Please note: These instructions refer to the 2023 contest. Stay tuned for updates for the 2024 contest!

The Jackie White Memorial (JWM) contest seeks original or adapted scripts written for young audiences.  Works may be either a play or a musical.  The contest has two age categories:  Children (Ages 5-13) and Young Adult (ages 14-18).  One winner will be chosen from each category.  Playwrights can submit as many entries in each category as they wish, but each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry fee.  Submitted works should be a fully completed play or musical, and should be a previously unpublished original work.  Adaptations are allowed, but must follow copyright law. 

Submission Requirements:

1. Entries must be received no later than June 15th, 2023.  Late entries will not be considered for the 2023 contest.
2. The entry should be a full-length play for a family-friendly audience.
3. The script should have speaking roles for at least five characters.  At least two characters should be female or be able to be played by any gender.  At least one of the female characters should be a major character.
4. The entry should be an unpublished original work or an unpublished adaptation (compliance with copyright law is required).
5. Playwrights may submit more than one entry.
6. Each entry must be typed/printed according to standard norms.
7. You must include the following materials for the play to be considered:
8. Entry form, found at https://forms.gle/WkL6PkjUf1qcqeMr9
9. $35 entry fee (see below for payment info)
10. Character descriptions and scene synopses.
11. Curriculum Vitae or resume of the playwright.

Adjudication:

1. Every play will be read by the play selection committee.
2. Winners will be announced no later than September 15th, 2023
3. The winners in each category will be produced at the Jackie White Memorial Play Festival, date TBD.  At the sole discretion of CEC, productions may be a staged reading, a table reading, a virtual production (via Zoom) or a more fully-fledged production.
4. Columbia Entertainment Company (CEC) reserves the right to withhold the award if, in the opinion of the contest readers, no entry merits it.

Submission Process:

To submit your play or musical for consideration, please fill out the form at https://forms.gle/WkL6PkjUf1qcqeMr9.  You can submit your documents via email or using the submission form– more instructions for each process are provided in the above form.

You may pay the $35 submission fee via Paypal or check.  Paypal is strongly preferred.

Paypal: @cectreasurer

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/cectreasurer?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

All PayPal payments MUST be marked with the following information:

Your Full Name

“2023 JWM Entry fee”

Play Title

Checks must be made out to Columbia Entertainment Company, with “2023 JWM” and the title of your show in the memo. Please send checks to the below address:

Columbia Entertainment Company

Attn: 2023 JWM

P.O. Box 953

Columbia, MO 65205

We look forward to seeing your entry!  Please email artistic.director@cectheatre.org with any questions using the subject line “2023 JWM Question”