New Voices is the nation's longest continuously running collegiate new and original play festival! Since 1982, New Voices has featured original, unpublished scripts from the WPI community: students, faculty, staff, alums, family, friends, acquaintances, audience members, etc.
Any type of producible script may be accepted: monologues, short plays, multiple acts, musicals, etc. A team of dramaturgs read every script submitted and select the pieces to be performed during the New Voices Festival that year. The voting dramaturgs are not informed of the playwrights' names until the voting is completed. Each year a new set of dramaturgs is chosen by the Founder of the festival, Susan Vick. We anticipate 50-100 submissions each year.
This coming D-term will mark the 30th year of New Voices Festivals. New Voices 30 will run April 11th-14th (times vary) and will be produced by Elena Ainley. Submissions will begin in C-term and will close January 27th, 2012 at 5:00 pm. The plays will be announced prior to the Friday night showing of HINDSIGHT!, our C-term production, on February 17th, followed by a pizza party. Submissions can be sent to nv-submissions@wpi.edu beginning in C-term. For more information, please review the Submission Guidelines.
In the past, the dramaturgs have chosen 10-20 of the entries, however, New Voices 25 featured 7 works, and every show was performed each night of the festival. With its great success, the 2-hour festival has become a new standard, giving each show more performance time.
Starting in 1999, the Scenic Design competition began. The dramaturgs choose an original scenic design for the festival that would accommodate a large number of shows as well as setting a tone for the festival. Innovative uses of the space and adaptability were strongly encouraged. In 2009 after 10 years the decision was made to put the Scenic Design competition on hold until new approaches to better make use of the Little Theatre could be explored.
All scripts must be original works. Adaptations of public domain material (or material for which the author has acquired the rights to) are acceptable provided the title page clearly states the work is an adaptation. Questions about submissions can be directed to the Founder, Excutive Dramaturg, and Director of Theatre, Susan Vick.
Any WPI community member who wishes to help direct, produce or act in the festival also has the opportunity to do so.