The 9th Annual SKETCHBOOK Submissions

The 9th Annual
SKETCHBOOOK^TM Festival

Chicago Summer by Cassandra Sanders directed by Scott Illingworth Photo Credit: Kirstie Shanley

After 8 years of the SKETCHBOOK Festival including over 5000 short plays submitted and 138 world premiere short plays produced for over 30,000 audience members, SKETCHBOOK is evolving. This year's Sketchbook festival asks:

What does a New American Fable look like?

We asked  WRITERS / CHOREOGRAPHERS / DIRECTORS / CLOWNS / BREAKDANCERS / COMPOSERS / ARTISTS OF ALL KINDS to create a New American Fable lasting seven minutes or less.

In addition to the usual playwriting submissions and director applications, we opened up to devisers of all sorts to propose an original work of live art that explores this theme.

What is a fable?  Is it a fairy tale?  A morality story?  Are animals involved?!

Count Orlock's Castle by Gregory Moss directed by Joel Moorman Photo Credit: Kirstie Shanley

Playwright Generated World Premiere Short Plays - SKETCHBOOK seeks world premiere short plays of less than seven pages and seven minutes. It is highly encouraged that submitters take a risk and explore theatrical possibilities in regards to form, concept and staging.

Playwrights Submission CLOSED
Directors Submission CLOSED

Devised or Ensemble Generated World Premiere Short Works - SKETCHBOOK seeks submissions from directors and/or theater ensembles to create a piece of theatre under seven minutes through a process that is led by a vision or idea, as opposed to a scripted play

Submission CLOSED

DEADLINE for submissions to
The 9th Annual SKETCHBOOK Festival
HAS PASSED

We highly encourage submitters to take risk and explore theatrical possibilities in regards to form, concept, staging and to NOT submit any work that seems "traditional".

Lurker Radio Hour by Drew Dir directed by Karin Shook Photo Credit: Kirstie Shanley

The 9th Annual SKETCBOOK Festival will be held at the Building Stage; 412 N. Carpenter in April/May of 2009. Exact dates TBD.

$1000 Prize
Once again, Collaboraction will partner with the Civic and Arts Foundation of the Union League to award three playwrights under 30 years old who live within 100 miles of Chicago a $1000 award each.  Last year's winner were:
Emily Schwartz - Cowboy Birthday Party
Drew Dir - The Lurker Radio Hour
Ira Gammerman - DATED: a Cautionary Tale for Facebook Users

Purchase the first ever SKETCHBOOK Anthology.

                                                   
View the Front Cover                View the Back Cover            View the Table of Contents


BUY NOW

Now is your chance to own all 14 World Premiere plays from the 8th Annual SKETCHBOOK Festival. Each year, over 600 artists submit plays to participate in SKETCHBOOK.  For just $20, you can have your own copy of SKETCHBOOK '08!  SKETCHBOOK '08 The Complete Plays can be purchased ONLINE or stop by Collaboraction Headquarters and pick your up today!

Hackneyed by Greg Allen directed by Jen Ellison Photo Credit: Kirstie Shanley