How to submit a winning McLaren Comedy
These guidelines and requirements, if followed,
will increase your chances of winning the competition.

Entries that do not comply with Contest Requirements will not be accepted.

Here are those draconian requirements:

1) $20 entry fee. US funds, no cash. If script is emailed, payment must accompany the completed entry form by mail.
2) If mailed, send a securely bound paper copy of script, printed in English, or a Word document or .pdf file on a CD (each script on a separate CD).  
3) If emailed, send a Word document or .pdf file to mclaren1 @ mctmidland.org.
3) Pages must be numbered.
4) Character listing
5) Legible, completed entry form
6) Optional SASE
7) Submit before that looming deadline, which is the last day of February.

If you become a finalist, you'll need to agree to give us first production rights for your play. The agreement is easily downloaded here. It simply gives our play selection committee the option of producing one or more of the finalists if they find them suitable for the season.

To submit a successful McLaren Competition entry:

Be sure it is funny! Readers evaluate humor on a scale of 1-10 . . .“1-2 I cried . . . 4-5 I smiled . . . 6-7 I laughed . . . 9-10 I laughed and laughed till my sides hurt!” Every winner has made the audience laugh, even when there was an underlying seriousness to the story.

Know how long a performance lasts.
Usually one page of double-spaced dialogue equals one minute of stage time.
* One-Act Play (20-45 minutes)
* Full-Length Play (usually two acts; 70-90 minutes, excluding intermission; a reader’s theatre cutting to 60 minutes may be required of Finalists)

Language and content do matter. Midland is a small, family-oriented Southern city in West Texas and our readers and audiences come from this conservative community. Exploitive sex, violence, child and spouse abuse, dehumanizing behavior, and vulgar language are not all that funny. Be funny, not mean or crude!

Submit never-published or produced plays. One prior performance, reading, or workshop in a non-profit setting (meaning you received no royalties or payment) is acceptable.

Musical entries are not eligible.

Copyright your material. Check writers’ guides for more information, or visit www.copyright.gov

The Perfect Script, or Helpful Guidelines to a better entry

Your script won't be rejected for failure to meet these guidelines, but since you want the reader to be as happy as possible, you are encouraged to consider them. If your script is exactly like this perfect script... you may want to get therapy. But getting close is a good idea.

Script Preparation

Typing—It's a good idea to put a space between the blocks of dialogue... which ought to be in upper and lower case.
Character names look best in bold type or all caps at left margin or centered above dialogue.
Stage directions should be set off from the dialogue with italics or parentheses.
Proofread for typos, mixed-up character names, and all those other mistakes we make when we write passionately.
Act breaks should begin at the top of a new page, be in bold type, numbered, and centered.

Title page - the first page the reader sees - should include:
* title of play in at least 18pt bold upper and lower type
* entry category in at least 14pt bold caps (One-Act or Full-Length)
* playwright’s first and last name, complete address and ZIP, phone numbers with area codes (indicate home, work, etc), and optional e-mail address

Character listing - this should go on the second page, and should include, in order:
* listing of all major and minor characters by name, with at least one sentence about each
* multiple characters played by a single actor listed together and identified by character names
* function and minimum number of actors needed for chorus roles (fairies, townspeople, servants, etc.)

If your play is for children or teens, mention it on the title page:
"I Was a Teenage Were-Pigeon"
a play for teens by Rutherford Williams

SCRIPT BINDING

3-hole plastic or heavy paper report cover—best choice, but be sure prongs are long enough to securely hold the script. It's also a good idea to consider whether handling your script could injure the reader. That tends to affect one's sense of humor, and could conceivably have an impact on how your script is rated.

NOT ACCEPTABLE--remember what we said about being "securely bound?"

report covers with slip-on side or top clip.
3-ring notebooks larger than 1 inch thick.
single staple at top or side.
wire brads smaller than the holes.
loose pages inside pocket folder or attached with paper/binder clips.

If the above sounds like too much to ask... consider sending a CD instead.

Script Shipping

Use sturdy envelope —padded, cardboard, or Tyvek envelopes travel well . . . Envelope should be at least 1” larger on all sides than script to avoid damage during mail delivery.If you're sending a CD, make it real sturdy.

Mail to:
Midland Community Theatre
ATTN: McLaren Competition
2000 W Wadley
Midland, TX 79705

Parcel Post, Media Mail, First Class, or special mailing services are acceptable.
No insufficient postage, non-MCT delivery, or COD entries accepted.
Entries are accepted for 2010 from
December 2009 through February 2010
 

ALL ENTRIES FOR 2010
MUST BE POSTMARKED
on or before February 28, 2010.

Questions about the 2010 contest? - We won't laugh at your questions.
The address is
"mclaren1 at mctmidland.org" for more information. The above is not a clickable link, and we apologize for that, but we'd really like to avoid spam. Just change the word "at" to a "@" and we'll get it. Or, if you have javascript enabled, you can use the link below: