College Playwrights Festival
Barter’s College Play Festival (CPF) is a 10 Minute Play Festival designed to give undergraduate college students a professional experience. Selected student playwrights will have the opportunity to develop their play with professional Barter artists as well as attend workshops and meet professional playwrights.
For Patrons
Patrons are invited to participate in the College Playwrights Festival by attending the final readings of the festival.
For Our Region
Barter Theatre's New Play Development Program is dedicated to fostering stories from and about our region. Festival is open to undergraduate students in the following states: West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia.
What is Barter’s College Playwrights Festival?
Sunday March 1st, 2pm at Barter’s Smith Theatre
Barter’s College Play Festival (CPF) is a 10-Minute Play Festival designed to give Appalachian undergraduate college students a professional experience. Selected student playwrights will have the opportunity to develop their play with professional Barter artists as well as attend workshops and meet professional playwrights.
How does it work?
- Six plays will be selected from the submissions.
- Selected playwrights will be housed and given a stipend for the weekend.
- Each play will be assigned a director and given two hours of rehearsal with members of Barter’s resident acting company.
- Plays will be read for the public in Barter’s Smith Theatre.
- Playwrights will also have the opportunity to attend a playwriting workshop with Barter’s Playwright-in-Residence as well as several other events throughout the weekend.
Submission Guidelines
- Plays must be no longer than 10 minutes.
- Plays must contain no more than 4 characters.
- Festival is open to undergraduate students in the following states: West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia
To submit: Please email a pdf of your play to cpf@bartertheatre.com. Please include Name, Contact Info, and what school you attend on the title page.
Questions? Email Nick Piper at: npiper@bartertheatre.com
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 1st, 2026
Ten Minute Play Resources
Wondering how to write a 10 minute play? Here are some places to start….
The College Playwrights Festival is made possible by the generous support of the Estate of Dr. Bert C. Bach, Henry and Flora Joy, and Jerry Pollitt.
Partially funded by Larry & Leanne Mitchell.
