The June 15th deadline is soon approaching for The Donald J. McCann Memorial One-Act Playwriting Contest but there is still time to submit your short play. Each year, The Oswego Players are on the lookout for aspiring playwrights eager to see their new and unique creations brought to life onstage. The Oswego Players are seeking aspiring playwrights from all over the State of New York who want the chance to have their work performed at the Frances Marion Brown Theatre.
Don McCann, after whom the contest is named, was a writer at heart who not only directed thought-provoking plays but also penned his own one-act pieces. A lifetime resident of Oswego, McCann made his mark professionally as a reporter for the Oswego Palladium Times. Don became a member of the Oswego Players in the 1950’s, enabling him to pursue his lifelong passion for acting, directing, and writing.
Over the next four decades, McCann would serve several terms as President and Historian for the Oswego Players, Inc. Artistically speaking, he was known for favoring thought-provoking, message-centered plays like The Visit, Inherit the Wind, and Agnes of God, all of which he directed. As a naturally gifted writer, McCann would not only publish numerous articles and play reviews for the organization, but tried his hand penning one-act plays for the group to perform as well.
The Donald J. McCann Memorial One-Act Playwriting contest is FREE to enter and is open to any playwright who is 18 years or older and resides (or attends college) in the state of New York. All plays must be based on original concepts (no adaptations or verse plays), unpublished and unproduced. None of the submitted plays may be read publicly until the prize winners have been announced. All submissions must be one act, a single set, with a suggested run time of 20 to 30 minutes.
Anyone interested in submitting an original one-act play for the 2025 The Donald J. McCann Memorial One-Act Playwriting Contest should contact osweplay@yahoo.com for a complete set of guidelines. All submissions for this year’s contest must be received by June 15th and sent either electronically to osweplay@yahoo.com or through the mail, to Don McCann Playwriting Contest, P.O. Box 183, Oswego, NY 13126.
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The recent winners of The Donald J. McCann Memorial One-Act Playwriting gathered to watch the 2024 playwriting winners at this year’s Don McCann Showcase. From left to right: 2023 winner Alexis Martin, 2021 winner Sarah Galvin and 2022 winner Nicholas Gentile. Anyone interested in submitting an original one-act play for the 2025 The Donald J. McCann Memorial One-Act Playwriting Contest should contact osweplay@yahoo.com for a complete set of guidelines