JUICEBOX ORGANIC ONE ACT PLAY COMPETITION has been created as an opportunity for playwrights from around the world to submit and possibly stage or have an assigned group stage their one act play in front of a live audience (for those that advance to the finalist production level).  

Each play submitted is asked to pay a $10 administration fee used to cover the costs for compiling and mailing back all your evaluation forms and materials. This is NOT an entry fee but rather an administrative fee used specifically to offset printing and mailing costs for returning all evaluation materials to playwrights. ALL plays will be read and evaluated by our panel of 10 evaluators. Written feedback from evaluators will be returned to all contestants at the conclusion of the competition. Each playwright will receive a hard copy packet/s of ALL evaluations filled out by our staff for each play submitted (each playwright may submit up to three plays). We are told we are one of very few competitions that include this service.

The top ten plays (5 comedies and 5 dramas) will be determined by the scores of the JUICE BOX evaluation committee. These finalist plays will then, if the playwright wishes, have a cast provided by us to present each play at final performances.

All finalist plays are video-recorded. If you are interested in seeing past years' plays, they are attached here for your viewing:

https://lakeshorecenterforthearts.com/juice-box-plays

PLEASE NOTE THAT AS THE PLAYWRIGHT OF A FINALIST PLAY YOU MAY DIRECT YOUR OWN PLAY AS WELL AS UTILIZE YOUR OWN CAST IF YOU DESIRE, BUT IT IS NOT REQUIRED.

You may also utilize skilled Lake Shore Center for the Arts directors and actors to perform your play. FYI, this past year all of the finalist plays were directed and cast using Lake Shore Center for the Arts members. More on this when we reach that point.

Final rounds and awards will take place in the summer of 2027, to be determined as we get closer.

The top five (5) nominated plays in comedy will perform on two nights. The top five (5) nominated plays in drama will perform on two different nights. The audience will vote for their favorite each night of performances. The ballots are then compiled to determine two-thirds of the final score. The other third is determined by our visiting experienced playwrights. Ranking will be done in each category, and a first, second, and third place winner will be announced in both comedy and drama, with a 4th and 5th place “honorable mention”. Cash awards and certificates will be awarded to the top three (3) placers and certificates to 4th and 5th place.

Minimal staging may be utilized in this final staged production. Lighting needs to be simple up-and-down lighting. A spotlight will also be available for any projections if required. Sound capability is available for music or sound effects, as well as a projector for any projections you may utilize. Please bring or send a thumb drive with any sound cues on it if you want to include them as well as any projections. Set up and tear down should take no more than a few minutes pre- and post-show. Simplicity in production is a key factor in presenting this many plays.

Monologues and soliloquies ARE included in this competition. No musicals or plays for children are included in this competition at this time.  Comedy will compete against other comedies, drama against other dramas. It is up to the playwrights to designate which classification/genre their play or plays fall into on their cover pages. This is for a more equal comparison of each genre of play.

Play submissions and inquiries are presently being accepted. Shortly after you have submitted your script, you will be notified that your script was received.   

1. ELIGIBILITY-Plays must be an original script or scripts (if more than one entry).
2. YOU MAY SUBMIT SCRIPTS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE SCRIPT TO BE EVALUATED BY THE NEW PANEL OF EVALUATORS OR WITH YOUR REVISIONS FROM YOUR PREVIOUS ENTRY.
3. SCRIPT REQUIREMENTS-The scripts should be no less than eight (8) minutes and no more than fifteen(15) minutes of total onstage running time. Over or under-timed scripts will be evaluated but will not be eligible for awards. Please note that your play will be judged on the content of the play. No points will be added or subtracted for set additions, costumes, lighting,  props or any component that is not directly impacted by the written word of the script. 
4. CAST-A brief description of each character should be included in your script. It is suggested you utilize no more than 4 characters.
5. GENRES- Comedy, and drama ( including mystery, thriller or monologue) are the genres being included in the contest. No musicals or plays for children are included in this competition.  
6. TECHNICAL LIMITATIONS- Play settings should be simple, easy to set up and take down, and suitable for small stage theater. Stock essential furniture pieces will be available for use. Emphasis should be on the playwright’s script, not on the set.
7. FORMAT- Submit your script utilizing standard script formatting. Number all pages within your script.
8. ANONYMITY- The playwright’s name or any information that would identify the playwright or her/his affiliation must not appear in any part of the play proper, only on the cover sheet. Your play will be assigned a number for identification by the evaluators. This is to allow the script to be initially evaluated anonymously.
9. ORIGINALITY- We are looking for plays that are truly new and not adaptations of previous works.  
10. VERIFICATION- By submitting your play for inclusion in the competition, you are verifying the play is your own original work 
11. SUBMISSION LIMITS- Each playwright may enter one to three different scripts.   
12. ADMINISTRATIVE FEES- There is a $10 administrative cost for each script. THIS IS NOT AN ENTRY FEE, but rather a fee to cover evaluation feedback materials from all evaluators which will be compiled and mailed to each playwright, payable online via credit card when submitting your play.
13. DEADLINE- Your completed entry form, your uploaded script and your participation fee must be received by Monday, November 30th, 2026
14. UPLOADING-You may only submit your play(s) electronically via the online entry form.
15. SELECTION CRITERIA- All scripts will initially be read and evaluated by our team of readers.  
16. PERFORMANCE- All finalist plays will be performed for a full studio audience as well as by a team of experienced and qualified playwrights without regard to values outside the playwright’s control, including sets, costumes, and lighting. Winning plays will be announced following final performances.
17. INTENT NOTIFICATION- It would be greatly appreciated if you could send us a notification e-mail prior to your official submission if your submission will be sent later, so that we have a better idea of the number of entries to ultimately expect. This is not required but would be greatly appreciated. Please send this to:  juicebox@lakeshorecenterforthearts.com

AWARDS-Awards will be $500 for first place, $250 for second place, $100 for third place and certificates for 4th and 5th place in both comedy and drama classifications. In addition, framed JUICEBOX ORGANIC award certificates for each level will be awarded as well as a hard cover printed volume of the ten finalist plays.

IMMEDIATE  SCHEDULE: SUBMISSIONS SHOULD INCLUDE A COVER PAGE WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE THE PLAYWRIGHT’S NAME, GENRE OF PLAY, CONTACT INFORMATION, AND ANY SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS. NO IDENTIFYING INFORMATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE SCRIPT ITSELF TO MAINTAIN ANONYMITY DURING JUDGING. FEES MUST BE PAID FOR EACH PLAY ENTERED AT THE INCLUDED REGISTRATION LINK UPON ENTRY.