What Is Joining Sword & Pen?
When the Joining Sword & Pen competition opens, the Babes publish an image which becomes part of the submitted scripts.
These blind submissions are full length plays which are read by and voted on by the ensemble.
The winner will participate in the development process in Fighting Words and then go to full production by the Babes. The winning script’s playwright will also receive the Margaret W. Martin Award ($1000) sponsored by Babes’ longtime benefactor, David Woolley.
Submissions accepted only during the competition window. Joining Sword & Pen 2023-2024 launching August 19, 2023 and closing April 16, 2024.
Take a look at the full list of plays that came from Joining Sword & Pen.
If you are a playwright and want to know more about Joining Sword & Pen, email [email protected].
Info on the most recent 2020-2021 Joining Sword & Pen Competition:
The winner: “THE GATEKEEPERS”, by Jillian Leff
Synopsis of The Gatekeepers
Taking place in a distant future where the United States has undergone sweeping reform: Guns are banned, healthcare is free, and numerous tax and economic bills have helped lessen the division of classes and pulled millions out of poverty. Sloane (first name Bridget, but don’t call her that) is a young woman who has been tapped by a watchdog intelligence agency called the CRC, led by the odd, yet domineering William Hale. As Sloane triumphantly (and a little drunkenly) leaves a warehouse after signing her contract, she is stopped by a mysterious woman who says she has come back in time to stop Sloane from making the biggest mistake of her life.
About the playwright
Jillian Leff (she/her) is a Chicago based playwright and actor. In the city, her plays have been produced by The New Coordinates (SMALL WORLD – co-written with Joe Lino – 2020 Jeff Award Nominee for New Work) The Cuckoo’s Theater Project (MISSED OPPORTUNITIES), and The Right Brain Project ((NON)FICTION), while her short plays have been produced by Broken Nose Theatre, Random Acts Chicago, and Ghostlight Ensemble, among others. She has a BFA in Acting from Ball State University and is an Ensemble Member of Babes With Blades Theatre Company. https://newplayexchange.org/users/21210/jillian-leff