We’re accepting scripts for Alphabet Soup 2025!
Alphabet Soup: Theater from Queer Voices is Whim’s flagship production. It’s a short play showcase featuring the work of members of Kansas City’s LGBTQIA+ community.
We select works based on the potential we see in the scripts. Once selected, the writers participate in a weeks-long development process. During that time, the writers get feedback from the other writers on what is working and what can be improved. This process has resulted in several award-winning plays.
Alphabet Soup has also been nominated for multiple Best of Kansas City awards.
If you’ve ever considered writing a play, this is a great opportunity!
We’re especially interested in scripts from the TGNC and BIPOC communities.
REQUIREMENTS:
Playwrights must identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and live in the Greater Kansas City area. (In some rare cases, we might consider someone who can document strong ties to KC.)
Playwrights must be over 18.
Scripts must not have been produced or self-produced previously in the Greater Kansas City area.
Please do not submit excerpts from longer works. This program is best-suited for the development of new stand-alone scripts.
Plays will be workshopped as a group by the selected playwrights. Selected playwrights must commit to attending at least four workshop sessions.
Ideal scripts will be no longer than 12 pages or read no longer than 10 minutes. No full-length plays or one-acts. We’re also not accepting submissions of musicals. Plays of slightly longer length may be considered, but scripts reading 15 minutes or longer will not be considered. Please read your scripts out loud in a conversational tone before you submit.
There must be 4 actors or less. At least one character must be part of the LGBTQIA+ community. (Character doubling is allowed. Doubling must be indicated on the Character page.) Non-speaking actors count as characters. Characters appearing only off-stage count as characters.
Monologues or spoken-word narratives ARE accepted. Storytellers will be expected to participate in the workshops.
Plays are produced on a small budget. Elaborate sets, scene changes, costumes, or excessive props will greatly affect the chances of getting selected.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Click the buttons on this page to access the submission form. (Note that the demographic information is not viewed or considered in the initial selection phases. In the interests of inclusion and diversity, demographics may be considered before final selection.)
The file containing the play itself must not have any identifying information about the playwright.
The play should be written in a standard script format. There are several variations on standard formatting. The document accessible here can help.
Font should be 12 pt Times New Roman or Courier New.
Character Names and Dialogue must always be on separate lines.
You are encouraged to submit your play as a pdf.
Include the Title of the play and Page Numbers on each page of the script.
No more than two submissions per playwright. Complete a new form for each script.
DEADLINE:
We are accepting submissions until December 1, 2024, at 11:59 CST.
THE PROCESS TO PRODUCTION:
Selected playwrights must agree to participate in a series of workshops with the other selected playwrights. During this period, playwrights are expected to participate in critiques and feedback sessions and are encouraged to make revisions to their scripts as a result of feedback received.
Selected playwrights will be notified as soon as possible. We’re accepting scripts while we work to determine when our next festival can take place.
FEE: There is no submission fee.
STIPEND: Selected playwrights will receive a stipend.