VSA Playwright Discovery Competition

The 2021 VSA Playwright Discovery Award Program is now accepting 2021 applications.  High school students are invited to explore the disability experience through the art of writing for performance. Young writers with disabilities and collaborative groups that include students with disabilities are encouraged to submit short works written to be performed: plays, spoken word poetry (for single performer or a group), or music theater.

Writers must have a disability

U.S. writers must be grades 6-12 (or equivalents)

Non-U.S. writers age 11-18

Scripts may be for theater scripts, musicals, multimedia, video, film, or TV scripts, non-linear scripts or other writing for performance

Entries may be the work of an individual student or a collaboration by a group of up to five students

Writers are encouraged to craft short (10 minute) works from their own experiences/observations

A Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program