We propose to bring a writers slam to Austin and the Blue Theatre. What’s a Writers Slam you ask? It’s an evening of new work, collaboration and friendly competition designed to build new working relationships between live performance and film media artists.

Playwrights and film writers bring fresh scripts and actor’s names are drawn out of a hat to perform them, completely unrehearsed.

In the first three weeks, Round 1, up to 5 playwrights and film writers show their work per night. The first 5 playwrights and/or film writers in the door can participate, no need to submit anything ahead of time. Writers get 1 minute to direct their actors who will perform a 5 minute excerpt from their work. Then the judges, generally one or two industry professionals and one or two audience members, give feedback, and the audience can chime in with thoughts, too. At the end of the evening, two winners are selected to move on to Week 4, finals.

On the fourth Sunday of the series, the six top scoring writers from the previous 3 weeks showcase 10 minutes of their work and compete to win a free night in the Blue Theatre. They can revise their work based on feedback and can cast their own actors ahead of time and rehearse with them, or not As with the first three weeks, judges give feedback after each play and a winner is selected at the end of the night.

Writers Slam is a sponsored project of the Blue Theatre and modeled after SLAM Theatre at the Tank in Manhattan. Austin benefits so greatly as a community from this project, by developing established writer’s voices and encouraging young writers to bring new material each week. The project also brings actors together in collaboration and gives audience members a voice.

NEXT WRITERS SLAM:

Sundays in August

9PM-Midnight