ScreenCraft’s Stage Play Competition is a great opportunity to have your work considered by influential writers and industry professionals.
The Grand Prize Winner will be mentored by Tony Award-winning, Academy Award-nominated playwright Jeffrey Whitty (Avenue Q). The winner will receive a personalized round of notes, virtual meeting, and project development insight.
Drawing on a long history of playwrights transitioning to screenwriting, this competition seeks to celebrate excellent plays that have great film or TV adaptation potential.
Our winners and finalists are highly sought after by literary managers and agents who are open to signing to new writer clients. Past Stage Play competition winners and finalists have signed with representation from some of the biggest agencies and management companies in the industry including CAA, WME, A3 Artists, 3 Arts Entertainment and more. Others have gone on to set up and develop their projects with companies like HBO Max.
GRAND PRIZE MENTOR
JEFFREY WHITTY
Tony Award-Winning Playwright, Academy-Award Nominated Screenwriter
Jeffrey Whiity is the author of Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q. Other musicals include BRING IT ON, score by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Amanda Green, Armistead Maupin’s TALES OF THE CITY with music by Scissor Sisters, and more. His screenplay adaptation of CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?, co-written with Nicole Holofcener, garnered Writers Guild of America and Independent Spirit Awards, and BAFTA and Academy Award nominations.
JURY
Get in front of theater professionals and award-winning playwrights
RACHEL ELLICOTT
Agent, Paradigm
Rachel began her career as a Theatrical Literary Agent to help artists see their visions become a reality. Starting in the mailroom at Paradigm eight years ago, she has experienced all levels of the agency life and enjoys collaborating with her colleagues across departments. Rachel graduated from Cornell University with honors, earning her B.S. in Communication with a focus in Business and Media Studies, as well as a Film Minor. In her spare time, you can find her playing piano, going to the theatre, and attempting large jigsaw puzzles.
KIM VEASEY
Partner + Manager, GRLBND
Kim is a Manager and Producer with a focus on diverse, multi-hyphenate voices across all platforms. GRLBND is a female-founded, owned, and operated collective of managers and producers who are committed to amplifying diverse voices across all genres and platforms, with projects like GRASS IS GREENER and THE LAST TWO LOVERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD.
AMY WAGNER
Agent, A3 Artists Agency
Amy Wagner is a playwright agent for A3 Artists Agency, which represents some of the top Tony Award-winning playwrights and producers in Theater Arts, like Graciela Daniele and Charles Fuller. A3 has worked on playwrights like THOUGHTS OF A COLORED MAN and BLOOD AT THE ROOT.
LUCY POWIS
Agent, A3 Artists Agency
Lucy Powis is a playwright agent for A3 Artists Agency, which represents some of the top Tony Award-winning playwrights and producers in Theater Arts, like Graciela Daniele and Charles Fuller. Her producing and dramaturgy credits include the 2020 Prelude Festival (Segal Center), 2020 & 2021 Global Forms Theater Festival (Rattlestick/NY Theater Salon), and work that has been seen at NYTW, Ars Nova, The Tank, and HERE. She holds an MFA in Dramaturgy from Columbia University and hails from Toronto. A3 has worked on playwrights like THOUGHTS OF A COLORED MAN and BLOOD AT THE ROOT.
RUSSELL KAHN
Director of Development at Scrap Paper Pictures
Russell Kahn is a producer from New York City, who currently serves as Director of Development for Emmy and Golden Globe winner Rachel Brosnahan [THE COURIER, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL] under her Scrap Paper Pictures banner. Russell is also a co-founder of the multi-platform storytelling hub Voyeur, an entity with past work honored by Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, and more. Russell started his career at CAA, and has worked at the agency's NY and LA offices.
PRIZES
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
The grand prize winner will be welcomed to the ScreenCraft Development Program, receive a cash prize of $1,000 and personal introductions with industry professionals who are looking for talented emerging writers.
ScreenCraft's industry relationships include companies like 3 Arts, CAA, UTA, WME, Imagine Entertainment, Netflix, HBO Max, and over 150 other Hollywood managers, agents, producers, and development executives.
ScreenCraft has a proven track record for getting writers signed with managers, agents, and staffed in writing rooms.
RUNNER-UP PRIZE
- $500 cash award
- Accepted into ScreenCraft Development Program
- An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry
ADD-ON PRIZE OPPORTUNITY
MENTORSHIP PRIZE (2 winners)
With Amy Wagner and Lucy Powis (Agents at A3 Artists)
This optional add-on prize category will identify two winners to learn, workshop, and strengthen their project with guidance from an industry mentor. Stage Play competition mentors are Amy Wagner (Agent at A3 Artists) and Lucy Powis (Agent at A3 Artists). Each mentor will select one writer/writer team that includes this unique add-on benefit with their entry.
Only projects submitted to the ScreenCraft Stage Play Competition AND that select this add-on are eligible for consideration in this category. Additionally, all projects that place in the Top 10 of the competition will automatically be considered.