Emerging Playwright Competition

8^th Annual Emerging Playwright Competition

The Emerging Playwright Competition attracts talented playwrights from a 100-mile radius of the Phillips’ Mill Community Association. The goal of the competition is to encourage new work and bring it to the stage. Every year, six short plays are selected by a jury to be read on stage, with talkbacks with the audience following the readings.

Submissions period for 2025 Competition:
June 15 – August 10, 2025
‍

2025 Prospectus EPC Entry Form

Your gifts, of any size, will help us keep theater alive at the Mill. We thank you in advance for your generosity.

Donate to EPC

Past Winners

2024

“Three Visits” by Lisa DeAngelis
“Sister Wives” by Alexis Telyczka
“In Pursuit of Prudence” by Sam Affoumado
“The Star Road” by Barbara Blatner
“In Passing” by Vita Morales
“Cupcakes” by Jennifer O’Grady

2023

“Broken Vessel” by Domenick Scudera
“Hebrew Holy Man” by Peter Langman
“France Is Bacon” by Julie Zaffarano
“We Were Happy” by Jennifer O’Grady
“Clips” by Adam Richter
“An Honest Lesson in Self-Defense” by Patricia Lynn
Honorable Mention: “Trite and True” by Jane Lee

2022

“Brambles” by Bruce Walsh
“Counterfeit Truths” by Jonathan Heaps
“Handshake Deal” by Diane Sansevere-Dreher
“One Word” by Bara Swain
“The Guestbook” by Patti Veconi
“You Love Me” by Jim Moss

2021

“Blighted” by Dominique Cieri
“The Wonderer” by Lynda Crawford
“Beware the Kraken” by Sherry Friedman
“The Eulogy” by Jeff Stolzer
“The Advocate” by Kate Thomas
“Northern Lights” by Nancy Vander Zwan

2020

“Close Your Eyes” by Nick DeSimone
“Eye Contact” by Adam Richter
“The New Abnormal” by Jeff Stolzer
“Go Gently Into the Night” by J.B. Heaps
“Far From Providence” by Jim Moss
“Acts Without Words” by Kimberly Kalaja

2019

“Stating Fish” by Phil. E. Eichinger
“Naked Men” by Vita Patrick Morales
“Upstaged” by Lisa Deangelis & Michael Naylor
“Outside the Coffee Shop” by Ann D’Silva
“Rating the Breakup” by John McDonnell
“Eleanor Brindle” by Rick Goodwin

2018

“The Battery” by Paul Kodiak
“The Most Important Meal” by Caitlin Cieri
“Gulls” by James Brenner
“The Helper’s High” by Tom Frangicetto
“Making the Call” by Gwen Ottinger
“Lost” by John Weeren

A Look Back

Every year, the six winning plays are read on the stage of the Mill, giving the writers a chance to gauge an audience’s response to their work.
Here is a look back at some of these special events.

WE WISH TO THANK THESE GENEROUS PEOPLE FOR FUNDING
THE FIFTH ANNUAL 2022 EMERGING PLAYWRIGHT COMPETITION*

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT!

John Augustine & Christopher Durang
Betty Benton
Susan & Peter Brussock
Leslie & Joseph Crilley
Tabitha & Steven Dell'Angelo
Patricia & Marc Dorio
Valerie & Rod Eastburn
Terri & Jonathan Epstein
Kathleen & Ted Fernberger
Mary & Patrick Fowles
Pat & Bruce Hamilton
David Hewitt

Dr. Roberta Heydenberk & Dr. Warren Heydenberk
Cecily Laidman
Maria & Barry Middleberg
Connie & Joao Neves
Linda & Jon Paton
Sarah Eastburn & Michael Peters
PMCA Photo Exhibition
Dennis Riley
Miriam Schwartz
Happy & Sam Shipley
Laura Womack & Dick Williams
Fran & Steve Young

*As of Nov 16, 2022. Names will be added.

AND BEHIND THE SCENEs…

COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS
Valerie Eastburn: Executive Producer
Fran Young: Casting & Direction
Program: Rick Goodwin
Technical: Joao Neves
Front of House: Betty Benton, Leslie Crilley, Rita Roley
Physical Plant: Joe Phillips
Art Talk “Drama at the Mill” with Valerie Eastburn & Fran Young: Laura Womack, Jen McHugh
Q & A Moderator: Dr. Wilbert Turner
Advertising: Terri Epstein, Elizabeth Walker

MARKETING SUPPORT
Ananta Creative Group

JUDGES OF THE 2022 EPC
Judith Hallberg - Wilbert Turner - Sherry Freidman

Actors who bring the Script to Life

Madison Branch
Ed Diamond
Matt DiMarino
Rick Goodwin
Jo Johnson
Cecily Laidman

Kevin Nalty
Laura Scotti
Nancy Vander Zwan
Tim Wade
Michael Weisser
Fran Young

Donate to EPC

OUR COMMUNITY

The Phillips' Mill Community Association supports programming in the visual and performing arts, and hosts social and educational events. It is the broadest-ranging venue for artistic expression in Bucks County.