Call for Entries to P1-M English Musical Playwriting Competition

THE IGNACIO B. GIMENEZ Foundation Inc. (IBGFI), a nonprofit organization dedicated in part to supporting the promotion of Filipino arts and culture, has launched a first-ever English musical playwriting competition, with a grand prize of P1 million.
The competition is open to all Filipinos who are 18 years old and above, amateurs and published writers alike.
Entrants should write a script (libretto) for a musical play of approximately 90 minutes in length and is suitable for dramatization. This should include the CD recording of the songs incorporated in the story. The plays must have a maximum of 25 characters including major and minor roles. It can be on any subject and must be written entirely in English.
The play entered in the competition must not, at the time of submission, have been offered for publication, performance or broadcast in any other form or media to any other person or company. All entrants must certify the originality of their submitted entries.
Three winners will receive the following cash prizes: first place, P1 million; second place, P500,000; third place P300,000.
The panel of judges includes distinguished names from theater, film, the academe and live entertainment: producer and talent manager Girlie Rodis and actress/singer Celeste Legaspi (the producers of the classic original Filipino musicals “Katy!” and “Larawan”); actor Leo Martinez; advertising stalwart Emily Abrera; theater and film director Soxie Topacio; newspaper editor Alicia Herrera; and university professors Ludendorffo Decenteceo and Luciana Urquiola. Rodis is board chair.
“I’m sure that the chance to take part in this competition will be a huge incentive for talented Filipinos out there, guided by their principles and dreams to explore the wonderful and rich repertoire of playwriting, hone their writing skills, imagination, and have fun in the process. I look forward to reading their stories,” said Ignacio B. Gimenez, president and founder of IBGFI. Gimenez is also part of the competition’s panel of judges.
The contest opened on Aug. 8 and is now accepting entries. Closing date for all entries (with completed entry form, synopsis, manuscript, CD recording of songs) is by 12 noon of March 31, 2014.
Application form, competition guidelines and awards information are available on the competition websites www.ignaciobgimenezfoundationinc.com, www.buyandsellph.com/ignaciobgimenezfoundationinc and www.facebook.com/ignaciobgimenezfoundationinc.