WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR NATIONAL AWARD CONSIDERATION? 
All projects completed in 2025, while the undergraduate or graduate applicants were full-time students at the time, are eligible for national consideration at the 2026 Festival/Conference. Projects can be realized: dramaturgical work for a production that was performed for an audience, or theoretical: a project for a class that was not performed for an audience.

 

At the Conference, students will present and receive feedback about their work in supportive group discussions and one-on-one mentoring conversations with our respondent/s. This expansive approach reflects the understanding that dramaturgical work is so often intangible. The application process aims to create space for students to demonstrate how they have tuned their contributions to the needs of a college or university-sponsored workshop, production, or dramaturgy course. The philosophical foundation of this program rests on the belief that the most effective professional dramaturgs develop an ever-evolving sensibility rather than a rigid set of practices.

 
HOW DOES THE NATIONAL APPLICATION PROCESS WORK?
For Regional/National Award Consideration for a 2025 Realized or Theoretical project, we use a National Common Application on Submittable. The application’s variety of prompts asks students to write brief statements to explain and reflect upon their work and select, organize, and upload materials that best represent their process and/or dramaturgical sensibility.

 

This application serves as a starting point for conversations with respondents at each Regional Festival. The Submittable’s applications are also accessed by mentors during the National Festival. This year, each region will select one student National Dramaturgy Fellowship Finalist. These student nominees earn a one-year Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas membership, a mentor match through LMDA, and an invitation to participate in the National ACTF gathering, a virtual celebration of their work.

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STEPS FOR STUDENTS TO TAKE

• Go to the ACTF Student Submittable Page to see the GUIDELINES for the Dramaturgy National Common Application so you can know what to prepare to complete the application without stress by the due date. 

• At the bottom of this Guidelines page, click "Submit" to take you to Submittable to create your account and begin filling out your application.

• Part of the application process asks you to fill in the email address of your faculty mentor recommending you. As The Collaborator, they receive their own form to fill out. When they fill out their form, it will become a part of your Submittable application.

• Please also reach out separately to your faculty person to let them know that they will be receiving this Form.

The Submittable application is due no later than February 3, 2026.

OUR WELCOMING REGIONAL FOCUS UPLIFTS, ENGAGES, and AWARDS EXCELLENCE: 

In a welcoming and inspiring environment, the immersive experiences offered to dramaturgs will expand your understanding of the broader theater ecosystem. Your application/presentation and participation throughout the conference provide invaluable learning experiences and opportunities for recognition. Dramaturgical engagement with intersectional NPP and Devising programming puts student dramaturgs in consideration for important National/Regional awards such as the LMDA Early Career Dramaturgy Award and more. Awards are distributed at the end of the Festival/Conference.

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As part of this hands-on experience, you will form bonds with other artists and dramaturgs as you support and celebrate each other's work. In addition to one-on-one Respondent mentorship feedback sessions for submitted 2025 Dramaturgy projects and relevant conference workshops, the cohort shares mentored 'huddles' to unpack and discuss observations about conference activity and ask the big and small questions - where all the questions matter!

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