[ MainStage Playwright ]
You have been selected to participate in the Great Plains Theatre Conference (GPTC) as a MainStage Playwright. We are excited you will be joining us!
Please carefully read through all of the information below. You probably have a few questions, many of which will be answered in the following details!
I accepted my invitation. Now what?
You must register. By doing so, you are committing to attend the GPTC for the entire week. And that is our cue! We will begin to make arrangements for your housing, travel, and other logistics. Additionally, we will book a director (we will make email introductions soon thereafter) who will schedule rehearsal space and cast the reading of your script. Our marketing and public relations office will begin to include you and your play in our advertising and press materials.
Travel Dates
The conference begins May 25 and ends June 1, 2013. Travel dates will be May 24 and June 2.
Where is Metropolitan Community College (MCC), Fort Omaha?
We are located at 32nd Avenue and Sorensen Parkway. Note the Institute for Culinary Arts (ICA) building, also known as building 22; this is where all of the readings take place (rehearsal locations may vary). The ICA/building 22 can be found near the bottom of our campus map. This map will also be included in the conference program you will receive upon arrival.
I am not a local. Who is coordinating my travel plans to Omaha?
Wade Standifer, who is part of our MCC events staff, will be your contact for travel arrangements. He will purchase your tickets or arrange for your mileage reimbursement. You will hear from him in the next few weeks to discuss your travel details.
What airport should I use?
Guests should fly to Omaha’s Eppley Airfield, airport code OMA. It is conveniently located just a few minutes from MCC’s Fort Omaha campus where the GPTC takes place.
What should I pack? I have never been to Omaha in the summertime.
Conference-goers should pack summer clothing appropriate for a casual-professional setting. The weather is typically sunny and humid during the week of the conference, with daytime temperatures in the 70s to 90s.
Comfortable footwear is a must for walking to different locations on campus.
Evening thunderstorms are possible and tend to bring cooler temperatures best suited for jeans and light sweaters or jackets. On some occasions, evening temperatures have fallen to 40 degrees. Keep in mind that some evening PlayFest performances will be outdoors.
The gala on the final evening of the conference is a dressy event, but not black-tie.
I have arrived in Omaha. Now what?
We will include the following details in a separate email closer to your arrival date, but we are happy to answer this question now, too! Transportation will be provided by the GPTC from the airport/bus station/train station to your designated lodging location and vice versa once the conference is over. A driver will either wait for you outside – look for an MCC vehicle with the GPTC logo on the side – or hold a sign with the GPTC logo on it in the baggage claim area. We will include a support phone number in an email before your travel date so you can call for assistance if you cannot find the driver.
What about transportation while I am in Omaha?
GPTC staff will be available daily for short, as-necessary trips. We also coordinate transportation from MCC to PlayFest evening productions.
What about lodging?
MainStage playwrights are housed on the Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha campus unless otherwise coordinated with GPTC staff. You will have a private room in one of our historic housing units. The bathroom on each floor is shared space. We provide all bed linens, blankets, and towels. Each housing unit has a fully-functional kitchen.
What am I going to eat? I have dietary restrictions!
MCC will provide playwrights with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks daily during the conference, May 25 – June 1. If you have dietary restrictions and did not note them on your registration form, please send us an email with the subject line Dietary Restrictions and tell us what your particular needs are, such as “I am a vegetarian” or “I am gluten-free.” We will make sure we offer food you are able to eat.
Who will be communicating with me?
We will keep in touch with you via email, so keep an eye out for the theatreconference@mccneb.edu email address. You will also receive emails from Kevin Lawler, the Producing Artistic Director of the GPTC; Scott Working, the workshop/PlayLab Coordinator; and your director.
Internet Access
A computer lounge is located in the ICA and MCC guest wireless Internet is available on campus. Internet login information will be available at the registration desk in the ICA.
How do I know what I should do every day? How long is a typical day at the GPTC?
Each day will be a little different. Sometimes you will have extra time during the day to relax and write in your room, and sometimes you may find yourself dashing from one workshop to the next. Upon your arrival you will receive a conference program that includes daily schedules, campus maps, and other information that will help you plan your days. The program will also be posted to the GPTC website soon and updated as details come into place, so check back often.
What supplies should I keep with me during the day?
We will supply you with a book bag, notebook, and conference program that includes daily schedules, building and campus maps, and other helpful information. You may also want to be sure you have writing utensils, a sweater to wear in chilly air-conditioned rooms, a water bottle, and maybe a few snacks from your kitchen supply.
How do I participate/sign up for workshops?
We will contact you about the opportunity to sign up for workshops prior to your arrival. You may also sign up for workshops when you arrive at the GPTC, if space is still available.
Contact Scott Working at saworking@mccneb.edu with questions or to register for the workshops. Descriptions and schedules for workshops will be listed online closer to the conference.
Help! I forgot my toothbrush/socks/etc.
GPTC staff will available daily for short as-necessary trips to the pharmacy, grocery store, etc.
Who will be cast in my play?
Omaha’s theatre scene is comprised mainly of community theatres. Our actors offer a wide range of talent, from excited beginners to experienced professionals. Because Omaha is a smaller metropolitan area, our casting choices are not as expansive as those in larger cities; though, close to two-hundred local theatre artists will work on the conference this year. Many people volunteer their time and talent because of their love of theatre and the opportunities presented at the GPTC. We encourage you to reflect this same spirit of generosity.
What if I want to make changes to my script?
We know that as an artist you may want to make changes and enhancements to your script before the GPTC begins. We ask that you do not change it significantly from the version you originally submitted to us.
Should I send my bio and headshot?
We will send you an email as soon as we are ready for them. But for those of you who like to plan ahead, here are the details: you will be asked to email your personal bio of no more than 150 words and a photo of yourself (preferably a headshot) at your earliest convenience, but no later than February 20, 2013.
I remember writing a play synopsis to include with my submission. What are you doing with that?
We will list the full synopsis of your play on our website and in the conference program. The synopsis you sent may need to be edited down to 150 words or less, but we will let you know if that is necessary.
What if I need help during the conference?
We ask that everyone attending the conference keep the highest level of respectful, creative dialogue while working at the conference. If you are experiencing any barriers to that, please let us know so that we can quickly assist you. In a separate email closer to conference time, we will provide you with direct email addresses and phone numbers to get in touch with GPTC staff. Additionally, there will be staff at the conference registration desk located in the ICA/building 22 who will be able to assist you. The conference registration desk is open daily during the conference from 7:30am – 6:00pm
You did not answer my question.
Please send us an email!