OVER OUR HEAD PLAYERS SOLICITING PLAYWRITING CONTEST SCRIPTS

Over Our Head Players is accepting submissions for the “2011 Snowdance 10 Minute Comedy Festival,” now through November 1. “Snowdance” entry is open to original, unpublished 10-minute or shorter comedies for the stage. Winning entries will be performed together in one theatre presentation by the OOHP Snowdance ensemble at Sixth Street Theatre for five weeks beginning January 28, 2011. The entire Snowdance production will be presented more than 20 times during the run. At each performance, audience members can vote for their favorite individual comedy; the audience favorites will earn cash prizes for the playwright. Entries may be sent to SNOWDANCE, c/o Sixth Street Theatre, 318 Sixth Street, Racine, Wisconsin, 53403. Playwrights are limited to one submission.

Rules for the Snowdance Comedy Competition, which is open to everyone without age or geographic restriction, are relatively simple. In summary, competition is open to unpublished, 10 minute or shorter comedies free of royalty and copyright restrictions. Musicals, adaptations, and translations will not be considered. One entry per playwright, postmarked by November 1, 2010. The writer’s name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (if applicable) should be included on the title page and only the title page. The title page should also include a cast list and a one- to three- sentence synopsis of the play. Plays can have a cast of one to five characters; plays should be easily staged, avoiding elaborate set requirements. Submit one typed manuscript in standard format, securely bound. Complete Rules can be found here. Any questions can be directed to Rich Smith via the box office, at (262)632-6802, or by e-mail at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Scripts will not be returned.

The Snowdance 10 Minute Comedy Festival is a competition of original short comedies. Writers from throughout the community, the state, and the country are invited to enter; previous involvement with OOHPs is not a requirement. Scripts will be judged by the Snowdance Selection Committee. Scripts will be chosen for production in a complete festival performance. Then, in the ultimate interactive experience, audiences vote for the production they enjoyed the most. The votes will be tallied throughout the five weekend festival run, and the Snowdance “Best in Snow” will be awarded after the final performance on February 27th, 2011. A $300.00 prize goes to “Best in Snow”, with $100.00 awards going to second and third places. OOHP presents Snowdance January 28 - February 27, 2011. OOHP Artistic Director Rich Smith leads the Snowdance ensemble, which is sponsored by Minuteman Press.

Over Our Head Players Artistic Director Rich Smith has lead the production since it began in 2005. He emphasizes the key to the festival’s growth: “Thank you playwrights for making the Snowdance 10 Minute Comedy Festival the great success it has become! We have formed a great collaboration with the writing community: playwrights need actors and audiences, and OOHPs depends on great scripts. Over Our Head Players offers opportunities to as many playwrights as possible by producing 10 or more new productions in each year’s competition.”

Smith describes the unique Snowdance experience and its approach to material: “There are many play festivals and many play competitions, but Snowdance stands alone as the premiere audience interactive comedy festival by allowing our audience to vote on who will be awarded the Best in Snow! Having the audiences vote makes Snowdance unique for both the audience and the playwrights.” He continues, “With Snowdance, no subject is off-limits. We respect our theatre-savvy Racine audience and strive to produce material that is being written for any stage in the country. One of our goals with Snowdance is to bring America's comedy 'pulse' to the shores of Lake Michigan, offering a diverse experience for our audience that represents the most current theatrical trends.”

Over Our Head Players is a non-profit organization of volunteer talent from throughout Southeastern Wisconsin and operates the Sixth Street Theatre in Racine. Their 19th season includes Escanaba in Love, Escanaba in da Moonlight, The Smell of the Kill, and Theatre/Schmeatre, an evening of sketch comedies. OOHPs has a commitment to original theatre. In addition to Snowdance, previous original works include sold-out productions Camp Nelson, It’s a Wonderful Lifeboat; Ode to Garlic, Waiting for the WeinermobileTM, Big Shoes; Still Haven’t Found...; and Real Remembrances of the War in Vietnam.

The 2010 $300 first place Best in Snow award went to Tim Bohn of Jonesboro, Arkansas for The Covenant, which featured a father, his son, and the veteran smelt fisherman they encounter. Photo features Ron Schulz, John Adams, and Rich Smith.

2010 Snowdance Ensemble

RACINE, WISCONSIN, FEBRUARY 28, 2010:  Over Our Head Players concluded the 2010 Snowdance 10 Minute Comedy Festival on Sunday by presenting the audience favorite Best in Snow prizes.  Eleven original comedies, selected for production from over 240 entries, competed for the coveted prize.  At each performance, audiences voted for their favorite individual comedy; the favorites won cash prizes.  The Best in Snow winning entry was The Covenant, written by Tim Bohn from Jonesboro, Arkansas; Tim is a Racine native. Second place went to Please Report Any Suspicious Activity, by Rick Park of Boston, Massachusetts; Rick wrote last year’s winner.  Third place went to 10 x 10 by Roy Sorrels from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

After the final Snowdance performance Sunday, the audience voted for their favorites, just as each previous audience had.  The tally was added to the votes from throughout the run.  Then, the Snowdance ensemble came together for the Closing Ceremonies of the wooden anniversary Snowdance.  As is tradition, the ceremonial Dance of the Salmon highlighted the event; this dance is a Snowdance celebration of “Salmon-a-Rama,” their kindred spirit in competition.  Then, the ceremonial Snowdance snow cone was sealed away for next year’s competition, and the company gathered around balloting supervisor Anna Clementi, who had the winning results sealed in a mayonnaise jar.  As the excitement built, Anna declared the winners, with Snowdance ensemble members accepting the awards on behalf of the playwrights.  Rick Ditter, the director of 10 x 10, took the third place on the podium; actor Ron Schulz of Please Report Any Suspicious Activityaccepted the second place.  Finally, director Rich Smith accepted first place for The Covenant.

The $300 first place Best in Snow award went to Tim Bohn of Jonesboro, Arkansas for The Covenant, which featured a father, his son, and the veteran smelt fisherman they encounter.

Second place was awarded to Rick Park of Boston, Massachusetts, for Please Report Any Suspicious Activity, about two dolphins in a spat after a visit to the aquarium. Second & third place awards were each $100.

Third place went to Roy Sorrels of Santa Fe, New Mexico, for 10 x 10. Two actors race the clock with 10 scenes in 10 minutes.

Artistic Director Rich Smith reflected, “Snowdance is literally an entire evening of world premiere productions.  Playwrights are unique artists; their art requires collaboration to come to life.  The actors, directors, and designers take the playwrights’ works and create the finished product.  We enjoy bringing original comedy to audiences, and giving them the opportunity to participate in the artistic process through their votes.  Over the past six years, we have defined Racine as the Home of the 10 Minute Comedy Competition.”  He continued, “We are fortunate to draw so many talented directors and actors to our group. I think the energy of this production is what attracts them and the audience as well.”  He adds that rules will be available this summer for the 2011 Snowdance, Over Our Head Players’ seventh Snowdance production.

Snowdance was produced by an ensemble.  The acting ensemble featured John Adams, Tom Amacher, Barbara Akey, Nate Davis, Rick Ditter, Brianna Hubbard, Mike Kishline, Mona Lewis, Elizabeth McGregor, Matt Rangel, Ron Schulz, and Rich Smith.  Diane Carlson, Rick Ditter, Melissa Ernest, Kathy Honigmann, Chuck Lindas, Joseph Piirto, Matt Rangel, and Rich Smith.   The production staff also included Emily Breiwick, Janine Anderson, Claudia Bruce, Melissa Fleischman, Keven Winters, Ryan Loberger, Joan Roehre, Sea Daniel, Anna Clementi, Jerry Horton, Christopher Larson, Wendy Schulz, Jim Smith, and Tom Spraker.

The Snowdance Comedy Festival was sponsored by Minuteman Press.

Over Our Head Players is a non-profit organization of volunteer talent; they operate the Sixth Street Theatre in Racine.  Their 18th season continues with The Beauty Queen of Leenane in March and Theatre Schmeatre, an evening of sketch comedy, in May.  For information, please call the box office at (262) 632-6802.