Most positive rejection

[breakinglight11]

Yesterday I got probably the most positive rejection I've ever received from someone declining to produce a theater piece I sent them. I submitted "The Old House," from 31 Plays in 31 Days, where a widowed woman "talks to her late husband"-- really just thinking aloud --about how she thinks she needs to sell their family home and start a different life if she's ever going to be able to go on without him. This was the response I got.

"Hi Phoebe,

Thanks for the submission. Although I really love the piece, we can't use it this time around. Our acting ensemble does not include an older lady, unfortunately, and I think having a young actress portray this character would do your exquisite monologue an injustice.

Maybe next time!"

Most of the time theaters don't even bother to contact you if they're not going to use your script, or if they do, they send you a form letter. Somebody who took the time to write me a personal and complimentary message probably wouldn't have done so unless they meant it, right?

So I guess next to agreeing to perform it, this is the best possible response I could get...?

Comments

[sprrwhwk.livejournal.com]

Most of the time theaters don't even bother to contact you if they're not going to use your script, or if they do, they send you a form letter.

Whoa. Coming from the world of short story publishing, this is very strange to me. If they don't contact you, how do you know when it's okay to submit your play elsewhere? Or is submitting the same play to multiple groups simultaneously not the major faux pas that submitting the same story to multiple markets simultaneously is?

Somebody who took the time to write me a personal and complimentary message probably wouldn't have done so unless they meant it, right?

Quite right. What's the advantage to them of lying to you? They want to encourage good work.

[breakinglight11.livejournal.com]

I know it works that way in print publishing, but in theater, it is perfectly permissible to submit your script all over the place at the same time. There may be an issue if the call is specifically for never-previously-produced works, but otherwise it's okay.