Appalachian Festival

Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights

A unique annual festival showcasing original works by Appalachian playwrights

 

Visit the 2009 Festival page

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 already gained national attention.

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 across the country. The Other Side of the Mountain and The Quiltmaker by Catherine Bush have drawn huge audiences already.

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 April for consideration for the current year’s Festival. The Jury makes final selections in May.

Rehearsals take place in June and July. Professional Directors, Actors, Musicians and Technicians guide the entire process. The Playwrights are an integral part of every rehearsal of their play.

Following each public presentation, in August, there are audience and artist discussions about the play, led by a Barter professional. The public presentation and discussion allows the Playwright to learn how to best improve their work. We have found our audiences to be extremely involved in the Appalachian subject matter and intent on the accuracy of the portrayals of the characters.

Successful plays may be given a full production as a part of Barter’s season the following year.

 

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 and an SASE if you wish your play returned. No E-mail submissions, please. 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 for two nights (the day before and the day of the reading).

The winner of the Festival will receive $500 and a possible mini-production the following year.

Second place will receive $250 and a possible mini-production the following year.

Plays must be received by March 31, 2010.  Plays may be sent to address below.

 

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

Barter Theatre's Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights is sponsored by: