers & Actors Showcase, the New From NYU Series as well as numerous workshops, panels, retreats and publishing opportunities. First and foremost, we support one another as artists. If you would like to know more about NYU Writer’s Lab West, contact: nyuwriters@yahoo.com.

May 25, 2007

WRITE A TANKA

Tanka is an ancient form of Japanese poetry believed to exist for the last 1300 years which makes it older than haiku. As a form, the tanka poem consists of 31 syllables arranged in a metric pattern of 5 – 7 – 5 – 7 – 7.

In Japanese, tanka is written in one straight line with no stresses and no rhyme scheme though the sounds and words are meant to resonate emotionally as in contemporary American free verse.

In English, we usually divide the lines into the five syllabic units:

5
7
5
7
7

TANKAS BY IZUMI SHIKIBU

Lying alone
my black hair tangled
uncombed,
I long for the one
who touched it first.

The bamboo’s
old root
hasn’t changed at all –
Is there even one night
he sleeps at home? No.

A MEDITATION FOR PEACE

Wherever you are, join me in a visualization to bring the troops home safely. From noon to 12:30 on Sunday. The focus of meditation will also be to bring peace to everyone's environment and to everyone's heart.

Thanks, Louise

damsels in success

DAMSELS IN SUCCESS

Damsels In Success, a new site for professional women, launched this week! It was created by my sister's friend Harleen in NYC. My sister Allison Kingsley is on the board. They've got a huge smattering of professional women pursuing creative pathways who are writing! All postings by "Allison" are my sister's- check her out on "Meet the Damsels" page! Please visit www.damselsinsuccess.com , check out the story later this week about DamselsInSuccess on Forbes.com, and forward the site info to all your professional women friends. I hope you enjoy the site!

Love, Laura

script in a month

SCRIPT IN A MONTH CHALLENGE

I thought you'd be interested in hearing about Script Frenzy, the nonprofit write-a-script-in-a-month challenge brought to you by the same folks who produced National Novel Writing Month.This June, thousands of aspiring writers from around the world will spend 30 days hammering out a full-length screenplay or stage play as part of the Script Frenzy challenge.

They will meet, encourage, and kvetch together in our online Forums and gather at local cafes for group write-ins and icy coffee drinks. Participants don't receive three-picture deals or cash awards for their efforts; but on July 1, they'll have a finished first draft, a sense of accomplishment, and a new community.

The L.A. region is already 50 writers strong and growing daily, and municipal liaisons are staging write-ins and parties on the West Side, North Hollywood, the Valley, and other LA locales. The free (donation-fueled) fun starts on June 1: Check it out at www.ScriptFrenzy.org.

Kristina Malsberger
Script Frenzy Program Director

NYU TISCH EVENT ON JUNE 19TH

The Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film & Television is delighted to invite you to the upcoming edition of our annual West Coast Showcase of Award-Winning Films, the Haig P. Manoogian Screenings. This year's event is scheduled for Tuesday, June 19 and runs from 5:30 pm through 10:00 pm at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles. For more information including screening schedules and additional events, please go to: http://tinyurl.com/34ghpy

abc disney writing programs

ABC DISNEY WRITING PROGRAMS
http://abctalentdevelopment.com/programs_writers2.htm

1. The Disney•ABC Writing Fellowship

What It Is:
Begun in 1990 in partnership with the Writers Guild of America, west, this has become one of the industry’s best known and most respected writing fellowships. More than 200 alumni number among Hollywood’s elite, including screenwriters, directors and television showrunners. A limited number of full-time fellowships are available each year for both feature film and television projects.

How It Works:
Fellows receive a weekly salary for a one-year period, subject to change, but (currently amounting to $50,000/year plus benefits). The program is an intensive, hands-on experience that involves workshops, seminars and mentorships with creative executives from ABC, ABC Television Studio, Disney Channel, ABC Family, Lifetime and Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group.

How to Apply:
No previous professional experience is necessary, but strong writing samples are required. Click here for application materials and additional information.

2. Disney•ABC Creative Development Program (Formerly known as Scholarship-Grant Program)

The Scholarship-Grant Program is being revamped and enhanced, and will fall under the umbrella of the Creative Development Project. Please check back in for updates as they become available.

3. ABC Daytime Writing Fellowship Program

ABC Daytime’s Writer Development Program seeks to identify creative talent interested in writing for daytime. We are looking for work that is character driven, relationship focused (familial, romantic, friendship) and emotionally rich and diverse (poignant, humorous, etc.).
If you are interested in the program and would like to submit your work, please contact daytimewriterprogram@abctv.com to request an application and release. (Do not submit any materials to this e-mail address. We cannot consider your work until you have signed and returned the required release.)

To be considered for the program, along with an executed copy of the signed release provided by us, submit a writing resume and an original writing sample which must have a logline that summarizes the work. Plays, screenplays or teleplays are preferred and work based on ABC programming cannot be accepted.

If read, candidates’ work will be evaluated on characterization, uniqueness of voice, emotional engagement and other areas relevant to constituents of strong daytime drama. Please note that any work(s) read are evaluated as writing samples only and will be reviewed solely by ABC daytime.Writing samples are returned once/if reviewed and no copies will be retained.

4. IAIA/Disney•ABC Summer Television and Film Workshop

Disney•ABC Television Group, in partnership with The Walt Disney Studios, has developed a program for Native American writers, directors, and actors who aspire to work in the entertainment industry. This program is held at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Since its inception in 1962, IAIA has had a major influence on the artistic, economic and social expression of Native Americans by offering programs to students who represent ninety percent of the tribal communities in the U.S.

This summer workshop, held on the IAIA campus, was designed to assist novice and experienced Native American screenwriters, filmmakers, directors and actors. The program also brings acclaimed executives, producers, screenwriters, directors and actors, both Native and non-Native, from the mainstream television and film world to work individually and collectively with the selected students. The summer workshop runs mid-June through July.

For information on how to apply to this program, please contact Beverly Morris at bmorris@iaia.edu or call 800-804-6422.

3 day novel contest

Registration for the 30th Anniversary3-Day Novel Contest Now Open!
http://www.3daynovel.com

Can you produce an entire novel in a mere 72 hours? Join hundreds of writers this Labour Day Weekend and find out for yourself!

Grand Prize: Publication (summer 2008)
2nd Prize: $500 cash
3rd Prize: A great literary prize pack

And, in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of this notorious literary marathon, we'll have lots of new prizes and fun stuff for everyone who makes the shortlist.

How It Works
Yes, most entrants strive for the first prize of publication, but the contest’s true rewards go to everyone who gives it their all: the 72-hour exile of writers block, bragging rights afterward and, most of all, an amazing creative kick-start. You never know where this contest is going to take you.

How does it work?

Here's the short story: read the rules, register for the contest by August 31, make a few outline notes (if you wish) and then write an entire novel over the three days of the Labour Day long weekend. Keep energized, stay hydrated, keep your goal in sight and let the momentum of the contest charge your creativity and break through your blocks. Print up your masterwork, stick it in an envelope and mail to us for judging. We'll announce the best novels in January, hand out some prizes, and send a fancy certificate to everyone who delivered a novel. Then we publish the winner!

Use the links to your left for rules, registration information, frequently asked questions and details on where to find fabulous winning 3-Day Novels from past contests.

3-Day Novel on TV: The Second Season
Our friends at BookTelevision doing it again. Visit BookTelevision.com for news on the upcoming 3-Day reality series, plus details on how to apply!

Contact info@3daynovel.com

The International 3-Day Novel Contest
200 - 341 Water Street
Vancouver, BC, V6B 1B8, Canada

May 24, 2007

Write a No-Sentence Poem

Write a poem that is six to sixteen lines long and contains no grammatically complete sentences. If you want, you can punctuate fragments as complete sentences. Make your final poem six to sixteen lines long. Consider dividing it into two or more stanzas. e. e. cummings "r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r" could be an example:

r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r
by E. E. Cummings

r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r
who
a)s w(e loo)k
upnowgath
PPEGORHRASS
eringint(o-
aThe):l
eA
!p:
S
a
(r
rIvInG .gRrEaPsPhOs)
to
rea(be)rran(com)gi(e)ngly
,grasshopper;

teaching the arts

* Director of Theater Program Lake Forest College (Illinois) (date posted: 5/21/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000507725-01&pg=e

* Faculty in Culinary Art; Economics; Professional Studies; Public and Community Health Education; Sociology; Voice and Movement Austin Peay State University (Tennessee) (date posted: 5/23/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000509287-01&pg=e

* Academic Writing Instructor, International School of Economics, Tbilisi State University World Bank (Multiple locations) (date posted: 5/21/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000508070-01&pg=e

* English Technical Writing Instructor Northern Arizona University (Arizona) (date posted: 5/18/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000508750-01&pg=e

* Communications Faculty Colorado Mountain College (Colorado) (date posted: 5/23/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000509414-01&pg=e

* Two Full Time Positions: Faculty Speech Communication and Faculty, English Community College of Baltimore County (Maryland) (date posted: 5/21/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000508077-01&pg=e

* Director of the Writing Center Texas A&M International University (Texas) (date posted: 5/18/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000508813-01&pg=e

May 23, 2007

Write a One-Sentence Poem

Write a poem that is six to twelve lines long and contains only one sentence like the one below. Besides being six to twelve lines long, your poem should have two or more stanzas.

The New Dog
by Linda Pastan

Into the gravity of my life,
the serious ceremonies
of polish and paper
and pen, has come

this manic animal
whose innocent disruptions
make nonsense
of my old simplicities—

as if I needed him
to prove again that after
all the careful planning,
anything can happen.

theatre opps

IDENTICAL PRODUCTIONS
Identical Productions, a new theatrical/television production company based out of Westchester County, is currently looking for new musical submissions to be produced at a venue in NYC. Please contact identicalproductions@gmail.com with any questions you may have, and send all materials you have (libretto, score, CD Demo, etc.) to:

New Musicals
c/o Identical Productions
1110 Clay Avenue
Pelham Manor, NY 10803

Please also include the best way we can contact you if we decide to move forward with your musical.


ABINGDON THEATRE COMPANY
presents
THE CHRISTOPHER BRIAN WOLK AWARD
Deadline 6-1-2007

Christopher Brian Wolk was a talented and creative actor, musician, singer, writer and composer who died accidentally in Glacier National Park, Montana. To honor his memory, Abingdon Theatre Company and the Wolk family have created the Christopher Brian Wolk Award.

In the Company's ongoing effort to recognize excellence in playwriting, a sum of $1,000 is presented annually to a writer of a new, full-length American play. From the hundreds of plays submitted each year, nine finalists are chosen. The nine plays are then carefully reviewed by a panel of judges, who select the winning script. This is yet another way in which Abingdon supports theatrical work, while honoring the memory of a great actor and true friend.

Complete guidelines and further information at: http://www.abingdontheatre.org/wolkaward.php

Abingdon Theatre Company
Kim T. Sharp,
Literary Mgr.
312 W. 36th St.
New York, NY 10018
212-868-2055
212-868-2056 fax
ksharp@abingdontheatre.org
www.abingdontheatre.org

PHARE PLAY PRODUCTIONS
Deadline: 6-1-2007

Phare Play Productions, a non equity theater, is seeking one act plays for its upcoming summer and fall one-act festivals. Dates TBA shortly. Phare Play has been recently featured and reviewed in Backstage, Time Out New York, AM New York, Off Off Online, and various other trade publications.

We are seeking scripts no longer than 15 minutes in length, preferably comedic, to be performed in New York City. We value our potential playwrights and consider them an equal resource, alongside actors, directors and technical staff, in creating new and important work. There is NO FEE to have your work considered for any of our productions.

You are welcome to submit scripts with previous productions or publication, however at this time we are only seeking royalty free plays. Please forward any applicable scripts or inquiries (PDF preferred, but MS word ok), along with any contact information, questions, etc. to: jasmine@phareplay.com.

The deadline for summer shorts is June 1st and currently ongoing for fall shorts.

Jasmine Spiess
Director of Creative Development,
Phare Play Productions
http://www.phareplay.com

WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY’S NJ PLAYWRIGHTS CONTEST
(New Jersey residents only)
Deadline: 6-14-2007

The Performing Arts Theatre Series of William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ announces their annual NJ Playwrights Contest. This project helps bring new playwrights and their work into focus in the community, the region and the state of New Jersey. The competition has two phases. First, three plays or musicals will be selected for staged-readings in the fall of 2007 from all entries received by June 14, 2007. Each of these three finalists will receive a small honorarium. Second, one of these three finalists will be selected to receive a production as part of the university's spring 2008 season. This year the production will be performed in the Shea Center for Performing Arts (a large 920 seat extended apron theatre) and will include closed captioning as part of the overall production concept. Compensation for the winner will be commensurate with the author's level of participation. This contest is open to New Jersey residents only.

Initial submissions should include a cover letter stating availability of the author for fall 2007 and history of the play, a one-page synopsis of the play and a resume of the playwright. The submission should be emailed to theatreseries@wpunj.edu or mailed to:

William Paterson University
H105A Performing Arts Theatre
Series300
Pompton Rd.Wayne, NJ 07470

NO PLAYS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AT THIS TIME. Requests for scripts and author interviews will be arranged later this summer.

Contact: Ed Matthews theatreseries@wpunj.edu

HOTCITY THEATRE GREENHOUSE SERIES
Deadline: 6-22-2007

The HotCity Theatre GREENHOUSE SERIES is looking for new plays to include in our 2007 NEW PLAY FESTIVAL. We will mount staged readings of six never-before published or produced plays. The two jury prize winners of the festival will receive full, professional, world premiere productions with The GreenHouse during the ’08 season!We are looking for plays no shorter than 70 minutes (so long one-acts are perfectly acceptable), no longer than two-and-a-half hours, and especially plays that “push the envelope” in terms of content, structure, or theme.

Please send a hard copy of your script to our office at:

HotCity Theatre
3547 Olive Street
Suite #203
St. Louis MO, 63103

Include a cover letter, resume, your contact info, approximate running time, and cast breakdown. Scripts will not be returned. We will contact you to let you know the script arrived, and then forward it to our reading committee.Website: http://www.hotcitytheatre.org

NEW VISIONS / NEW VOICES 2008, April 25-27, 2008
Deadline: 8-1-2007

New Visions/New Voices is a week-long residency in April for playwrights and theatres to stimulate and support the creation of new plays and musicals for young audiences and families, culminating in a weekend festival of staged readings and discussions with professionals in the field from around the country.

As of 2006, NVNV has assisted in the development of 66 new plays from 44 theaters in 27 states, and two international companies; involving 56 playwrights, 30 composers and 60 directors.

Projects may be submitted at any stage of the development process, from a completed draft nearly ready for production to a treatment at the conception stage. Once selected, artistic teams - playwrights, directors and composers - will come to Washington D.C. and rehearse and evaluate their work for 5 days and then present the projects as staged readings, followed by a monitored discussion before an invited audience of fellow artistic, academic and administrative advocates in the field. Each team has the freedom to move at their own pace in setting their week's end goals.

Application for New Visions/New Voices 2008 now available online at http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/nvnv08application.pdf

If you are unable to open the document, please contact us to obtain a hard copy of the application. Completed applications must be received no later than August 1, 2007.

For more information on the New Visions/New Voices 2008 festival, please contact us at:New Visions/New VoicesEducation Department The Kennedy Center P.O. Box 101510Arlington, VA 22210 Phone: (202) 416- 8830Fax: (202) 416-8297Or, you can e-mail us at kctya@kennedy-center.org


LINCOLN SQUARE THEATRE’S NIGHT CAPS 2
Deadline: 10-1-2007

Lincoln Square Theatre of Chicago is soliciting scripts for Night Caps 2 (NC2), a festival of new work to be held in the spring of 2008.

Theme: After 6 pm (before dawn); Requirements: 3-12 minutes; 1-5 characters; black box. Restrictions: No plays for children, musicals or previously produced work (works that have had readings are okay); there is no fee and no pay available for NC2. Scripts will be accepted until October 1, 2007. Selections will be announced in January of 2008.

Email submissions to: lsac@comcast.net or snail mail to: Lincoln Square Theatre, 4754 N. Leavitt, Chicago, IL 60625

2008 NATHAN MILLER HISTORY PLAY CONTEST
Sponsored by Tribute Productions, A Divison of the Sprenger-Lang Foundation
Deadline: 12-31-2007 (postmark)

This play contest is named in honor of the American historian Nathan Miller, a prolific and esteemed writer of American history. Author of 13 books of history and biography, including "New World Coming: The 1920s and the Making of Modern American" and "Theodore Roosevelt: A Life", Mr. Miller received five Pulitzer Prize nominations. As a meticulous writer and exuberant devotee of American History, Mr. Miller was a prime source of inspiration for this play contest. Born in Baltimore, MD, he lived in Washington DC at the time of his death in 2004.

Please read these rules before submitting a script:

1. Eligibility CriteriaA. The theme of the play must focus on and elucidate a significant even, movement or era in American social, intellectual or political history. Plays that are purely biographical or merely set in a historical period may not meet this criterion. Multi cultural themes are encouraged.B. Plays with music are eligible - musicals and operas are not.C. Plays must be full-length (max. 120 pages) in script format; must have been completed in the last two years; and must not have been previously produced. (Prior readings, workshops or school productions will not disqualify a script but MUST be disclosed).D. Cast may not include more than 10 actors, but actors may double. If doubling may occur, please make that clear in your cover letter.E. Submission must be postmarked by December 31, 2007.F. Please send four copies of the script and synopsis. Three of these copies must be clean copies, without your name appearing on any part of the script (we don't tell the judge who wrote the scripts until after they have submitted their scores).G. The script must be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope with 41 cents postage and by a one-paragraph synopsis of the play. Please include one cover letter with your name, address, phone and email to Laura Vandruff. If you want your scripts returned after the contest, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope with adequate postage for that purpose as well. H. Script must be written and owned by the person submitting it. It must be free and clear of any 3rd party rights or options.

2. Selection process and criteriaA. All eligible scripts will be submitted to at least two initial screeners. The top-ranked scripts will then ber ead by at least two additional judges who will also rate the scripts. The two top-rated scripts will be the winners.B. The first-prize winner will receive $2,000 and a staged reading of his/her play in 2008 in Washington, DC, travel and lodging in Washington DC will be provided. The second-prize winner will receive $1,000. Either play may be considered for a full professional production by Tribute Productions in a subsequent year but there is no commitment to produce them. The names of the winners will be announced in a press release by the Foundation.C. The review and selection process is expected to be completed by April 30, 2008. The staged reading of the winning play is expected to be scheduled in late 2008. D. The selection of the winning plays is in the discretion of the judges who will be guided by the following factors:Overall quality, including dialogue, character, story development, and impact.Effective integration of historical information with the drama, E.G. how well the characters' story reflects, incorporates or relates to the period or events and how well the play conveys the significance of the subject event or era.All things being equal, themes that have a multi-cultural dimension will be favored.Although musicals and operas are not eligible, plays with music are eligible. Moreover, the effective integration of music (vocal or instrumental) will also be a positive ranking factor.

This is the eighth year of the play contest sponsored by the Sprenger-Lang Foundation, a private family foundation headquartered in Washington, D.C. The foundation's primary purposes include support of the arts and arts education. In June 2000, it presented the premiere AEA production of Leaving the Summer Land by Karen L. B. Evans, at the Cecile Goldman Theatre in Washington, D.C. and in 2004, it premiered Beyond Glory by Stephen Lang, through its division Tribute Productions. The Summer Land production received two Helen Hayes nominations and won the Helen Hayes Award for outstanding set design at the awards ceremony in May 2001. Beyond Glory received a Helen Hayes nomination in 2005 for Best Actor and was subsequently produced by the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. It is now in production by the Roundabout Theatre Off-Broadway.

For more info:
Contact Laura VanDruff
202-518-5357 x2
lvandruff@sprengerandlang.com

upcoming deadlines for artists

DEADLINES

May 24

NYFA’s Strategic Opportunity Stipends (SOS) are designed to help individual artists of all disciplines take advantage of unique opportunities that will significantly benefit their work or career development. Literary, media, visual, and performing artists as well as musicians may request support ranging from $100 to $600 for specific, forthcoming opportunities that are distinct from artistic work in progress. SOS grants are only available to New York State artists who are not residents of the five boroughs of New York City. For more information on how to apply, visit www.nyfa.org/sos.

May 31

Sappi Fine Paper’s Ideas that Matter program awards grants of up to $50,000 to help designers create and implement projects that support social and environmental issues. The designer donates time pro bono; the grant pays for paper, printing, and all other necessary costs. For more information, visit www.sappi.com.

USA Songwriting Competition, the world's leading international songwriting event, honors songwriters, composers, bands, and recording artists everywhere. Winners will be selected by a committee of music industry judges including record label publishers and producers. The competition’s grand prize consists of a cash award and prizes from contest sponsors. There is a $35 application fee. For an application, visit www.songwriting.net.

June 1

The Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada offers Mountain Grants of up to $5,000 (Canadian) to fund projects that creatively interpret the environment, natural history, human heritage, arts, philosophy, lifestyle, and adventure in and of the mountains. Projects must include a communications component (such as film, literature, or photography) that brings the project before a public audience. To apply, visit www.banffcentre.ca.

In an effort to promote and preserve the unique Latin American experience, the Metlife Foundation affiliate Repertorio Español has created the Nuestras Voces playwriting competition. The winner will receive $3,000 and a full production of their script. Applicants are encouraged to submit plays that increase awareness of issues of importance to the US-based Hispanic community and celebrate Hispanic culture in the US. Only original one-act plays with a running time of 90 minutes will be accepted. Plays may be written in Spanish or English. To apply, visit www.repertorio.org/opportunities.

The Boston Review Poetry Contest awards $1,500 and publication in the November/December 2007 issue to the winning poet. Submissions should consist of five unpublished poems, no more than 10 pages total. All writing should be in English. There is a $20 application fee. For details on how to apply, visit www.bostonreview.net/contests.html.

June 11

NYFA’s upcoming “Managing An Artistic Life” conference is focused on dancers, choreographers, and the dance community. Along with Dance/NYC, Dance Theater Workshop, Joyce SoHo, and The Field, the conference will offer practical, financial, and goal-setting advice while providing space to think critically and talk openly about what members of the dance community need to support their vision. NYFA offers a variety of professional development workshops, panels, and conferences for artists working in all disciplines. The workshops provide artists at all experience levels with professional development on a wide variety of aspects concerning their life, art work, and professional career in the arts. The conference will take place in New York City and admission is $25 per person. For more information on how to register, call 212.366.6900 x338 or visit www.nyfa.org/learning.

To search for additional deadlines for the month of May, June, and beyond, visit http://www.nyfasource.org/.

May 17, 2007

i'm back

Sorry gang - was working full time for the last month - am now back in the home office and will be able to update the blog on a more regular basis - watch for new creativity exercises, jobs, artists, etc.

Thanks for your patience!

sj

teaching the arts

* Openings at Allan Hancock College Allan Hancock College (California) (date posted: 5/14/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000507274-01&pg=e

* Positions in Performing Arts Savannah College of Art and Design (Georgia) (date posted: 5/14/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000508098-01&pg=e

* Chair of Production Design Savannah College of Art and Design (Georgia) (date posted: 5/14/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000508100-01&pg=e

* Instructor/Assistant Professor - Communications and/or Theatre Alice Lloyd College (Kentucky) (date posted: 5/14/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000507299-01&pg=e

* Acting Instruction Monmouth University (New Jersey) (date posted: 5/14/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000507508-01&pg=e

* Math; Reading & Developmental English; Technical Dir./Theatre; Associate Degree Nursing; EMS Training Coordinator College of the Albemarle (North Carolina) (date posted: 5/14/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000507375-01&pg=e

* Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance Ewha Womans University (Texas) (date posted: 5/12/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505833-01&pg=e

* Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance Texas A&M International University (Texas) (date posted: 5/12/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000507538-01&pg=e

* Assistant Professor of Theatre, Acting/Directing Southern Utah University (Utah) (date posted: 5/14/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000508133-01&pg=e

May 10, 2007

teaching the arts

* Faculty, Fine and Performing Arts Miami Dade College (Florida) (date posted: 5/8/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000507502-01&pg=e

* Multiple Adjunct Positions Bergen Community College (New Jersey) (date posted: 5/7/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506484-01&pg=e

* Faculty Specialist: Lighting and Sound Design University of Texas at Arlington (Texas) (date posted: 5/9/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000507646-01&pg=e

May 03, 2007

WRITERS -

DAILY CREATOR E.H. HAS COME UP WITH A WONDERFUL NEW IDEA TO PROMOTE THE PRODUCTION OF HER PLAY - CLINK ON THE LINK TO SEE THE SHORT FILM SHE CREATED TO INTRIGUE AUDIENCES.

IS THIS THE NEW WAVE OF MARKETING? LOVE TO HEAR YOUR RESPONSES.

Please have a look at this video -- it's a promo that I created for my play, Squall, which is running in Denver. If you think it's worthy, please pass it along to others. The more hits, the better. They invite you to rate the video, which would be lovely, but there's no need for you to write comments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6vkDsaIY64

Thanks so very much,
Elizabeth

congrats to creator at cannes!

BIG CONGRATS TO DAILY CREATOR E.J. AND HER PARTNER R.S. ON THEIR TRIP ACROSS THE POND!

Just wanted to put out the word on "The Trunk," our short film. Made by Rob Steiner and Elizabeth Johnson, "The Trunk"is making its world premiere debut at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival! Formidable!

The Cannes Short Corner is part of the market aspect of the festival. (Click on List View, 33)
http://shortfilmcorner.withoutabox.com/?festID=&schedule_id=330&filter-section=&filter-country=&filter-letter=R+-+U&group=30

Au revoir, mes enfants!

Elizabeth and Rob

site specific performance piece in nyc


I'M A BIG FAN OF L.D'A. - I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU ARE IN NYC, TO CHECK OUT WHAT SHE DOES. I ASSURE YOU IT WILL NOT BE YOUR TYPICAL NIGHT AT THE THEATRE! - SJ

Hello Friends,

We have created a performance for a secret vacant office space in the World Financial Center. It is a tour called BIRD EYE BLUE PRINT, and you can feel free to arrange those four words in any order that you like.

It has been a full-on collaboration, but if we had to divide it up, we would say that Lisa wrote most of the words and will perform the main role, along with an undisclosed number of additional women. Katie directed the way it moves and sounds, and our good friend and multimedia artist Krista Kelley Walsh designed the visual world.

If you are feeling exhausted by theater and would like to go on an adventure way downtown, please come and see us.

There 22 spots per tour, and there are NO reservations-- just show up and get your ticket at the ticket table. It's FREE! If you are nervous about scoring your space, come early and get your ticket and then go shop at the Winter Garden or Century 21, which are nearby, or go have a drink or get some food at one of the many restaurants in the building -- the ticket table opens a couple of hours before the performances each night.

BIRD EYE BLUE PRINT
a site-specific performance tour
created by Katie Pearl and Lisa D'Amour, with Krista Kelley Walsh
Light Design by Mark Barton
Sound Design by Jimmy Garver
Costume Design by Olivera Gajic

@ the World Financial Center

WORD OF MOUTH Festival
May 16-19, Wed-Sat

Performances
May 16: 6, 7:30 and 9pm (ticket table opens at 4)
May 17: 6, 7:30 and 9pm (ticket table opens at 4)
May 18: 6, 7:30 and 9pm (ticket table opens at 4)
May 19: 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, 6pm (ticket table opens at 11am)

GETTING TO BIRD EYE BLUE PRINT
It is not difficult to get to the performance, but most people don't head down this way very often, so give yourself a few minutes to get here.

CLOSEST WALK FROM SUBWAY:
Take the R or W or 1 Rector Street. Walk West on Rector about 3 blocks to West Street (which is the West Side Highway). Up about two blocks, across the street, you will see a big tower - that's WFC ONE. When you cross the street you will see an entrance almost directly in front of you. Don't enter there. Enter on Liberty street, which is just north of you.

STILL NOT A BAD WALK, JUST MORE STAIRS
Take the ACE to Chambers, or the 2/3 to Park. Exit on Church Street and walk SOUTH on Church past ground zero and Century 21. On your right just past ground zero is Liberty Street. Take a left so you are following Liberty right next to Ground Zero - you will quickly pass the visitors center, and arrive at a staircase to the raised pedestrian bridge that takes you across the West side highway. This bridge leads right to the second floor of WFC One. Take the escalators in front of you down into the lobby.

Commissioned and presented by arts>World Financial Center, which is sponsored by American Express, Merrill Lynch, Battery Park City Authority and Brookfield Properties with additional support from the New York Mercantile Exchange.

teaching writing jobs in usa

* Online Writing Tutor Smarthinking.com (Multiple locations) (date posted: 5/1/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506645-01&pg=e

* Visiting Professor of Rhetoric and Composition Soka University of America (California) (date posted: 5/1/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506618-01&pg=e

* Visting instructor, English Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University (Florida) (date posted: 5/1/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506742-01&pg=e

* Director, Writing Center Keiser College (Florida) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506550-01&pg=e

* Instructor/Assistant Professor of English Coastal Georgia Community College (Georgia) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505500-01&pg=e

* Reading Faculty - Search Reopened Georgia Gwinnett College (Georgia) (date posted: 4/27/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506235-01&pg=e

* Reading Faculty Georgia Gwinnett College (Georgia) (date posted: 4/27/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506238-01&pg=e

* Visiting Lecturers/Visiting Instructors Georgia State University (Georgia) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506424-01&pg=e

* Visiting Assistant Professor of English Albertson College of Idaho (Idaho) (date posted: 5/2/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506897-01&pg=e

* Assistant Professor of English William Penn University (Iowa) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505237-01&pg=e

* Assistant Professor, Writer of Fiction Eastern Kentucky University (Kentucky) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505730-01&pg=e

* Multiple Positions Oakland Community College (Michigan) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505771-01&pg=e

* English Faculty Alexandria Technical College (Minnesota) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506396-01&pg=e

* Instructor/Assistant Professor in English Park University (Missouri) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506363-01&pg=e

* Multiple Faculty Openings County College of Morris (New Jersey) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505668-01&pg=e

* Developmental Studies Lecturer University of New Mexico-Valencia (New Mexico) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505821-01&pg=e

* Multiple Positions Ithaca College (New York) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505842-01&pg=e

* Multiple Adjunct Faculty Westchester Community College (New York) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505364-01&pg=e

* Literature/Composition Professor Ashland University (Ohio) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505909-01&pg=e

* English and Humanities Faculty Shawnee State University (Ohio) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505888-01&pg=e

teaching the arts

* Multiple Positions State Center Community College District (California) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505628-01&pg=e

* Faculty, Theatre Miami Dade College (Florida) (date posted: 4/27/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506335-01&pg=e

* Faculty, Theatre Technical Performance Miami Dade College (Florida) (date posted: 4/27/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506333-01&pg=e

* Visiting Assistant Professor: Lighting Design/Theatre Generalist The University of Toledo (Ohio) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506553-01&pg=e

* Visiting Assistant Professor in Theatre Design: One-Year Position Allegheny College (Pennsylvania) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505648-01&pg=e

* Assistant Professor - Directing/Acting, Dept. of Theatre and Dance Bucknell University (Pennsylvania) (date posted: 5/1/2007)
http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505053-01&pg=e

* Assistant Professor in Performance, Department of Theatre and Dance Bucknell University (Pennsylvania) (date posted: 5/1/2007)
http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505143-01&pg=e

* Multiple Faculty Positions Laredo Community College (Texas) (date posted: 4/30/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000505484-01&pg=e

* Musical Theatre Faculty at Shenandoah Conservatory Shenandoah University (Virginia) (date posted: 5/2/2007) http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000506876-01&pg=e

May 02, 2007

amazing fellowship for playwrights

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY: June 6th Deadline

The Lark and Playwrights of New York (PONY) launch this new fellowship in an effort to provide as comprehensive support as possible to an emerging playwright. The award provides assistance in 3 areas of an emerging playwright’s life. Includes: 1 year of free housing in a brand-new 1-bedroom doorman apartment in the heart of the theater district in New York City, a $2,000 per month stipend for 12 months, and active membership at the LARK Play Development Center which includes a seat in the renowned Playwright's Workshop, led by award-winning playwright Arthur Kopit. Must be nominated by a university by May 9th and have graduated from a graduate level program between the years 2003 - 2006. To apply visit: http://www.playwrightsofnewyork.org/


SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITY: June1st Deadline

Repertorio Español is looking for full length stage plays that are relevant and unique to the Hispanic experience in the United States for their 7th ANNUAL METLIFE NUESTRAS VOCES NATIONAL PLAYWRITING COMPETITION. Winning play will be produced at Repertorio Español. Top five will receive cash awards. Top ten finalists will receive a staged reading at Repertorio. For Guidelines and Application contact Allison at http://webmailb.netzero.net/webmail/new/8?folder=Inbox&msgNum=0000YOG0:0016EE0Q00000qhC&block=1&msgNature=all&msgStatus=all&count=1178133301&content=central#.

SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITY: July 1st Deadline

Riverdale Y Performance Space is accepting plays about Jewish and/or multicultural themes for stipend and production. Please send to: Betsy Shevey, Artistic Director, Riverdale Y Performance Space, 5625 Arlington Avenue, Bronx, NY 10471-1221.

May 01, 2007

new CD from daily creator!

CONGRATS TO DAILY CREATOR FH!

Hi Everyone,

I am very pleased to announce the release by Palmetto Records on May 1st of The Fred Hersch Trio: Night and the Music. This CD features my longtime rhythm section of Drew Gress on bass and Nasheet Waits on drums -- we are interpreting the music of Berlin, Schwartz,Porter, Gress, Monk and Hersch.

Available everywhere and at www.palmetto-records.comPlease click this link (scroll down to the bottom of the page) to see a review by Nate Chinen in today's New York Times:http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/arts/music/30choi.html?_r=1&ref=arts&pagewanted=all

Thanks for your support, Fred

www.fredhersch.com

free tv writing workshops in LA

Ellen Sandler, co-executive producer of the CBS hit "Everybody Loves Raymond" and guest director for the 2006 NYU New Writer's Showcase, is offering a series of free workshops at local venues to launch the publication of her new book THE TV WRITER'S WORKBOOK: A CREATIVE APPROACH TO TELEVISION SCRIPTS (BANTAM/DELL):

Tues., May 1, 7:30 p.m.

The Laughter Store - "Finding the Funny"
15140 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Thurs., May 3, 7 p.m.

Dutton's Brentwood Bookstore - "Dialogue Workshop"
11975 San Vicente Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049


Thurs., May 17, 5 p.m.

The Showbiz Software Store - "Pitching "
500 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049

Tues., June 19, 7:30 p.m.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers-"Finding the Funny"
3rd Street Promenade - 1201 3rd Street - Santa Monica 90401

cbs diversity program for writers

CBS DIVERSITY PROGRAM

As part of its ongoing commitment to diversity, CBS Entertainment is wrapping up its fourth session of the CBS Diversity Institute's Writers Mentoring Program and is now accepting applications for year five, 2008. We are very proud of the success of the Program and its participants. Of the three graduating classes, 13 careers were launched out of a total of 19 participants. That’s a terrific track record.

The CBS Writers Mentoring Program is a unique program for new and emerging diverse writers -- with a focus on writers of color. The Program is not a traditional "writers training" program, but a combination of meaningful opportunities for talented new writers to experience the network television business from the inside and to form relationships with decision makers. The deadline for 2008 submissions is June 1, 2007.

Additional information and application materials can be accessed at: www.cbsdiversity.com .

nyu - sundance institute q&a

NYU Actors, Writers, Directors - Find out how to get involved with The Sundance Institute’s Theatre Program during our New From NYU Spring Series of events!

Tisch West & NYU Writers Lab West present “Q&A with Sundance Institute Theatre Program” with guest speakers Philip Himberg (Producing Artistic Director) and Christopher Hibma (Manager)

Monday, May 14
8 pm

The Odyssey Theatre
2055 South Sepulveda Blvd.
(north of Olympic)
Free Parking in Lot or Street

$5 at door
Seating is limited. First come, first served.
Event is open to all NYU writers, actors and directors.

RSVP: 310.285.3050 – Please leave your name, dept, grad year, phone and email. You will only receive a confirmation phone call if we are sold out.

The Sundance Institute
is dedicated to the discovery and development of independent artists and audiences. Through its programs, the Institute seeks to discover, support, and inspire independent film and theatre artists from the United States and around the world, and to introduce audiences to their new work. The Institute's programs include the annual Sundance Film Festival, the Feature Film Program, the Documentary Film Program, the Film Music Program, the Theatre Program, the Independent Producers Conference, and the Native American Initiative.

NYU Writers Lab Westis a network of NYU Tisch School of the Arts alumni working as professional playwrights, screenwriters and television writers. The Lab exists to increase the visibility of Tisch writers working in the entertainment industry by creating and implementing the NYU New TV Writers & Actors Showcase, the New From NYU Series as well as numerous workshops, panels, retreats and publishing opportunities. First and foremost, we support one another as artists. If you would like to know more about NYU Writer’s Lab West, contact: nyuwriters@yahoo.com.