CONFIRMED: Mirvish Productions' KELLY ROBINSON & Stratford's KEITH BARKER

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    • For You
      • Quick Look
      • For Playwrights
      • Decision-Makers
      • Cast & Crew
      • Local Biz
    • What's On
      • FAQs
    • Grants
      • Funding FAQs
      • Nationwide
      • The Maritimes
      • Upper & Lower Canada
      • The Prairies
      • The West Coast
      • The Territories
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • About
  • Conference News
  • For You
    • Quick Look
    • For Playwrights
    • Decision-Makers
    • Cast & Crew
    • Local Biz
  • What's On
    • FAQs
  • Grants
    • Funding FAQs
    • Nationwide
    • The Maritimes
    • Upper & Lower Canada
    • The Prairies
    • The West Coast
    • The Territories

The Great Canadian Playwright Showcase

The Great Canadian Playwright ShowcaseThe Great Canadian Playwright ShowcaseThe Great Canadian Playwright Showcase

~It takes a village to raise a curtain~

~It takes a village to raise a curtain~~It takes a village to raise a curtain~

Showcase Survival

You are Here ❤️

Mapping the Showcase Territory

Congratulations on the completion of your script! Regardless of what the future holds, you have already accomplished something very big. Few people start to write a play and fewer still finish one.


Now, let’s get your play staged! TGCPS exists specifically to help you make that happen. This page tells you everything you need to know to get the most out of your Showcase at this year's conference and includes links to helpful resources.


Keep abreast of the latest conference news and funding opportunities by subscribing to The Trading Post. The newsletter also carries critical insight from the perspectives of varied theatre profiles and other influential community members.

Included in your registration

Playwright Package

  • Delegate Survival Kit (Delivery in April/May 2023)
    • Accreditation and conference ID
      • Includes access to all the main events at TGCPS, including the Thursday Night Theatre Party
    • Conference Pocket Guide with schedules and maps
    • An array of gifts


  • 1 Showcase Spot


  • Invitations to private tastings, classes, and workshops


  • A Featured Listing (photo & bio) in the digital and printed TGCPS 2023 programs


  • Most Meals (in conjunction with a reservation at The Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton in Grande Prairie)

It's good to belong

Member get big discounts

Thanks to the fine folks at Playwrights' Guild of Canada & Alberta Playwright Network, TGCPS has a big discount for you. If you're not a member, now's the time to join!

APN members use code APNTGCPS2023 to receive your discount.
PGC members use code PGCTGCPS2023 to receive your discount.
Take me to my discount!

Hit these marks

Choose

register

Prepare

Decide how you want to showcase your scene out of three choices, with a forth choice for musicals and operas.

Choices

Prepare

register

Prepare

This is where the bulk of your work lies.

register

register

register

Before you pay your registration fee, check with your association, guild, or union to see if they have a discount code for you.

Resister now

submit

register

register

You can submit at any time: even before you've paid your registration fee.

Submit Now - Free until March 1st

3 +1 Showcase Choices

Read your work

Reading your own work is by far the cheapest way to showcase at TGCPS.  If you choose to read your ten-minute scene at TGCPS and you are a member of the  Playwrights' Guild of Canada, you may be eligible for funding to help offset travel expenses.

Bring Actors

You are welcome to bring actors to present your script. However, the actors are subject to the registration fee if they would like to attend the events. 


TGCPS is not responsible for any meal, travel, or accommodation expenses of your actors or anybody else accompanying or working for you.


The Grande Prairie Live Theatre, the Drama program at Northwestern College, and KMSC Law Performing Arts Theatre, are great resources for local performers. Join the TGCPS Group for more tips and contacts.

Showcase Players

The Showcase Players  is a group comprised of one director and up to six actors. Specialists such as a fight director and an intimacy coordinator are also available.

Musicals & Operas

Play on! Please dazzle us with an unplugged version of your best tune, a medley of the show's pieces, an aria, or a duet. There won't be space or time for a large ensemble; you can bring pre-recorded instrumental music, one or two musicians, or the pieces can be performed a capella.

Quick FAQs

Can I showcase more than once at the conference?

Who are the Showcase Players? What do they look like?

Can I showcase more than once at the conference?

Yes! You can showcase more than one script at TGCPS this year. You are also welcome to showcase the same script twice during the conference by purchasing add-ons. You can even Showcase without registering by purchasing a TGCPS Showcase Extra Spot.

I'll take an Extra Spot

Does my registration include a showcase?

Who are the Showcase Players? What do they look like?

Can I showcase more than once at the conference?

Yes! As a playwright, your registration includes one showcase spot. You choose whether to read your script yourself, bring actors to perform it, or have your ten-minute scene performed by the Showcase Players.


In all cases, you must submit an application for each script. However, you are under no obligation to register or Showcase when you

Yes! As a playwright, your registration includes one showcase spot. You choose whether to read your script yourself, bring actors to perform it, or have your ten-minute scene performed by the Showcase Players.


In all cases, you must submit an application for each script. However, you are under no obligation to register or Showcase when you submit, and you may submit an unlimited number of scripts until March 1st.

Submit now

Who are the Showcase Players? What do they look like?

Who are the Showcase Players? What do they look like?

Who are the Showcase Players? What do they look like?

That entirely depends on you! You and other playwrights, that is. Once the deadline for script submissions has passed, TGCPS will assemble a small group of actors that aims to serve most needs of most scripts. One director will ensure that your script is presented in the best light. An intimacy coordinator and a fight coordinator can also be made available if the need arises.

Preparing for your showcase

Two Parts

The second part of your showcase is the staging of the ten-minute scene from your script. Either you are thinking about what you want that to look like or have already decided. Keep in mind that the time limit is very strict.


But before the audience watches your scene, you have a maximum of three minutes to introduce it. Take this opportunity to provide some context for the audience, perhaps in a very brief synopsis of the story and/or some background that explains the motivation for the scene we are about to see.


It is very important that you are well-prepared for this short speech. The time limit is very strict. You are clearly capable of writing an excellent introduction to your scene, and you can be equally confident in your presentation skills when you have practiced your presentation many times.


If you are reading your own script or are acting in your scene, you may ask another registered delegate to read your speech for you. You can post your need and/or availability to return the favour (as well as other conference-related topics and discussions) in the TGCPS group on LinkedIn.

For the Program

Your Showcase Submission and your Conference Registration are two different things, although your registration fee includes one spot on the Showcase calendar during the conference. You will be asked to submit the items on the following list for the online and printed programs. Delay caused by an incomplete submission may result in the loss of your Showcase spot, as they are limited.


  • The 10-minute scene from your script
  • A logline for your play
  • A 300-500 word story synopsis
  • A 200-250 word Playwright Bio
  • A playwright headshot
  • An image that is representative of your play


First Deadline: March 1, 2023 ~ FREE

Second Deadline: April 1, 2023 ~ $20

Final Deadline: April 15, 2023 ~ $50


Please send all the text documents together on a single PDF file and the images on one or two jpeg or png files.


YOUR SCENE

Your scene should be in standard Canadian stage script format, including font and margins. The cover page should have the title of the play, playwright's name, year it was written, and contact information for you or your agent/publisher/manager/representative.


PLAYWRIGHT BIO & HEADSHOT

Written in the third person, your bio can include studies, writing credentials, personal information like place of birth, theatrical and writing influences, and so on. Please send a professional headshot. 


LOGLINE

A logline is a one-sentence summary of your play. Sometimes referred to as, "vomiting into a thimble," the logline tells us who the protagonist is, the inciting incident, the protagonist’s goal, and the central conflict (although not necessarily in that order).


STORY IMAGE

Please submit your  image as a jpeg or png file. Please be aware that a portion of your image may be cropped. If the image quality is poor you may be asked to submit another image or an image may be provided for you. 


If your play has been staged before and you have permission, you can send a photo from the performance, of the cast, or the poster, etc. Otherwise, you can send a mockup of a poster or any image that illustrates your story. 

How to Write the Synopsis

Answer each question in a paragraph of about a hundred words to stay within the 300-500 word over-all limit for the synopsis of your play. Use the simple present, as if the action occurs while it is being read.


Who is the protagonist? 

Tell us who your main character is before the conflict disrupts their life.


How do they deal with the problem at first? 

Tell us how the conflict erupts and how the main character attempts to deal with it.


How do their choices make things worse? 

Tell us what goes wrong, what new problems emerge, and how the stakes are now higher. 


What is the climax?

Tell us what final challenge the main character is forced to face. Describe the final battle.


How is the end different from the start? 

Show us that the end links to the beginning. And tell us how your protagonist’s world has changed since the first paragraph.


Quick FAQs

Is it safe to have the synopsis of my play on a website that anyone can see?

Can I send in my Showcase Submission before I have paid the registration fee?

Is it safe to have the synopsis of my play on a website that anyone can see?

Yes! First of all, anything you write that is original is automatically considered your legal property. Second, if your synopsis is published on a web site before a copy-cat tries to steal it, publication is one form of proof of authorship.


Of course, there are steps you can take to register your work. The title and author can be registere

Yes! First of all, anything you write that is original is automatically considered your legal property. Second, if your synopsis is published on a web site before a copy-cat tries to steal it, publication is one form of proof of authorship.


Of course, there are steps you can take to register your work. The title and author can be registered at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for $50 CDN and the entirety of the work can be filed with the U.S. Copyright Office for $50 US. Although it may be advisable to register your work regardless, it is not necessary for Showcase Submissions nor unsafe to submit unregistered work.

Is it wise to give away the ending of my script?

Can I send in my Showcase Submission before I have paid the registration fee?

Is it safe to have the synopsis of my play on a website that anyone can see?

Yes!  This is an industry standard. 

Your showcase audience is made up of decision-makers who might want to stage your play, not travellers picking out a last-minute choice before a long flight.  


Show these producers, artistic directors, agents, publishers, department heads, and board members that you have written a strong ending to a comp

Yes!  This is an industry standard. 

Your showcase audience is made up of decision-makers who might want to stage your play, not travellers picking out a last-minute choice before a long flight.  


Show these producers, artistic directors, agents, publishers, department heads, and board members that you have written a strong ending to a compelling story. This will make them eager to see your skills with dialogue and character development during your Showcase. If all goes well, you will be asked for a full copy of your script.

Does it matter how the PDF and the images are LABELED?

Can I send in my Showcase Submission before I have paid the registration fee?

Can I send in my Showcase Submission before I have paid the registration fee?

Yes. Please label your files with your name. It would be helpful to add descriptions like "headshot" or "poster," for example, after your name. 


It's also a good idea to include your name and email address at the top or bottom of every page on your PDF.  


Please use standard fonts, margins, and so on in your text. This is especially important for the pages of your scene. 

Can I send in my Showcase Submission before I have paid the registration fee?

Can I send in my Showcase Submission before I have paid the registration fee?

Can I send in my Showcase Submission before I have paid the registration fee?

Yes! However, your submission will not be accepted until the registration fee is paid. If the registration fee is paid before the First Deadline on March 1, 2023, then your Showcase Submission will be accepted at no charge. Registration fees paid during the month of March will be subject to a $20 submission fee, and those paid after April

Yes! However, your submission will not be accepted until the registration fee is paid. If the registration fee is paid before the First Deadline on March 1, 2023, then your Showcase Submission will be accepted at no charge. Registration fees paid during the month of March will be subject to a $20 submission fee, and those paid after April 1 are subject to a $50 Showcase Submission fee. The Final Deadline for Showcase Submissions is April 15, 2023.

Showcase Submission

Showcase Submission Checklist

One  PDF file with

  • The 10-minute scene from your script
  • A logline for your play
  • A 300-500 word story synopsis
  • A 200-250 word Playwright Bio


One or two JPEG or PNG files with:

  • A playwright headshot
  • An image that is representative of your play


PLEASE NOTE: Individual files cannot exceed 10 MB. Multiple files cannot exceed 15 MB in total.


Submission notes:

  • Full cast size: The total number of performers in your complete script
  • List of characters: In addition to gender and age, please indicate if any of your characters have a specific ethnic background, body shape, etc. If it doesn't matter, there's no need to mention it
  • Type of audience: Who is your script suitable for? In addition to age considerations, is your play directed at or especially attractive for a particular group, like those that are hard of hearing or don't speak French or English as a first language, for example?
  • Content warning: Is there kissing? Is there more than kissing? Is there extreme violence? Is there sexual violence? Is it raunchy? Is there swearing or smoking? All these things are good for some buyers and bad for others; it's best for all to know beforehand. 
  • Special requirements: There is no time or space for set changes, but items like a chair are possible. If there are must-have items you don't want to travel with (e.g., phone, vase, etc.), Grande Prairie boasts some of the best thrift stores this side of the Rio Grande. You're sure to find what you're looking for at a very cheap price.

Thank you for your Showcase Submission

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Don't forget,

Member get big discounts

APN members use code APNTGCPS2023 for your discount
CAEA members use code CAEATGCPS2023 for your discount
PGC members use code PGCTGCPS2023 for your discount
I want to register with my discount!

You are not alone

Discussion Groups & Webinars for you

Showcasing your work can be a daunting experience and unlike the rest of the theatre community, us playwrights often live in rural areas where the ratio of writers to "normal people" isn't very high. Writing can be lonely, but you are not alone. Participate in the TGCPS discussion group on LinkedIn, join us for How To webinars, and watch this space for special invitations to transformational sessions with the sharpest minds in writing, producing, and otherwise making a living.

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