Appalachian Festival

Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights

A unique annual festival showcasing original works by Appalachian playwrights

 

Click here for info about 2012 AFPP

 

This annual festival celebrates the richness of the Appalachian tradition by showcasing the stories of this region, both past and present, and the inspiration it provides the playwrights and writers who live here.

The ultimate goal is to share our rich cultural heritage with audiences across the nation. Since 1933, Barter Theatre has been developing new works and nurturing area talent. Barter Theatre professionals have a proven track record of guiding this process.

The Festival has gained national attention by developing a process that has resulted in plays being produced not only on one of Barter’s two stages, but in regional theatres throughout the country.

Keep on the Sunny Side, by Douglas Pote, introduced in 2001 toured twenty-three states in late 2004 and early 2005. Enjoyed by more than 100,000, this poignant love story about A. P. and Sara Carter is now being produced by theatres everywhere. Black Pearl Sings by Frank Higgins was first read and developed in 2006 at the AFPP and, in 2010 was listed as one of the most produced plays of that year by TCG.

See a list of previous AFPP productions

Project Outline

Barter's Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights is actively planned and organized throughout the year. New Plays are submitted by March 1st, 2012 for consideration in that year’s Festival. The Jury makes final selections in May.

A brief rehearsal process takes place in June with an emphasis placed on clarity, not effect--getting the playwright’s words and story out to the audience. Professional directors, actors, musicians and technicians guide the entire process.

Following each public reading there are audience and artist discussions about the play, led by Richard Rose, Producing Artistic Director, and a panel made up of local and regional theatre professionals. The reading and discussion is an invaluable tool to a playwright seeking to discover what’s working in the play and what needs work.  Over the years, the AFPP has developed an audience who love to be a part of the process of helping playwrights develop their work. This process works because the playwright has a chance to hear from the very people for whom they are writing

Play Submission Guidelines:

Play submission guidelines are as follows:

Plays must be written by an Appalachian playwright (currently living in the Appalachian Mountains which, for our purposes, run from New York State to Alabama) OR the plays must contain Appalachian settings and themes.

Full-length plays are preferred.

Please submit the full script in a three-brad folder or unbound, with your contact information (including phone and email address) on the title page only.  Plays will not be returned. No E-mail submissions, please.

The 2012 AFPP readings will take place July 6-July 13th, 2012. All playwrights who submit will be notified in May as to whether or not their play has been selected for reading.

The writers of the selected plays will be provided with housing and transportation in order to attend the reading of their play.

The playwrights of the six selected plays will each receive $250 plus transportation and housing.

The winner of the AFPP will receive $500 and second place will receive $250.

Plays must be received by March 1, 2012.  Plays may be sent to address below

For more information, contact:
Nicholas Piper
Director, Barter's Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights
P.O. Box 867
Abingdon, VA 24212
276.619.3316
apfestival@bartertheatre.com