Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science & Technology Project Accepting Proposals
The Ensemble Studio Theatre collaborates with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to develop and produce full-length and one-act plays and musicals that address the questions and dilemmas faced by "hard" scientists. The Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science & Technology Project is designed to stimulate artists to create credible and compelling work exploring the worlds of science and technology and to challenge existing stereotypes of scientists and engineers in the popular imagination.
Commissions will be awarded to individuals, groups, and creative teams for full-length and one-act plays and musicals. The project is open to a broad range of topics related to the issues, people, ideas, processes, leading-edge discoveries, inventions, and/or history of the "hard" sciences and technology. Works about psychology, human behavior, medical conditions, victims of disease, and science fiction will not be considered.
Commissions between $1,000 and $10,000 each are available for script proposals, and rewrite commissions of between $1,000 and $5,000 each are available for existing scripts.
The deadline for commission proposals is November 30, 2009; the deadline for script submissions is December 31, 2009.
Visit the Ensemble Studio Theatre Web site for complete program information.
Contact:
Link to Complete RFP____________________________
Submission Guidelines
The Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science & Technology Project will accept proposals and scripts for its 2011-2012 season until November 1, 2010*.
The EST/Sloan Project commissions, develops and presents new works delving into how we view and are affected by the scientific world. These plays examine the struggles and challenges scientists and engineers face from moral issues to the consequences of their discoveries.
The Project is designed to stimulate artists to create credible and compelling work exploring the worlds of science and technology and to challenge existing stereotypes of scientists and engineers in the popular imagination. The Project commissions and develops new works throughout EST’s developmental season, including one Mainstage Production, as well as workshops and readings in an annual festival called FIRST LIGHT.
Now in its 12th year, the EST/Sloan Project has awarded commissions totaling more than $450,000 to more than 140 artists. Previous commissionees include: Billy Aronson, Mike Daisey, Jason Grote, Ann Marie Healy, Michael Hollinger, Israel Horovitz, Tina Howe, Shirley Lauro, Emily Levine, Romulus Linney, Quincy Long, Cassandra Medley, Dan O’Brien, Carey Perloff, Bill Pullman, Jaquelyn Reingold, Tommy Smith, Caridad Svich, Vern Thiessen, Alex Timbers, Bridgette Wimberly, David Zellnik, Stillpoint Productions, and The Royal Shakespeare Company.
* Note: Playwrights who attend the EST/Sloan Project Artist Cultivation Event on Tuesday, November 9 receive a deadline extension until December 1. Learn more about this event here.
Commission Awards
Commissions will be awarded to individuals, groups and creative teams for full-length and one-act plays and musicals. Commissions range from $1000 to $10,000. Commission amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis, as are deadlines for drafts, finished work, and research support (if appropriate). Extant, full-length works may be submitted and are judged on a script-by-script basis by the EST/Sloan Project staff. Rewrite commissions for existing scripts range from $1,000 to $5,000.
Submission Guidelines
The EST/Sloan Project is open to a broad range of topics related to the issues, people, ideas, processes, leading-edge discoveries, inventions, and/or history of the “hard” sciences and technology.
Hard sciences include the following areas:
- Mathematics
- Physics (geological, nuclear, theoretical, etc.)
- Biology (evolution, zoology, animal behavior, ecology, molecular, genetics, etc.)
- Chemistry (industrial, biochemistry, etc.)
- Neuroscience
- Anthropology and Archaeology
Technology includes:
- Computer Science
- Software Development, Computer Development
- Engineering (civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical, aerospace, vehicle design)
- Space Research
Areas not considered for commissions include:
- Science Fiction
- Medical Conditions and/or Victims of Disease
- Psychology and Human Behavior
How to Apply
New Commissions
Individuals, creative teams and theatre companies interested in receiving an EST/Sloan Project commission should submit the following as their application for a grant:
- A one- or two-page description or a simple outline/synopsis of the project. This document should describe the actual story being explored, the source of inspiration behind the idea, and how the science being portrayed would be inherently dramatic in the piece.
- A resume or biography of each collaborator involved.
Rewrite Commissions
Individuals, creative teams and theatre companies interested in receiving an EST/Sloan Project rewrite grant should submit the following as their application:
- A draft of the script.
- A one- or two-page cover letter detailing the development history of the play, your goals for a rewrite commission, and any questions you have about the current draft.
- A resume or biography of each collaborator involved.
The deadline for all submissions is November 1, 2010.
Final decisions will be announced in late Spring 2011.A selection committee comprised of EST Artistic Director William Carden, Sloan Foundation Program Director Doron Weber, EST Sloan Program Director Graeme Gillis and Associate Director Linsay Firman and other leading artists and scientists, evaluate the proposals and make final decisions. Candidates may be asked to revise aspects of their proposals, provide writing samples, and/or arrange a meeting to discuss their project as part of the selection process.
Delivering Your Submission
We accept scripts in the following manner…
Email (preferred):
sloanproject@ensemblestudiotheatre.org
Via regular mail:
The Ensemble Studio Theatre
Attn: EST/Sloan Project
549 West 52nd St.
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-247-4982Please contact us with any questions.
Best of luck to you,
EST/Sloan Project StaffGraeme Gillis
Program DirectorLinsay Firman
Associate Director
