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THINK FAST: Annual One-Act Play Competition

2022 Guidelines appear at the bottom of this page.
Think Fast 2021
Eight short plays recorded for three broadcast performances on Friday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 21 at 2 p.m. 
Tickets $15.

​At each performance, the audience votes for their favorite play. A panel of playwright-judges votes for best actor, actress and director, and selects a play to receive the $500 Judges' Prize. Ballots are emailed to ticket holders post performance. 
VIRTUAL PLAYBILL



2021 NOMINEES AND WINNERS:

BEST DIRECTOR:
Frank Danko, The Bad Boy of the Sonnets
Eric Diamond, The World Is Lit by Lighting
Bill Arnold, Forbidden Fruit 
 
WINNER: Eric Diamond, The World Is Lit by Lighting
 
BEST ACTOR:
Benjamin Leaf, The Bad Boy of the Sonnets
Desmond Dutcher, The World Is Lit by Lighting
James DeMarco, Forbidden Fruit
 
WINNER: Benjamin Leaf, The Bad Boy of the Sonnets
 
BEST ACTRESS:
Debi Toni, To the Zoom and Back
Jamila Webb, Atlantics Pharmaceuticals
Florence Pape, I’ve Lost My Shit
 
WINNER: Jamila Webb, Atlantics Pharmaceuticals
 
AUDIENCE FAVORITE – an extremely close count yielded a tie:
To the Zoom and Back
by Cindi Sansone-Braff and The World Is Lit by Lighting  by Kevin Brofsky

JUDGES PICK:
The Bad Boy of the Sonnets  by Larry Rinkel
Atlantics Pharmaceuticals by Sarah Congress
The World Is Lit by Lighting  by Kevin Brofsky
 
WINNER --  A TIE:
Atlantics Pharmaceuticals by Sarah J. Congress and The World Is Lit by Lighting by Kevin Brofsky



2021 Finalists:
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 The World is Lit by Lightning
 ​by Kevin Brofsky

​ 
Kevin Brofsky is thrilled to see this play find a new life with its talented team again.
​

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​Atlantics Pharmaceuticals
by Sarah J. Congress

​
Sarah Congress is a comedic playwright, television, and musical book writer whose work has been presented in New York City and in LA and she is DELIGHTED to be a part of The Theater Project THINK FAST one-act play contest!

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Hell in a Zoom Call 
by Claudia Emanuele​

Claudia Emanuele is a playwright, director, actor, and tutor from Connecticut.

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I’ve Lost My Shit 
​by George Cameron Grant
​

GEORGE CAMERON GRANT (center): An internationally produced, published, award-winning writer of over 50 full-length, one-act, and solo plays, including his latest, 3 EGG CREAMS - A RHAPSODY IN THE RAIN (3EggCreams.com). Visit www.GeorgeCameronGrant.com

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​​Death UND the Maiden 
by Leonard Goodisman

Leonard Goodisman is a playwright with several full lengths and many one acts produced; also a producer, development director, director, actor, dramaturg, etc.

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​Forbidden Fruit
by Betsy Maguire 


Betsy Maguire is a freelance playwright, specializing in grant-funded projects and unconventional theatre spaces. ​

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The Bad Boy of the Sonnets 
by Lawrence Rinkel​


Larry Rinkel, already a veteran of several Think Fast festivals, has been an active playwright since his retirement in 2014 and has had plays produced all over the United States.


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To the Zoom and Back
by Cindi Sansone-Braff


Cindi Sansone-Braff has a B.F.A. in theatre from UCONN and is a playwright, author, actor, dancer, producer, director, and the co-founder of Tomorrow’s Classics Theatre Company.


HOW TO SUBMIT FOR 2022

Electronic submissions only. No fee to submit.
Deadline:
November 2021 TBA

UPDATED GUIDLINES ARE PUBLISHED EVERY SEPTEMBER. 
Plays are accepted for eight weeks each fall.

E-mail your short play to:
OneActFest@TheTheaterProject.org
Include in the Subject line: “Submission + The Title of Your Play.”


Email submissions must contain this sentence in the body of the email:
“If my play is accepted and I choose to take part in the festival, I understand that I will be responsible for the casting and rehearsal of my play and that I will be charged a $100 participation fee.”


IF YOUR PLAY IS SELECTED 

​​​The Theater Project will supply a stage manager/technical director to oversee the Zoom production.

Individual productions supply the actors, directors and make their own agreements with actors and directors regarding compensation.

​Playwrights will be charged a $100 fee to cover the $500 prize as well as the cost of hiring the stage manager/technical director

JUDGING

Plays selected will have three (3) performances in February.

​At each performance, the audience will vote  for their favorite play. 

After the Sunday performance, judges will award: 

Best Play ($500 prize)
Best Actor
Best Actress

Best Director
and
Audience Choice. 

​The Theater Project’s annual short play competition awards the winner for Best Play a $500 prize. The contest is open to adult playwrights in the New Jersey and New York metropolitan area. There is no fee to submit your play for consideration. Plays are accepted in the fall for the February 2020 event.

Plays can be either dramas or comedies but must be no more than 15 minutes running time. This restriction is absolute and plays that exceed 15 minutes will not be considered. Sets, lighting and sound requirements must be simple. No elaborate props or effects. Playwrights invited to participate must have plays that are ready-to-perform and supply their own actors and directors.

About the Production Fee 

The Theater Project does not charge a submission fee for its THINK FAST one-act festival.  

We do, however, charge a $100 production fee to help cover the cost of the $500 prize as well as the hiring of a stage manager/technical director to work with the productions on their technical needs as well as supervise a rehearsal and record the final performance on TTP’s Zoom platform.

Although we would rather not charge a production fee, the reality is that without help from participating playwrights, we would not be able to offer this showcase for new works.

2020 photo gallery:
photos of the 2020 THINK FAST  courtesy of Helena Mezzo
2019 photo gallery:
2019 photos courtesy of Rene Atchison Photography.

The Theater Project   
PO Box 101  |  Union, NJ 07083
info@thetheaterproject.org
908-809-8865  
     
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Audio described performances are available. Call Box Office 908-809-8865.
The Theater Project is committed to an inclusive hiring and volunteer recruitment policy and encourages all applicants to apply regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, or the presence of a disability.


​© The Theater Project 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • What's Happening
    • COMING SOON
    • New Play Readings
    • For Playwrights >
      • Playwrights Workshop
    • BLACK LIVES BLUE LIVES
    • THINK FAST Short Play Competition
    • APPRENTICE PRODUCTIONS
  • YOUNG FOLK
    • Young Playwrights Competition
    • FOR KIDS
    • ACTORS READING WITH KIDS
    • Theater Project Jr
  • ABOUT US
    • The Buzz
    • OUR DONORS
    • HISTORY
    • Staff and Board
  • Stay Connected
    • GET INVOLVED
    • Get email
  • SUPPORT US
    • FUND RACING!