Deadline for Submission: September 1, 2006 with a $5 entry fee; September 15, 2006 with a $10 entry fee

Seven winning entries will receive $100 awards and be produced November 4, 2006 as part of The Fringe Festival and Fanning the Creative Flame.

The Riverside Cultural Consortium is currently accepting submissions for the upcoming Ten-Minute Play Festival, a new component of Fanning the Creative Flame, the Consortium’s Celebration of Arts, Culture and Heritage.

“What we’re looking for are works that stretch the imagination and the mind,” says Dr. Cynthia Morrill, a local playwrighting Professor at Riverside Community College. “We’re putting out a call to emerging playwrights who are just finding their voice and established playwrights who have ideas waiting to be developed or even scripts hiding in a drawer.”

The seven plays selected for production will each receive a $100 prize and recognition at the closing ceremonies of the Consortium’s ten-day event. To be considered, all plays must be original work not previously produced, and no longer than 10 pages. For specific formatting guidelines, visit www.RiversideCulturalConsortium.org.

“This is a marvelous opportunity for both artists and audiences to experience a highly imaginative and experimental genre of theatre,” says Patrick Brien, Associate Director of the Riverside Arts Council and internationally award-winning theatrical producer and director.  “The Ten-Minute Play Festival is a natural extension of last year’s inaugural Fringe Festival portion of Fanning the Creative Flame, and it’s something that we hope to make an annual event.”

As the September due dates grow closer, the Consortium will be sponsoring free community playwriting workshops conducted by Dr. Morrill.  Dates and times will be announced.

The deadline for submission is September 1st with a $5 entry fee or September 15th with a  $10 entry fee. Award-winning plays will be produced November 4th in non-traditional theatrical venues in Downtown Riverside.  Submit entries to Lee Tusman, Riverside Cultural Consortium, 3580 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501 or call (951) 826-5126 for more information.  To learn about the Ten-Minute Play Festival, Fanning the Creative Flame or other arts and cultural events, visit www.inlandarts.com.