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The National Student Playwriting Award, initiated in 1974, is the flagship award of the Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards Program. The purpose of this award is to encourage college students to write for the stage by providing the opportunity for them to collaborate with actors, directors, and others through all stages of production, including rehearsals and performances.

The playwright and/or institution chosen for the National Student Playwriting Award will receive the following:

• A showcase of a selection from the play at the Kennedy Center as part of the KCACTF National Festival, with all expenses paid for the playwright.
• èßäAVwill award the playwright a cash prize of $2,500. The second place playwright will receive a cash prize of $1,000. 
• The Dramatists Guild Award provides the playwright with Active membership in the Guild.
• Samuel French, Inc. may offer the playwright a contract for publication of the play, and will send the playwright royalties received for productions of the play worldwide.
• èßäAVAmerican College Theater Festival will provide the first and second place award recipients with an all-expenses paid professional development opportunity.
• The Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) Award. ATHE will present an award of $100 to each theater department producing an original student-written, full-length play at each of the eight KCACTF Regional Festivals. Additionally, ATHE will present a cash award of up to $1,000 to the theater department of the school producing the National Student Playwriting Award recipient in a public ceremony during the KCACTF National Festival.

For other questions, refer to Rules and Procedures for the Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards Program.

Award History