Kumu Kahua Theatre and Bamboo Ridge Press Announce The Winner of the June 2023 Go Try PlayWrite Contest
For Immediate Release 07.19.2023
Kumu Kahua Theatre and Bamboo Ridge Press Announce
The Winner of the June 2023 Go Try PlayWrite Contest
Where: Kumu Kahua Theatre, 46 Merchant Street, Honolulu
Contact: Sara Ward, officemanager@kumukahua.org, 536-4441
HONOLULU HI – The June Go Try PlayWrite winner is Ryan Otaka for his piece I Give You Props.
June 2023 prompt: A 3 prop prompt. Write a ten page maximum scene that uses a leaf blower, a Ken doll, and a can of Spam. Whatever scene you create, you must use all three props, and each prop must be essential to the action/story of the scene.
"I was born and raised in Mililani. I tried to get away from my hometown, and went away to places like Williamstown, MA, Tsuruimura, Japan, and Santa Monica, CA. However, I didn't have sufficient escape velocity, and eventually wound up almost exactly where I began, only now accompanied by a loving wife, 2 children, and dog. My day jobs (which I haven't quit) include being a Special Education teacher at a local public middle school, and teaching/practicing acupuncture and bodywork. I've always aspired to write (mainly short stories, poetry), but couldn't find the time or steam. Thankfully, a friend of mine (Kat Nakano) urged me to enter Kumu Kahua Theatre's GoTryPlaywrite contest, and the monthly "bite-size" prompts have really driven me to practice my writing chops. In the future, I hope to continue submitting monthly entries, and perhaps even see some of my longer works performed on stage!
~ Ryan Otaka
Each month Kumu Kahua Theatre co-sponsors this playwriting contest with Bamboo Ridge Press in their combined effort to nurture local playwrights and authors. The monthly Judges are theatre practitioners from the Hawaii theatre community. All plays submitted are read by Kumu Kahua Theatre Artistic Director, Harry Wong III.
Kumu Kahua Theatre is now accepting entries for the JULY 2023 Go Try PlayWrite Contest. The prompt for the month of July is:
A poetic meeting prompt. Write a ten page maximum “meet cute” between two people, but write it in some form of poetic verse. This would be like the first meeting between Juliet and Romeo. Free verse, iambic pentameter, haikus, dactylic hexameter, in rhymed couplets, in alliteration, rap etc. Pick a form, state what it is in the title, and make it work for the scene; I know you can do it.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT
Contest Rules: Each entrant must write a 5-page monologue and/or a 10-page scene based on monthly requirements. Each month a new prompt will be chosen by Kumu Kahua Theatre’s Artistic Director. The prompt will be given on or by the 1st of the month and the due date will always be the last day of the month. All entries must be written in traditional play format; instructions on this format can be found here: https://www.dramatistsguild.com/script-formats courtesy of the Dramatists Guild.
There will be one winner each month. Scripts will be submitted to the judges anonymously. Winners will receive $100.00 and a subscription to Bamboo Ridge Press.
Look for further future projects using scripts submitted for this contest - coming soon!
Kumu Kahua productions are supported in part by the NME Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, the Island Insurance Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 and the American Rescue Plan of 2021, McInerny Foundation (Bank of Hawaii, Trustee); The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, through appropriations from the Legislature of the State of Hawaiʻi, The AAPI Community Fund, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Hawaiian Electric Company, Alexander & Baldwin, The John R Halligan Charitable Fund, Spectrum/Charter Communications, Vacations Hawaiʻi, ABC Stores, the Gloria Kosasa Gainsley Fund, Hawaiʻi Public Radio, The Kim Coco Fund for Justice of the Iwamoto Family Foundation, Edric Sakamoto, Ron and Rachel Heller, and other foundations, businesses, and loyal patrons.