BE NOT AFRAID OF GREATNESS. The Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival is seeking play submissions for their one-act new plays series.
(Photo via Facebook)

Where art thou, playwrights? The second season of the Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival is returning in the summer of 2024 to the Pablo Center at the Confluence (128 Graham Ave., Eau Claire) and the coordinators are once again seeking submissions for the “Improbable Fiction: A One-Act New Plays” series.

Playwrights from across the region and country are encouraged to submit their work within one of the three categories offered: “Young Voices” (writers ages 16-24), “Diverse Perspectives” (this will be for writers who identify as LGBTQIA+ this year, the category is rotates each year), or the “Shakes-pired” (any work inspired by or paying homage to William Shakespeare’s work). The deadline for submissions is Friday, Dec. 22.

Festival organizers will select one play from each category to showcase throughout the series. The chosen playwrights will receive a $750 stipend as well as an assigned director, stage manager, actors, and dramaturg who will work with the playwright on rehearsals and a public performance in July 2024. The performance will be followed by a Q&A with the audience and a reception.

Submissions require no fee and must be submitted online to docs.google.com/forms. Full guidelines can be viewed at drive.google.com. Any other questions can be emailed to the Festival at wsf@pablocenter.org.

The intent of the Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival is to highlight and inspire artists while connecting audiences to the community. The festival this year will include mainstage productions, the new works series, a young performers troupe, workshop classes, and discussions open to the public.

Learn more about the Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival at pablocenter.org/wishakespearefest and on their Facebook.