Cellunova New Play Festival

About Us

Cellunova Productions is a nonprofit theater production company committed to creating and promoting innovative, thought-provoking theatrical works that break the boundary of theater and tackle the social challenges of this very moment.

About The Festival

Our upcoming One Act Festival is a unique event dedicated to the stage reading of eight exceptional plays. Selected from a vast pool of entries, these plays represent diverse voices and storytelling styles around the theme of metamorphosis.

Plays Selected

Elijah Guo - Tourist Trap

Alli Hartley-Kong - The Wives

Adam Tucker Deveau - This Land of Plenty

Janine Sobeck Knighton - Sing In Me Muse

Rebecca Kane - Is Anyone Watching This

Christopher Lindsay - New Girl Now

Michael Pisaturo - U Drop Inn

Yejia Sun - The Undivine Comedy

The Role 

We're now opening the doors to talented casts who will breathe life into these narratives. The stipend for this role is $125 per play you will perform in.

Timeline

Submission deadline: Sept 12, 2023, 11:59 PM EST

Rehearsal (2.5 hours of Zoom Table Work + 5 hours of in-person rehearsal): September 17 - Oct 6, 2023

Run through (1.5 - 2 hours per play): Oct 7 - 8, 2023

Tech set up and load-in (45 minutes per play): Oct 12 - 13, 2023

Stage reading performance (One performance per play): Oct 13 - 15, 2023

How to Apply

To apply for this opportunity, please apply through the Google form here

The deadline for applications is Sept 12, 2023, 11:59 pm EST

Applicants can choose to either submit self-tapes through online application form or sign up for a Zoom audition slot between September 9th and 10th here.

Cellunova Productions values diversity and encourages actors of all backgrounds to apply. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment in all our productions.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email festival@cellunova.com.

V. FAQ

• What theater space will this be presented in? 

TheaterLab Atelier.

About Us

Cellunova Productions is a nonprofit theater production company committed to creating and promoting innovative, thought-provoking theatrical works that break the boundary of theater and tackle the social challenges of this very moment.

About The Festival

Our upcoming One Act Festival is a unique event dedicated to the stage reading of nine exceptional plays. Selected from a vast pool of entries, these plays represent diverse voices and storytelling styles around the theme: Metamorphosis.

The Role 

We're now opening the doors to talented directors who will breathe life into these narratives. You'll collaborate closely with our production team and cast to bring these stories from script to stage. The stipend for this role is $150 per play you will direct. 

Timeline

Submission deadline: August 26, 2023, 11:59 pm EST

Director and playwright pairing (through Cellunova): August 27 - September 1, 2023

Casting through recorded videos(through Cellunova): September 2 - September 10, 2023

Rehearsal (2.5 hours of Zoom Table Work + 5 hours of in-person rehearsal): September 17 - Oct 6, 2023

Run through (1.5 - 2 hours per play): Oct 7 - 8, 2023

Tech set up and load-in: Oct 12 - 13, 2023

Stage reading performance (One performance per play): Oct 13 - 15, 2023

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience in directing theater performances.

• A unique creative vision.

• An understanding of and respect for the writing process and the playwright's intent.

• The ability to inspire and guide actors and production teams and create a safe environment for them.

How to Apply

To apply for this opportunity, please submit your resume through the Google form here.

The deadline for applications is August 26, 2023, 11:59pm EST.

Cellunova Productions values diversity and encourages directors of all backgrounds to apply. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment in all our productions.

If you have any questions, please feel to email festival@cellunova.com.

V. FAQ

• What theater space will this be presented in? 

TheaterLab Atelier.

• What are the technical capabilities there/and what are the producers’ technical expectations? 

There will be some lights (tbd) and simple sound system. There is a tiny budget for prop and costume. We would like the stage reading to be slightly fledged but not full-fledged.

• Is Cellunova providing access to any designers to fulfill those expectations? 

We will have a lighting designer during the run-through to provide the lighting design. The prop and costume requests will need to be kept simple and be requested through the SM we provide and no designers will be involved. The director is responsible for sound if you think it is necessary.

• Are the actors to be paid by Cellunova and how much? 

Yes, 125 per show per actor.

• What rehearsal space are we being allocated and who is paying for it? 

It will depend on which rehearsal space will be available at the time you need to do rehearsal. Cellunova will cover the 2 hours of rehearsal space and TheaterLab is kindly sponsoring 3 hours of rehearsal space - so in total you have 5 hours of rehearsal.

• When (times) specifically is tech?

Sometime between Oct 12-13 and not everyone needs to be present at all times, you just need to be there for a few hours to finalize the tech piece - we will work out a schedule when we finalize the directors.

Open calls for new One Act Plays for a Stage Reading Festival in Mid October 2023.

Six Plays will be selected for the Festival.

Selected Playwrights will work with directors and actors from their network or paired through a matching process hosted by Cellunova.

Presented Stage Reading may be barebone, or more developed with some tech elements (such as projection/light/costume), subject to space and budget constraints.

I. Theme: Metamorphosis

Your play should touch upon social challenges that you think are important for this decade and beyond.

II. Eligibility

We welcome proposals from emerging artists, regardless of age, at a critical career juncture in which the opportunity to experiment and receive resources from a major arts organization would be impactful. Please see the specific parameters of eligibility below:

– The Length of the play in the submission must be a One Act Play, with a runtime between 25 to 45 minutes.

– Play in submission should not have been fully staged in a production, or stage read/workshopped in a public setting with more than 50 audiences, at the time of submission. If this play receives a production after submission, the playwright must inform Cellunova Productions Inc.

– Only one play may be submitted per playwright for this festival per year.

– Artists must be over 18

– Artists must have experience conceiving and executing works or projects.

– The play should be in English.

We encourage anyone who considers themselves an emerging artist to apply.

III. Submission Timeline

Stage I:

By July 30, 2023, 11:59 pm, submit your summary and working sample (Script should be around 10 pages.)

We will notify everyone by August 4, 2023, 6:00 pm whether we would like to receive your full script.

Stage II:

By August 13, 2023, 11:59 pm, submit your full script.

IV. Guideline

I. Working Sample

• Include in one PDF script document:

Title page

Synopsis (no more than one-half page in length)

Character listing (including gender, age range, and any features such as skin or hair color necessary to the script)

Setting (place and time)

Script (around 10 pages)

• All scripts must be saved in PDF format and submitted via the Google Form link here Working Sample Submission.

• It is recommended that the cast size be limited to a maximum of 4 actors. Please state if roles can be doubled or double-cast.

II. Full Script

• You will be notified via email by August 4, 2023 if we would like to receive your full script.

• Sign the Non-Disclosure Agreement that we will send out to you.

• The format of submission should be the same as the Working Sample but with the full script.

• The estimated runtime of the play should be between 25 to 45 minutes.

• The script should be submitted by emailing festival@cellunova.org.

V. FAQ

• Can my One Act be a part of a full-length piece?

Yes, the script may be a part of a full-length piece, but your submission should stand by itself as One Act.

• Do I need to be physically in New York during the Festival?

No, you don’t have to. We welcome playwrights from everywhere.

• What does this theme even mean? My play is nothing related to biology.

Up to your interpretation of what metamorphosis mean to you and our current society.

• Does the selected playwright need to produce their own play?

No, the playwright only needs to participate in the creative process. The cost of production and rental will not fall on the playwright.

• Does the selected playwright need to find their own directors and actors

No, Cellunova will find the directors and actors, but the playwright may bring in their own director or actors.

• Where is the festival going to be hosted?

TheaterLab, 357 W 36th St, 3rd Fl, NY.

Questions? Problems?

Please email us at festival@cellunova.org.