High school students with disabilities are invited to explore careers in theater, film, and television by developing a 10-minute script through the Access/VSA Playwright Discovery Program.

About the Program

This program "truly changed my life and [gave] me a renewed confidence in who I am as a disabled artist."—2024 Participant

Each year outstanding disabled writers from around the world are selected to participate in the Access/VSA Playwright Discovery Program. In addition to receiving financial stipends, these talented young writers enrolled in secondary school (generally, ages 14-19) participate in a script development program exploring careers in the theater, film, and television industries through exclusive workshops.

This career development program explores careers in theater, film, and television by developing a 10-minute script. Multiple winners will be selected by a panel of theater industry professionals.

The program includes:

Virtual and in-person script development sessions
One-on-one sessions with a professional dramaturg
A trip to Washington, D.C. for a session with professional actors and designers that mimics a first day of rehearsal
Workshops covering key business-related topics
Networking opportunities

Access/VSA Playwright Discovery Program | The Kennedy Center

The Access/VSA Playwright Discovery Program is for young writers with disabilities (generally, ages 14-19) enrolled in high school. These young writers are invited to submit a 'ten-minute script' as part of their application to this career development program. A panel of industry professionals select winners

What is a Ten-Minute Script?

A Ten-Minute Script is a fully developed piece. It is not a scene or an excerpt from a larger work. Structurally, it should have a beginning, middle, and end. Reaching beyond the surface, the text should be enriched with subtext. Since there is only ten minutes to bring the story full circle, a conflict should be posed as quickly as possible. The resolution of that conflict is what plays out across the remaining pages. The true success of a Ten-Minute Script is reliant on the writer's ability to bring an audience through the same cathartic/entertaining experience that a good one-act or full-length piece accomplishes.

Ten-Minute Scripts are typically eight to ten pages when written in standard 12 pt. font. Read your play aloud and time it.

For additional student-friendly guidance on developing a piece in this format: