Heartland's 10-Minute Play Fest Open for Submissions!

Every year, Heartland Theatre gets submissions from all over the world for its 10-minute Play Festival, and every year, they choose a new theme. That theme has ranged from the Funeral Parlor to the One Shoe phenomenon to last year’s Hotel Lobby. And this year? The Back Porch!



Perhaps John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival said it best:

Just got home from Illinois, lock the front door, oh boy
Got to sit down, take a rest on the porch
Imagination sets in, pretty soon I’m singin’
Doo, doo, doo
Lookin’ out my back door

And that’s what Heartland is looking for this time. With or without the tambourines or elephants that come in the next verse. Heartland says, "We’re just taking a rest, looking out, and looking for some 10-minute plays set out back, behind the house, where there may be a runaway bride, a prodigal son, a rocking chair, a cool glass of lemonade, a couple of sad geraniums, a tattered paper lantern… Or Uncle George’s body, a-mouldering in the ground."

In honor of Heartland's very first 10-Minute Playfest, when they launched their festival with Porch Plays, they are going Back to the Porch. The Back Porch this time. But whether your play is set on the back porch, the patio, the deck, or even stepping a toe into the back yard, Heartland Theatre Company wants to see it. Like Alan Ayckbourn’s "Woman in Mind" and David Auburn’s "Proof," both appearing in HTC's current season.

If you’re interested in writing a 10-minute play for Heartland, they strongly recommend that you visit their website, read through the rules, take a look at the style sheet, and stick to a back porch setting.

You can enter your play right from the Heartland website by filling out an online entry form and attaching the play. The eight winning plays will make it through three levels of judging, with the final round decided by a nationally-recognized playwright. Those eight plays will be produced on Heartland’s stage next June in the 10th Annual 10-Minute Play Festival.

Heartland Theater Company invites you to go Back to the Porch and write some plays!