8 to the Bar 2025

Directors Needed for “Eight to the Bar” –
GreenMan Theatre Troupe’s Annual 10 Minute Play Festival!
 
GreenMan Theatre Troupe is celebrating its twentieth anniversary as Elmhurst, Illinois’ community theater.  From classics (“Macbeth”) to musicals (“Urinetown”) to dinner theater mysteries (“Ghost with the Most Murders”) to out-of-the-box choices (“Monstrous Regiment”) to popular plays (“Moon Over Buffalo”), GreenMan’s track record is impressive and consistent.  http://www.greenmantheatre.org
 
Up to eight directors are needed for “8 to the Bar,” a production of eight 10 minute plays.  It is community theater; there is no pay. 
 
Why should you apply to direct?
 
1.  Community theater directors: this is a chance to have fun, with a minimal time commitment.  Also, if you decide to apply for a mainstage show at GreenMan, this will serve to familiarize GreenMan with your abilities, and to familiarize you with GreenMan’s creative atmosphere.
 
2.  Aspiring directors: you’ve been involved in theater in a non-directorial area and now you want to give directing a shot?  This would be a good way to dip a toe in the water.  You do need to have some background in theater, either in acting or production.  But we’re looking to give new directors an opportunity.
 
 
DIRECTOR SUBMISSIONS
 
1.  Directors should send a resume or, if you’re new at this, a short letter of intent, giving some of your theatre background and telling us why you think you’d be a good director.  Send these to [email protected] from April 15 through May 6, 2025. 
 
2. Playwrights were asked to submit one 10 minute play, using the prompt “Moving On.”  120 entries were read.  16 finalists will have been selected as of June 1.
 
3. On May 18, directors will be sent all 16 plays. You will then have until May 23 to list your choices to direct, in order of preference. We’ll try to give you your first or second choice, but in the case of a tie, the committee will make the selection and you’ll have something else further down your list.
 
4. Playwrights who have submitted plays may also submit to direct.  But – in the interests of diversity, you will not be selected to direct your own play.
 
5. Final running order of plays and directors will be announced May 24.
 
6. Auditions will be held June 8 & 9.
 
7. “8 to the Bar” will be performed on July 18, 19 & 20, 2025 at Mystic Vines (formerly Chicago Dance Factory) in Villa Park.  Directors must be available for all audition & performance dates, as well as all production week rehearsals.
 
If you have any questions, please direct them to [email protected].
 
We look forward to your application!


*********************************************************************************
 
GreenMan will be presenting its fifth annual Eight to the Bar, an evening of eight 10 minute plays. 

                                          The prompt is “Moving On” 

*****
PLAY SUBMISSIONS ARE CLOSED.  The quota was filled within eight hours of opening submissions.  Thanks to everybody for your interest!

******

​
(Archival info below)
​
The show will be performed in July 2025 in Villa Park, Illinois.  Eight plays will be selected.  Cash prizes for the selected plays will be determined by the audience voting on their favorites during the run of the show:
1st Place - $200.00
2nd Place - $100.00
3rd Place - $50.00
Also:  a free subscription to Play Submissions Helper (www.playsubmissionshelper.com)
 
PLAY SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
 
1.  Playwrights may submit one play at forms.gle/hAL5nG7sqQgXqTjA7 from February 1, 2025 through March 1, 2025 or until the quota of 120 plays is received.  Selected plays will be announced on June 1, 2025.  Regional restriction: None.  Playwrights must be currently residing on the planet Earth.  Scripts with previous performances are permitted, but must be unpublished.
 
2. Do not include playwright name or contact information anywhere except the cover page.
 
3. Prompt – “Moving On.”  Your play needs to focus on moving on – in relationships, in employment, in life-in-general.
 
4. Content – Anything rated G to R.  No nudity or excessive violence, but other than that – go for it.
 
5. Restrictions – No more than six actors per script will be cast.  Doubling of parts will be permitted.  Keep the set and props simple.  A table or two and some chairs.  Easily obtainable props.  If your script requires six foot tall carnivorous pigs, we will be unlikely to do it justice.  But you can go the Second City route: chairs can become car seats, couches or six foot tall carnivorous pigs.
 
6.  Format – Limit: eight pages.  Plays must be written in English and must be submitted electronically as PDF files.  The playwright’s name must not appear anywhere but the title page; the judging is to be completely blind.  Stick to standard play format: one inch margins, 12 point Courier or Times font.  Title page (containing playwright’s name, address and e-mail), cast list page with brief descriptions of characters, followed by no more than eight pages of script.  The judges will read the finalists out loud to get a timing; anything longer than ten minutes will be disqualified.  A sample format is found here; don’t stray too far from this:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52f9468ce4b0a6dd2f9f0607/t/606a0b885e4fca448604045b/1617562504281/Playwriting+Formatting+Guidelines.pdf
 
7. Genre – Comedy, drama, mystery, tragedy, farce… pretty much anything except monologues, musicals or children’s shows.  Also, we’re looking for original works.  Adaptations are permitted, but the original source must either be in the public domain, or have adaptation rights secured in writing by the playwright.
 
8. Quota – We will read up to 120 plays.  No more than 120 will be accepted.  IMPORTANT: Last year, our submission quota was exceeded in the first 48 hours.  This year, the submission page will lock when the quota has been reached. 
 
9. Entry Fee – There isn’t one.
 
10. Royalties – None; prizes only.  Comps – the playwright and one friend will be admitted free, as many times as they want to come.
 
11. Rights – GreenMan Theatre Troupe will have the right to perform your play for this production only.  Photographs will be taken, and unless requested not to do so by the playwright, plays may be video recorded for online viewing on YouTube, Facebook, etc.  All other rights are retained by the playwright.
 
12. Directing – Director submissions will be open on April 1, 2025.  Playwrights may submit to direct.
 
13. Selection – Sixteen plays will be chosen for the final list.  Eight directors will be selected, who will read all the scripts and choose three plays he/she would like to direct.  In most cases, directors get their first or second choice.  So you might get to direct your own play, but don’t bet the ranch on it.
 
If you have any questions, please direct them to [email protected].
 
We look forward to reading your plays!

Thank you to Playwright Submissions Helper - www.playsubmissionshelper.com - for their support and free subscriptions awarded to the three winning playwrights.

*** play submissions are CLOSED ***
 The quota was filled within eight hours of opening submissions.  Thanks to everybody for your interest!