Despite-- or perhaps because of-- a lack of posting on this blog Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc. is busy. The meeting last week in Berea, at the Tourism Commission office, involved reading and discussing two short plays and a short scene from a third. Additionally, we gained yet another member which brings us, I believe, to 17 members.
Upcoming meetings will be in Louisville on June 10th and in Lexington August 14th and September 11th. The Louisville meetings will be held at the Highland Krogers on Bardstown Road. The Lexington meetings will be held at Common Grounds Coffee House. All meetings begin at 2:00 pm and are open to the public.
The September meeting will be the organization's Annual Membership meeting when members of the Board of Directors are selected and we will discuss a meeting locations and schedule for the coming programmatic year (September 1 through August 31).
Beginning next fall KPW hopes to begin sponsoring or co-sponsoring classes in playwriting. First up will likely be a course on writing either the solo performance piece or the one minute play. As more information becomes available it will be posted here on the blog and/or discussed at meetings. Suggestions of other playwriting topics may be sent to ky.playwright@yahoo.com
Showing posts with label Lexington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lexington. Show all posts
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy New Year
Here's wishing one and all a Happy New Year.
The year just ending has been a good one for Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc. We have done the heavy lifting of preparing bylaws, preparing a policy manual and otherwise doing the paperwork to become a 501(c)3 nonprofit recognized by the IRS. We elected our first Board of Directors: Bill McCann, Jr. president, James Brown, treasurer and Shan Ayers, secretary. We've held meetings in both Lexingtona and Louisville. We've grown to 14 members. And we held our second international 10-minute play contest.
There have been some disappointments as well, most notably that we had to postpone the Kentucky Festival of New Plays because, unfortunately, the facility we were to have held the festival was not yet ready.
On the plus side 2011 is already shaping up to be a good year: at some point the IRS will-- after working with us to make sure everything is good to go-- approve our application for nonprofit status. We will have our first public staged reading of member plays on February 2-3 2011 at the Lexington Public Library's theatre. We will continue to grow our membership. And hopefully the Bards Town's theatre will be up and running in time for us to produce the festival in April.
Our next meeting will be January 23, 2011 at Common Grounds Coffee House in Lexington from 2-5 pm. Please join us. Meetings are open to the public. We will read the one act and full-length plays of members. Anyone who attends may bring a 10-minute or shorter work that we may read as time allows.
Membership in KPW is open to any Kentuckian interested in the deveklopment of new works for the stage. Dues are $10 per year.
The year just ending has been a good one for Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc. We have done the heavy lifting of preparing bylaws, preparing a policy manual and otherwise doing the paperwork to become a 501(c)3 nonprofit recognized by the IRS. We elected our first Board of Directors: Bill McCann, Jr. president, James Brown, treasurer and Shan Ayers, secretary. We've held meetings in both Lexingtona and Louisville. We've grown to 14 members. And we held our second international 10-minute play contest.
There have been some disappointments as well, most notably that we had to postpone the Kentucky Festival of New Plays because, unfortunately, the facility we were to have held the festival was not yet ready.
On the plus side 2011 is already shaping up to be a good year: at some point the IRS will-- after working with us to make sure everything is good to go-- approve our application for nonprofit status. We will have our first public staged reading of member plays on February 2-3 2011 at the Lexington Public Library's theatre. We will continue to grow our membership. And hopefully the Bards Town's theatre will be up and running in time for us to produce the festival in April.
Our next meeting will be January 23, 2011 at Common Grounds Coffee House in Lexington from 2-5 pm. Please join us. Meetings are open to the public. We will read the one act and full-length plays of members. Anyone who attends may bring a 10-minute or shorter work that we may read as time allows.
Membership in KPW is open to any Kentuckian interested in the deveklopment of new works for the stage. Dues are $10 per year.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
517 Playwrights to meet September 19
The regular meeting of 517 Playwrights-- the new works development committee of Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc.-- will be Sunday September 19, 2010 at Common Grounds Coffee House on High Street in Lexington. The meeting will focus on reading works by Steve Taylor, Shan Ayers, and Trish Ayers. Shorter works may be brought by members or interested people and read and discussed as time allows. The meeting will begin at 2pm and last until 5pm, as interest and circumstances dictate. Please join us. We are always interested in finding new members.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
KPW Founders Meeting: August 15, 2010
We will officially "Found" (establish) Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc. at our meeting on August 15, 2010 at Common Grounds Coffee House, Lexington, KY. beginning at 2:00 pm. If you have an interest in writing or developing new plays for the stage (and live in Kentucky) then Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc. needs you!
At our August 15th meeting we will be doing the arcane but oh so necessary work of formally establishing KPW as a viable on-going organization; we will adopt Bylaws, establish dues for the coming year ($10 is the recommendation), adopt a policy manual and elect Board members. Currently the organization has 12 members who reside in Berea, Georgetown, Lexington, Louisville, and Whitesburg. Based upon the procedure that is to be recommended to those who attend the meeting we need a quorum of six (6) of the current members to be present in order for us to do business. So-- please attend the meeting.
If you have an interest in joining us, please do so. But if you have never been to a meeting before then PLEASE contact us at ky.playwright@yahoo.com and request the materials to be discussed and voted on at the August 15th meeting. Only individuals who have received the materials AT LEAST 72 hours in advance of the meeting may be allowed to vote; anyone wishing to attend the meeting however may do so.
Well, it is hard to believe but KPW is about to burst into bloom-- join us!
At our August 15th meeting we will be doing the arcane but oh so necessary work of formally establishing KPW as a viable on-going organization; we will adopt Bylaws, establish dues for the coming year ($10 is the recommendation), adopt a policy manual and elect Board members. Currently the organization has 12 members who reside in Berea, Georgetown, Lexington, Louisville, and Whitesburg. Based upon the procedure that is to be recommended to those who attend the meeting we need a quorum of six (6) of the current members to be present in order for us to do business. So-- please attend the meeting.
If you have an interest in joining us, please do so. But if you have never been to a meeting before then PLEASE contact us at ky.playwright@yahoo.com and request the materials to be discussed and voted on at the August 15th meeting. Only individuals who have received the materials AT LEAST 72 hours in advance of the meeting may be allowed to vote; anyone wishing to attend the meeting however may do so.
Well, it is hard to believe but KPW is about to burst into bloom-- join us!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
A Better Picture
Another picture from the June 13th meeting of 
517 Playwrights. Left to Right are: James Brown,
Bill McCann, Jr., Steve Taylor, and Kathi E. B.
Ellis. Bill Forsyth was the photographer. (An un-
known coffee drinker/blogger is in the background.) Please come join us for our next meeting on July 11th, 2:00 pm at Common
Grounds Coffee House.
517 Playwrights. Left to Right are: James Brown,
Bill McCann, Jr., Steve Taylor, and Kathi E. B.
Ellis. Bill Forsyth was the photographer. (An un-
known coffee drinker/blogger is in the background.) Please come join us for our next meeting on July 11th, 2:00 pm at Common
Grounds Coffee House.
Friday, February 19, 2010
A reminder
The next meeting of 517 Playwrights is Sunday February 21, 2010 at Common Grounds on High Street in Lexington, KY. We will be starting a little earlier than ususal: 1:30 pm. Please join us to read some plays and discuss some business.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Meetings will be held at Common Grounds Coffee House
Future meetings of 517 Playwrights will be held at Common Grounds Coffee House on High Street in Lexington. I tried putting this on the Meetup notice board of the group but somehow it didn't get posted and I have yet to figure out what I did wrong. In any event Common Grounds will be our regular meeting place begining with the February meeting. See you there!
We are now on MeetUp
517 Playwrights is now a member organization on MeetUp. There are meetups across the US and around the world for every sort of interest one can imagine including board gamers, singles, hikers and tah dah... drum roll please... playwrights. Information about our meetings and events will now be posted on MeetUp. You can get there by typing in the "MeetUp" into Google (etc.) and then typing in playwrights and the zip code for the location of the meeting (40507) or simply 517 Playwrights. You can RSVP to meetings or events, you can learn more about the organization-- you can see a picture of Bill McCann as Charlie Martin in On Golden Pond-- and you can learn about our members. Please sign up (it doesn't cost you anything!) and help our membership grow.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Just Reminder: Meeting January 10, 2010
The first meeting of 517 Playwrights of 2010 will be this coming SUNDAY January 10th from 2 to 5 pm at COMMON GROUNDS COFFEE HOUSE on High Street in Lexington, KY. We will be meeting in the YELLOW room on the second floor. Please join us as we read new scripts and plan for the future of our organization as 517 Playwrights enters its SECOND YEAR!
Hope you all had a happy New Year. Join us now in making this a happy new year for the 517 Playwrights.
Hope you all had a happy New Year. Join us now in making this a happy new year for the 517 Playwrights.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Next Meeting
The next meeting of 517 Playwrights will be held on Sunday April 5th at 2:00 at the Central Library-- Main Street in Lexington. We will not have a reserved room. Instead we'll meet on the second floor, get a table and have our readings and meet there.
Among the items for the meeting portion will be discussion will be discussion of how to split up of the scripts received from the play contest for initial judging. At this point we have received 76 submissions, by April 5th my guess is that we will have received the 100 scripts necessary and the contest will have to be "Closed." So, during the meeting we will need to officially close the competition and determine how judging will work: initial judging, and how many rounds of judging will be necessary to determine the 10 finalists. Come to the readings and meeting on April 5th: 2-5 at the Central Library, 5th floor.
If you are a playwright, or simply interested in new plays you are welcome to come to the April meeting.
Among the items for the meeting portion will be discussion will be discussion of how to split up of the scripts received from the play contest for initial judging. At this point we have received 76 submissions, by April 5th my guess is that we will have received the 100 scripts necessary and the contest will have to be "Closed." So, during the meeting we will need to officially close the competition and determine how judging will work: initial judging, and how many rounds of judging will be necessary to determine the 10 finalists. Come to the readings and meeting on April 5th: 2-5 at the Central Library, 5th floor.
If you are a playwright, or simply interested in new plays you are welcome to come to the April meeting.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
10 Minute Play Contest
This is to announce The First Annual 517 Playwrights 10 Minute Play Contest. As those of you who follow this blog know 517 Playwrights is a new organization, founded in November 2008, for the purpose of supporting and encouraging the creation of new plays and the playwrights who write them. Presently we have only six members.
So, for this first play contest we will judge the first 100 scripts received between February 1, 2009 and July 31, 2009; after the first 100 scripts are received all others received will not be judged.
Copyright remains with the playwright; those submitting agree, by virtue of entering the contest, that their scripts may be produced by 517 Playwrights at no cost, for up to one year after the contest closes.
RULES:
1.)Any playwright who wishes to may submit one play, in standard script format.
2.)Plays may be comedies or dramas, on any topic, but must be no longer than 10 pages/10 minutes in length.
3) Plays longer than 10 minutes in length will not be considered.
3.)Submissions are to be made be made by email to b.mccann@insightbb.com.
4.)There is no fee for submitting by email; snail mail submissions will NOT be accepted.
5.) Deadline: July 31, 2009 (or the first 100 received)
PRIZES:
Up to 10 of the plays received may be cast and produced using local Lexington area actors and directors on a local stage for at least one, possibly more performances during October 2009.
So, for this first play contest we will judge the first 100 scripts received between February 1, 2009 and July 31, 2009; after the first 100 scripts are received all others received will not be judged.
Copyright remains with the playwright; those submitting agree, by virtue of entering the contest, that their scripts may be produced by 517 Playwrights at no cost, for up to one year after the contest closes.
RULES:
1.)Any playwright who wishes to may submit one play, in standard script format.
2.)Plays may be comedies or dramas, on any topic, but must be no longer than 10 pages/10 minutes in length.
3) Plays longer than 10 minutes in length will not be considered.
3.)Submissions are to be made be made by email to b.mccann@insightbb.com.
4.)There is no fee for submitting by email; snail mail submissions will NOT be accepted.
5.) Deadline: July 31, 2009 (or the first 100 received)
PRIZES:
Up to 10 of the plays received may be cast and produced using local Lexington area actors and directors on a local stage for at least one, possibly more performances during October 2009.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Play reading "RULES"
The purposes of the playreading this coming Sunday are: to allow time for conversation and "shop" talk; to read aloud plays that many playwrights may only have heard themselves read; and to allow playwrights to receive feedback from those who attend the reading.
We will gather at 2:00 and begin the readings at between 2:15 and 2:30 depending upon how many people are present and whether or not more are still arriving.
We will begin by reading the shortest plays first (1 minute, 10 minute, 1 act and then full-length).
We will discuss 1-10 minute length plays for 10 minutes each; 1 act plays will be discussed for 20 minutes; full-length plays for 30 minutes.
Discussions may last for less than the allotted time per play, but I will strictly enforce the upper limits of discussion or we will get bogged down and not get as many plays read and discussed as we could otherwise.
I am not trying to cut off discussion but to keep things moving; remember, you can always discuss a play with its playwright privately.
When discussing a play either make a POSITIVE comment (I liked how you did X) or ask a question (Why did John do Y?). Please do NOT make negative comments about a play.
Generally, playwrights have put a lot of thought and time into their works and negative comments will (more often then not) simply put him/her on the defensive. A person in a defensive posture is unlikely to hear your negative comment. However, a good question can cause a playwright to write down your question and consider later whether or not to change the play.
Playwrights may NOT respond to any question asked about their play (nor comment upon it once the reading of their play has begun).
Playwrights may, if necessary, respond to questions privately. Responding to questions publicly will use valuable time and prevent other participants from speaking about that particular play.
Discussion by the playwright prolongs the reading process. The purpose of the reading is for the author to receive feedback not have an opportunity to lecture those in attendance.
Commentators should keep both comments and questions SHORT.
Let's keep things moving!
Speak only once about a play unless everyone present has had an opportunity to speak and the moderator SPECIFICALLY opens the floor for a second round of questions/comments.
Playwrights need to hear as many points of view as possible, not just yours (or mine).
Have a good time.
Come back for the next new plays reading.
The next new plays reading will be in January 2009. Check the twitter site and this one for the date, time and place!
We will gather at 2:00 and begin the readings at between 2:15 and 2:30 depending upon how many people are present and whether or not more are still arriving.
We will begin by reading the shortest plays first (1 minute, 10 minute, 1 act and then full-length).
We will discuss 1-10 minute length plays for 10 minutes each; 1 act plays will be discussed for 20 minutes; full-length plays for 30 minutes.
Discussions may last for less than the allotted time per play, but I will strictly enforce the upper limits of discussion or we will get bogged down and not get as many plays read and discussed as we could otherwise.
I am not trying to cut off discussion but to keep things moving; remember, you can always discuss a play with its playwright privately.
When discussing a play either make a POSITIVE comment (I liked how you did X) or ask a question (Why did John do Y?). Please do NOT make negative comments about a play.
Generally, playwrights have put a lot of thought and time into their works and negative comments will (more often then not) simply put him/her on the defensive. A person in a defensive posture is unlikely to hear your negative comment. However, a good question can cause a playwright to write down your question and consider later whether or not to change the play.
Playwrights may NOT respond to any question asked about their play (nor comment upon it once the reading of their play has begun).
Playwrights may, if necessary, respond to questions privately. Responding to questions publicly will use valuable time and prevent other participants from speaking about that particular play.
Discussion by the playwright prolongs the reading process. The purpose of the reading is for the author to receive feedback not have an opportunity to lecture those in attendance.
Commentators should keep both comments and questions SHORT.
Let's keep things moving!
Speak only once about a play unless everyone present has had an opportunity to speak and the moderator SPECIFICALLY opens the floor for a second round of questions/comments.
Playwrights need to hear as many points of view as possible, not just yours (or mine).
Have a good time.
Come back for the next new plays reading.
The next new plays reading will be in January 2009. Check the twitter site and this one for the date, time and place!
Newspaper article now online!
The Rich Copley newspaper article about 517 Playwrights that originally appeared in the Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader on November 23, 2008 is now available online at:
http://copiousnotes.bloginky.com/
http://copiousnotes.bloginky.com/
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
First New Plays Reading: November 30, 2008
The first reading of new plays to be sponsored by 517 Playwrights will be held Sunday November 30, 2008 beginning at 2:00 pm. Whether you are a playwright, actor or "just" an interested theatre fan come to our initial meeting of 517 Playwrights and help us get this new venture off to an exciting start.
If you have a script you'd like to have read please bring several copies of the play so that readers don't have to share a single copy; ideally, there should be one copy per reader (character). Of course this may not be practical (or necessary) if a script with 15 characters can be read by five readers.
The reading will be held at 3563 Georgetown Road, Lexington, KY.
Directions:
From New Circle Road take the Georgetown Road exit; turn out of town and go 4 miles out Georgetown Road. Look for a three story brick house on the left; balloons will mark the drive.
Hope to see you this Sunday at 2:00 pm.
Bill McCann
If you have a script you'd like to have read please bring several copies of the play so that readers don't have to share a single copy; ideally, there should be one copy per reader (character). Of course this may not be practical (or necessary) if a script with 15 characters can be read by five readers.
The reading will be held at 3563 Georgetown Road, Lexington, KY.
Directions:
From New Circle Road take the Georgetown Road exit; turn out of town and go 4 miles out Georgetown Road. Look for a three story brick house on the left; balloons will mark the drive.
Hope to see you this Sunday at 2:00 pm.
Bill McCann
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