Five enthusiastic performers in a student production of Spring Awakening

Opportunities and Awards

Let your work take center stage.

Are you a budding playwright? Do you have a pet project? Do you just need a bit of a funding or an open venue? You have several options in the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS) to bring your creative vision to life.

  • Performers reach toward each other across a line of tea lights in the Wall Studio Theatre

    The McClenon Clark Playwriting Award

    The department holds an annual one-act playwriting contest, with the winner(s) receiving a distinguished McClenon Clark Playwriting Award. The contest accepts submissions on a rolling basis.

    Submission deadline: Dec. 15 at 5 p.m. (recurring)

    The winning playwright(s) will receive a cash prize ($300, $200, and $100 for first, second, and third places). The first place award recipient will also have the opportunity to have their play developed and performed as a staged reading before the end of the spring term. 

    View McClenon Clark Award submission details. Watch a video about the award with advice, tips, and resources for new playwrights (login required).

    Barbara McClenon Clark ’42 made a gift in 2001 to establish the McClenon Clark Playwriting Award. She was active in theatre as a professional writer, producer, and performer. McClenon Clark was a member of the Space Coast Playwrights’ Workshop and won awards from the Space Coast Writer’s Guild.

    Contact Jen Shook with questions.

  • A golden statuette of Sandy Moffett

    The Alexander “Sandy” Moffett Award

    The Moffett Award is a cash fund given to individual students for their practice in theatre, dance, and performance studies. The parameters for these practices are broad and inclusive. Students from all majors and class years are eligible for this award.  Recent projects have included the early stages of devising a play, staging a play written by the student, and attending a dance program abroad (all projects followed by a public presentation).

    Application deadline: Feb. 1 at 5 p.m. (recurring)

    View Moffett Award application details (login required). Contact the TDPS department chair with questions.

  • Performers play in a boxing ring in a student production of The Royale in Flanagan Theatre

    Mentored Advanced Project (MAP)

    The possibilities for advanced research in your field are expansive, and TDPS MAPs have taken many shapes. Students have used dance as a teaching tool in the medical profession; used performance technology to design an interactive installation; conducted and presented dramaturgical research; directed plays and musicals — just to name a few.

    Due to the collaborative nature of TDPS MAPs, the department has an auxiliary application process that falls in advance of campus MAP deadlines. This auxiliary application helps allocate department resources equitably.

    Spring MAP internal application deadline: Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. (recurring)
    Fall MAP internal application deadline: Apr. 1 at 5 p.m. (recurring)

    Visit the TDPS SharePoint page (login required) for student works guidelines and application documents.

    General MAP deadlines and guidelines

  • Performers clamber over audience seating in a student production of Lord of the Flies in Roberts Theatre

    Open Space Works

    Open space works are a self-directed opportunity for you to explore a particular area of production that will benefit your development as an artist. These areas may be, but are not limited to, directing scripted works, devising work, working in a new or unfamiliar genre, building ensemble, or coaching actors. Open space works should rely more on the performance aspects, and less on the technical aspects, of a production.

    The department will take applications into consideration and make a selection (or two) based on the application’s merit and TDPS resources.

    Spring works application deadline: Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. (recurring)
    Fall works application deadline: Apr. 1 at 5 p.m. (recurring)

    Visit the TDPS SharePoint page (login required) for student works guidelines and application documents.

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