FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. COC-07-032-SC
October 25, 2006
New Works Festival Puts Out Call for Submissions Actor Lionel Barrymore once said, "Half the people in Hollywood are dying to be discovered and the other half are afraid they will be." The fifth annual College of the Canyons' New Works Festival is looking for playwrights in both halves to submit short plays, long plays, scenes and monologues which will be chosen to be performed at this year's festival in March. For the first time, non-students are encouraged to submit their work along with College of the Canyons students. The festival is collaboration between the COC English and Theatre Departments in an effort to motivate aspiring writers with the opportunity to see their work transmitted from the page to the stage. "I was teaching a creative writing class and students were writing great short plays," COC English professor Kim Gurnee said, "but they were never able to see their work come alive onstage, which is a very important part of creating dramatic work. After this need was identified by the English and Theatre departments, the festival was born." The festival is directed by David Stears, founder and artistic director of the Santa Clarita Repertory Theater, who, with the experience of creating more than 65 original works, is no stranger to developing new works. Plays should be original works submitted by the original playwright, who should be willing to participate in the festival. The deadline for submissions is noon Tuesday, Nov. 21. Submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee. For more information about the festival and submissions, contact Kim Gurnee at (661) 362-3073. | 
