McLaren Memorial Comedy Play Writing Competition
(sponsored by Kenny and Cassie Dresel)
It started in 1989 with a dream and one man who loved to laugh

Mike McLaren loved to laugh, so the McLaren Memorial Comedy Playwriting Competition seeks new comedies suitable for community and other non-profit theatres.

Competition facts: 1700+ scripts, including both one-act and full-length. Playwright facts: from 44 states and 12 countries.

McLaren Winners include both first-time writers and established authors.

Over 300 people participate as readers, actors, directors, and audience members.

Every entry is read and evaluated by at least three volunteer McLaren Readers. The McLaren Festival will take place in early fall; the finalist full length entries will have staged readings with winners selected by audience vote.

Midland Community Theatre may select any Finalist for a fully-staged Season or Special production. If so, the playwright’s lodging and transportation are provided for opening weekend. The selection for production is at the discretion of MCT's play selection committee.

All Semi-Finalists and Finalists: MCT controls the first-production rights, within Texas and New Mexico, to all finalist entries. For this reason, if your script becomes a semi-finalist, you will be required to agree to this before your script can be eligible to advance further. Once MCT's play selection committee has chosen which play or plays to be produced the next season, your script will be released to you for production elsewhere.
 

 

 


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Submitting Your Script

To submit a successful McLaren Competition entry, become familiar with both the
rules and guidelines. When you have done that, you'll find a downloadable entry
form, along with helpful advice for maximizing your chance of winning. If you have
an entry accepted, you can get an idea how your script is doing so far.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
PAST WINNERS
* indicates full production by MCT

 
2007
Artifice *
 Anne Flanagan (CA)
2006
Law and disOrder *
Will Radford (TN)
2005
Wee Care *
William Payne (TX)
2004
Interruptions
Burton Bumgarner
2003

Midville Community Theatre*
Dan D'Amario (OR)

2002
Held Up at the Office*
Fred Cooprider (OR)
2001
When Bullfrogs Sing Opera *
Carl Williams (TX)
2000
Marriage to an Older Woman *
John Fritz (NJ)
2000
Messin' with Destiny*
Mitch Coleman (IL)
1999
There Should Be Roses *
David Williams (CA)
1997
Brothers *
David Williams (CA)
1996
Larry's Favorite Chocolate Cake *
Kent Brown (AR)
1995
Loving Brezhnev
David Hoag (CA)
1994
Maggie's Dance *
Rick Hamby (TX)
1993
Gargoyles and Scarecrow Sins *
Rick Hamby (TX)
1992
Dry Thunder
Bob King (TN)
1991
Flyaway Home
Bryan Williams (NY)
1990
Always the Bride
Ken Firard (CA)
 

 

 
   
 

 

 

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