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Student Playwright Reader's Theater

What is SPRighT

Next Gen is excited to host its third annual Student Playwright Reader's Theater (SPRighT) competition, and this year offers an opportunity for visual artists (as well as writers!) to participate. The 2026-2027 theme is, "Blue - My Experience of Place." This theme encourages reflection about life in our region. Writers and visual artists are invited to create a short play OR a work of 2D (two-dimensional) visual art to share their feelings, emotions, sensory experiences, or stories of place around life in northern Michigan. This competition is open to all North Central Michigan College (NCMC) students.

Rules, Tips, and More - PLAYWRIGHTS

  • Submissions will be judged by a panel of three or more professionals.

  • Cash prizes will be awarded to the playwrights of the three winning plays.

  • Scripts may be monologues or include multiple characters.

  • Winning plays will be performed onstage in Reader’s Theater style. Plays should therefore be written in Reader’s Theater style (i.e., no references to set, staging, or costuming; optional setting comments may appear on the cover page only).

  • Refer to the Call for Submissions–WRITING Document for all submission guidelines.

  • Entries must be emailed as PDFs to Rachel Sytsma-Reed (rachel@greatlakescfa.org) by midnight on Wednesday, April 14, 2027.

  • A SPRighT Showcase will be held at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts on Saturday, May 1, 2027. Cash prizes will be announced at the Showcase!

NOTE: Use of AI is not acceptable in this writing competition; don't cheat yourself out of the opportunity to express yourself in your special way. AI is NOT you, regardless of how much information you feed it. WE WANT YOU AND YOU ALONE. You are WAY more awesome than AI!

Readers Theater Example

Rules, Tips, and More - 2D VISUAL ART

  • Submissions will be judged by a panel of artists.

  • Up to three cash prizes will be awarded to winning visual artists.

  • Artwork dimensions must be approved by Anne Morningstar, NCMC Art Instructor.

  • Winning artwork will be displayed in the lobby of the Great Lakes Center for the Arts during the SPRighT Showcase.

  • Refer to the Call for Submissions–ART Document for all submission guidelines.

  • Entries must be received by Anne Morningstar by 5:00PM on Wednesday, April 14, 2027.

  • A SPRighT Showcase will be held at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts on Saturday, May 1, 2027. Cash prizes and awards will be announced at the Showcase!

Call For Submissions - WRITING

Click Here

Call For Submissions - ART

Click Here

Prize Information

All who submit an original play or 2D work of art by the deadline and in accordance with the guidelines will be invited, along with their friends and family, to a no-cost SPRighT Reception and Showcase at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts on Saturday, May 1, 2027 (time TBD).

At the Showcase, submitted artwork will be displayed in the lobby, and winning plays will be performed onstage by Little Traverse Civic Theater actors. Cash prizes will be announced and awarded at the Showcase.

Next Gen at the Center will award:

  • WRITING: Up to three cash prizes of up to $200 each.

  • ART: Up to three cash prizes of up to $200 each.