"I am trying to check my habits of seeing, to counter them for the sake of greater freshness. I am trying to be unfamiliar with what I'm doing." - John Cage


Thursday, August 17, 2017

Truckee Community Theater Auditions Coming Up 8/22


Tryouts are informal for the first Ten Minute Play Festival featuring plays by regional and local writers.  The tryouts are August 22nd at 6:30 PM at the Community Arts Center auditorium, 10046 Church Street: 

Fall 10 Minute Play Festival:  Seeking adult actors to play exciting roles in our second 10 Minute Play festival. Most parts are leads,  and this time, some of the scripts will be original plays by local writers!  This is a great way for directors and the public to get to know what actors can bring to a part. Different genres from drama to comedy, from classically based to edgy modern.  Simple sets, simple costumes.  Minimal rehearsals, usually an hour a week for five or six weeks, often in the director's home.  Try outs will be on Tuesday, August 22nd at 6:30 PM. Multiple directors.

By the 22nd, Truckee Community Theater should have selected the original plays, and will have a few published ones as backups as needed.  The audition will be to read some different parts from the scripts they have selected.

You might enjoy coming! The exciting opportunity with ten minute plays is that each actor will play a major role on stage.  Rehearsals will occur over September and October, usually in people's living rooms and involving only 2-4 actors and a director.  Set design is minimal with only one or two props.

Friday, August 4, 2017

Truckee Community Theater Call for Submissions! 8/20

Call for submissions from Truckee Community Theater:
August 20th deadline

No more than 10 pages, double spaced, Times New Roman, 2-3 characters max., ten minutes long, minimal set, and creative use of props.

Email Word attachment to: info@truckeecommunitytheater.com 


Write “Play submission/your name” in subject line.


Winners will be selected for production at the Ten Minute Play Festival October 28th. Editing and rehearsals will take place in September and October.

For many samples of plays to read and use as models for your own ideas, peruse Heuer Publishing

10 Minute Playfest Guidelines by Nancy McClernan
  • Does the play pull me in right away? What is the question you want to know the answer to right away?
  • Does the play surprise me? Ie. Pacing, emotional impact, bringing in an unexpected element?
  • Does the play make me laugh or well up or both? The key is strong emotional impact.
  • Does the play have a dramatic struggle? (man against himself, against man, against nature or society)
  • Does the play have vivid characters in compelling situations?
  • Does the play show more than tell?
  • Does the play blow my mind through sheer funky originality?

Other resources:

Almost Watersheds by Micharne Cloughley
Loverboy by Michael Jalbert
Singers by Thom Wiedlich
The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
Scene and Structure by
Beginnings, Middles, and Ends by Nancy Kress
Plays in One Act edited by Daniel Halpern