16th Annual (2004) Playwriting Competition Announcement of winners, finalists and jurors


Theatre BC's 16th Annual Canadian National Playwriting Competition Winners, Finalists & Jurors Announcement
The identities of the Winning and Finalist Playwrights and Jurors were revealed on Friday, November 12, 2004 at Theatre BC's Backstage Conference 2004, at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Richmond, BC. The Jurors for this year's Competition selected the three Category Winners and four Finalists from 118 entries from across Canada. The results were as follows:
Category Winners / Finalists / Jurors

CATEGORY WINNERS	(Winners'& Finalists' bios to be posted upon receipt)
Full Length Winner ($1000 Air Canada / Air Canada Jazz Cash Award)
*	Stretching Hide by Darrell Racine, Brandon, MB and Dale Lakevold, Minnedosa, MB
Synopsis: Set in The Willows, a small Metis community near Saskatoon, SK, Stretching Hide is a comedy drama about a contemporary Metis Community’s attempt to reconcile its past.

One Act Winner ($750 Western Canada Theatre Cash Award)
*	Jonathan & Judith by Marcus Hondro, Vancouver, BC
Synopsis: Jonathan and Judith is a story about growing beyond fear and deciding when it’s time to leave. When Judith find herself interested in a simple photo from the TV guide, she sets in motion events that threaten to destroy her pact with Jonathan to remain hidden from the world together. Along the way she also sets in motion her own journey to freedom.

Special Merit Winner ($500 City of Kamloops Cash Award)
*	The Perfect Hands of the Irresistible Ed by David James Brock, Victoria, BC
Synopsis: Philadelphia, 1912. The Perfect Hands of the Irresistible Ed tells the story of a man who hates the game he was born to play, but loves the woman (Trixie) whose dream it is to be married to a professional baseball player. Ed Irwin, at the age of thirty, is finally getting his chance in the Major Leagues as part of a replacement team fielded by Detroit Tiger management- the regular players protesting the suspension of team leader, Ty Cobb. In nine scenes, Ed and Trixie learn from the pros, lessons in opportunity, success, and sacrifice.

FINALISTS	(Alphabetical order by title)
*	Cardboard Boxes by Carac Allison, London, ON Synopsis: Carl and Sarah’s lives merge as they marry and move into a new home together. First there are the moving boxes. Then the boxes of new purchases. And lastly the boxes that remain after the relationship has died.

*	The Priest by Paul Kinsella, London, ON Synopsis: An Anglican priest receives a call from a parishioner whose husband has just confessed an affair. The ensuing counseling session gives way to conflict and sexual tension.

*	Reality Play by Mitch Grace, Penticton, BC Synopsis: In the not too distant future, reality television entertainment has taken on a new direction. Brad has visions of million dollar prizes, his wife, Paula, has her doubts while the producers of a new reality show have a plot to boost television network ratings as well as a perverse plan for a world peace.

*	The Starlight Tour by Eileen Gordon, Victoria, BC Synopsis: The play is based on a true incident which took place in a Canadian town on the prairies several years ago. "The Starlight Tour" explores race relations as well as man’s desperate attempt to survive in a hostile winter environment. The playwright mixes the surreal and the natural world together while the drama unfolds.

JURORS
The year's Jurors were: Eliza Gardiner of Nanaimo, BC Eliza has an M.A. in Drama from the University of Toronto, as well as a B.F.A. in Film from York University. She currently teaches theatre history at Malaspina University in Nanaimo. She has extensive experience writing and directing theatre for young people. While working for production companies in Los Angeles, Eliza was assigned to reading and critiquing the many film script submissions. Burton Lancaster of Nanaimo, BC. Burton has worked extensively as an Artistic Director, mostly in Ontario and, as such, read innumerable new play submissions. He has written plays of his own, predominantly musicals and has directed several new plays for professional theatre companies. Burton recently moved to Nanaimo from Ontario. Charles Tidler of Victoria, BC, Charles,a successful stage playwright, wrote his first play in 1979. He teaches playwriting at the University of Victoria, where he is a lecturer in residence. He also teaches the Playwrights Workshops at the Belfry Theatre in Victoria. Charles spent time at Banff Playwrights Colony as an associate dramaturge and has also served as a Juror for the Canada Council He is a former entrant into the Canadian National Playwriting Competition.

All Winners and Finalists will be invited to Theatre BC's New Play Festival, April 1-3, 2005 in Kamloops, BC. The New Play Festival takes place at the Pavilion Theatre, home to Theatre BC's event partner, Western Canada Theatre, the largest professional theatre company in BC's Southern Interior. More complete details regarding this year's Competition will be posted shortly. Congratulations to this year's Winners and Finalists. Thank you to all entering playwrights and to the Competition Jurors for their many hours of reading and careful consideration. We expect to have all requested written critiques in the mail this week. We invite Canadian resident playwrights to enter their new works in Theatre BC's 17th Annual Canadian National Playwriting Competition. Entries will be accepted after April 15, 2005. The postmark deadline for entry is Monday, July 25, 2005. For the 17th Annual Canadian National Playwriting Competition, the Cash Awards will be $1000 (Full-Length), $750 (One Act) and $500 (Special Merit). If you would like to be added to our mailing list for Competition information, please send your contact information to Theatre BC at: PO Box 2031, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 6X6 or email us pwc@theatrebc.org.
PlayComp Home / New Play Festival

	Theatre BC's Canadian National Playwriting Competition pwc@theatrebc.org PO Box 2031 Nanaimo, BC V9R 6X6 Phone: 250-714-0203 or FAX: 250-714-0213
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