Theatre Odyssey’s first Ten-Minute Play Festival in 2006 was a single-night, sold-out event. It cemented an idea that developed from conversations among local actors and writers that new, original work could be performed in different venues and everyone participating in any production would receive some monetary compensation for their time and talent. Initially, playwrights’ work from the local (Tampa Bay) region was invited for consideration for production.
In 2013, the company created a Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival to encourage emerging playwrights from local high schools. That initial festival was in January of that year and became Theatre Odyssey’s second annual event.
The 2019 Ten-Minute Play Festival welcomed plays from all over Florida and continues to do so. The Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival invites submissions from a multi-county area including Manatee and Sarasota Counties.
In 2018 Theatre Odyssey produced its first One-Act Play Festival, inviting writers from throughout the United States to submit their work for production locally. From a maximum of 100 entries, four or five plays are selected for production.
Over 200 original new plays have been produced over the years. Many playwrights whose work was first presented by Theatre Odyssey have been published elsewhere, and their work has been produced nationally and internationally.
Theatre Odyssey has published five anthologies. Volume One is the work produced in the years 2006-2009; Volume Two, 2010-2013; Volume Three, 2014-2017; Volume Four, 2018-2021; and Volume Five, 2022-2025. They are available for purchase at our festivals or from Amazon.
Theatre Odyssey values the craft and hard work of playwrights. As an arts organization and a Dramatists Guild Affiliate, we fully support the Dramatist’s Bill of Rights
Theatre Odyssey is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit company.
