Contest Official Rules

Stay Thirsty "Playwright Award" Contest

OFFICIAL RULES

A $20.00 ENTRY FEE IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO ENTER THIS CONTEST.

DATES OF PROMOTION:  The Stay Thirsty “Playwright Award” Contest (the “Contest”) starts at 12:01 AM Eastern Time (ET) on September 1, 2006 and ends 11:59 PM ET on February 1, 2007 (the “Promotional Period”). Late submissions will not be accepted.

ELIGIBILITY:  Contest open to US legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry (the “Playwright”)  Employees and their immediate family members (parents, children, siblings or spouse, regardless of where they live, or persons living in same household, whether related or not) of Stay Thirsty Media, Inc. (the “Sponsor”), its parent companies, contractors, subsidiaries, distributors, sales representatives, retailers, advertising and promotion agencies, and any others engaged in the development, production, execution or distribution of this Contest (the “Contest Entities”) are not eligible to participate. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

HOW TO ENTER:  To enter the Contest, visit www.staythirstymedia.com and click on the “Stay Thirsty Playwright Award Contest” Banner in order to be directed to the OFFICIAL RULES of the Contest. In order to submit your Entry, you must first indicate that you accept the OFFICIAL RULES by clicking on the “I Agree” button.  Once you agree to the OFFICIAL RULES, click on the “Enter Contest” button to be directed to the Shopping Cart Page.  A $20.00 Entry Fee will be required to enter and must be submitted via PayPal secure payment processing (Subject to PayPal Terms & Conditions).  Upon payment approval, you will be sent an email notification which will include an Order Number and a link to upload the following required entry materials which must be formatted as a locked, read only PDF file:
a) A cover letter, including Playwright’s First Name, Last Name, Complete Address, Phone Number (including area code), email address and a brief background description.
b) A synopsis of the submitted play including a brief character description.  The synopsis must not exceed 350 words in length and must be in clear, concise English.
c) An original un-produced, full-length play, not exceeding 125 pages or an un-produced, one-act play, not less than 30 pages in length.  The play must be story and character driven with an emphasis on character relationships, rather than spectacle.  Cast size is limited to 3 – 7 characters. Sets for the play must be a single unit or minimalist in nature.  Plays must be in keeping with Thirsty’s Manifesto.

All Plays must be the original work of the Author.  Original, full-length and one-act plays and plays having received a workshop or staged reading are considered eligible submissions.  The following plays are ineligible and will  be disqualified; (i)   Musicals; (ii) Published scripts; (iii) Adaptations; and (iv) Scripts that have received production.

There is no limit to the number of plays you can submit. However, you must complete and submit all of the required entry materials above, including the $20.00 entry fee, with each submission.  Cash, Checks or payments submitted by mail will not be accepted. Incomplete submissions will not be considered for awards.  Sponsor shall have no obligation to acknowledge receipt of or to return any submission materials.  All entries must be submitted online and formatted as a locked, read-only PDF file.  Mail or hand delivered entries will not be considered.

By agreeing to the Official Contest Rules and submitting other required submission materials, the entrant: (a) warrants and represents that he/she has read these Official Contest Rules, is eligible to participate in the Contest and agrees to be bound thereby; (b) warrants and represents that all of the information provided in his/her submission materials is accurate, (c) warrants and represents that the submission materials are the original work of the participant and do not violate any third party's legal rights (including without limitation rights of copyright, trademark or other intellectual property right, privacy and/or publicity), and/or any applicable law; (d) represents and warrants that the submission materials do not contain any disabling device, virus, worm, back door, Trojan horse or other disruptive or malicious code that may or are intended to impair their intended performance or otherwise permit unauthorized access to, hamper, delete or damage any computer system, software, network or data; (e) consents to the use of his/her name and/or likeness by Sponsor and its respective authorized representatives for promotional purposes in connection with the Contest (whether online, in print or through any other media now known or hereafter developed), without additional compensation and unless prohibited by law; and (f) agrees that, if selected as the winner, participant will be solely responsible for any and all resulting tax consequences.

If prior to the time of judging you have sold your submission your entry will be disqualified and you will not be eligible to win a prize.

JUDGING/WINNING:  An independent panel of five judges will review and select a First, Second and Third prize winner from among all qualified entries received. Judging of all submissions will be based upon the following criteria: (a) Content (10 points); (b) Creativity of Plot (10 points); (c) Distinctiveness of Voice (10 points); (d) Character Development (10 points); (e) Consistency of Theme (10 points); and (f) Evaluation of Production Characteristics (10 points).  Each submission will be evaluated by one of the five judges based upon the criteria outlined above.  The six submissions with the highest final number of points will be considered semi-finalists. In the event there are more than six submissions with the same final number of points ranking the highest, all submissions from within that group will be considered semi-finalists. Each semi-finalist will be evaluated by all five judges using the criteria outlined above.  Out of the semi-finalists, three finalists will be chosen based upon the highest cumulative final number from all five judges and prizes will be awarded according to their ranking. In the event of a tie, the entries involved will be re-judged by an additional judge who will serve as a tiebreaker and evaluate such tied entries according to the criteria listed above. Submissions that contain any content determined by Sponsor and/or the judges in their sole discretion to be indecent, inappropriate, morally objectionable or otherwise unfit for production will be disqualified.  Winners will be selected and initially contacted by telephone on or about March 15, 2007. No telephone calls or correspondence will be accepted from participants inquiring regarding winners or judges’ selections. 

PRIZES: 

First Prize: One (1) First Prize of $1,000.00 cash and a Workshop or Staged Reading at a theatre of the Sponsor’s Sole choosing in Chicago, IL. All travel expenses including, but not limited to, Airfare, Hotel and transportation, are the Sole responsibility of the winner. The Approximate Retail Value (the “ARV”) of the First Prize is $1,500.00.

Second Prize: One (1) Second Prize of $250.00 cash. The ARV of the Second Prize is $250.00.

Third Prize: One (1) Third Prize of $100.00 cash. The ARV of the Third Prize is $100.00.

The total ARV of all prizes to be awarded is $1,850.00. Winners are required to comply with any and all rules and regulations and are solely responsible for all matters relating to the Prizes, including, but not limited to all applicable federal, state and local taxes that may become due with respect to the Prize.  Limit of one (1) Prize per play.  Co-Authors will receive a prize made out in joint name Prizes are non-transferable and no substitution allowed, except at Sponsor’s sole discretion.  All Prizes will be awarded.

TO CLAIM PRIZE:  Except where prohibited, Potential First Prize winner must sign and return within ten (10) days of being notified, an affidavit of eligibility/liability/publicity release in order to claim prize. If potential First Prize winner cannot be contacted within ten (10) days of the first attempt to contact him/her or if he/she fails to sign and return the affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release or driver’s license within the required time period, potential First Prize Winner forfeits their right to the prize and an alternative winner will be selected.  Winner consents to the use of his/her/their name, likeness, biographical information, and voice in advertising worldwide without additional compensation (TN residents will not be required to sign a publicity release as a condition of winning a prize).  All taxes on prizes are the sole responsibility of the winner. All federal, state, and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner.

GENERAL RULES OF PARTICIPATION:  This Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws. By participating, entrants and their participating entities agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and waive any right to claim ambiguity in the Contest or these Official Rules. Sponsor and/or Contest Entities are not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, undeliverable or incomplete entries.  Sponsor may prohibit an entrant from participating in the Contest or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair playing practices or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrants, Sponsor or Contest Entities. If for any reason this Contest is not able to be conducted as planned, including, but not limited to, by reason of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud or any other causes beyond the reasonable control of Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the promotion, then Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest and judge from those entries received up to the cancellation/suspension date.  CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES) FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

NO LIABILITYBy entering, winner (s) agree to comply with all Official Rules, as stated, and to release Sponsor, its officers, employees and agencies from any and all loss, cost, damage, and/or liability as a result of their participation in this Contest, as well as acceptance and/or usage of prizes awarded (including without limitation to claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light.) By participating, entrants agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor and/or Contest Entities and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents from and against any claims made by winners, entrants, or any other third parties, related in any way to the operation of this Contest as well as any other claims, damages or liability due to any injuries, damages or losses to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in any Contest-related activity or participation in this Contest. Information supplied by entrants is used only for the purpose of judging entries and to notify winner, and will be not be reused, sold or shared in any manner by Sponsor, or any third parties. 

WINNERS LIST REQUESTTo request a copy of the winner’s list or an additional copy of these Official Rules, please send a self-addressed, stamped business size envelope by April 15,2006 to: Stay Thirsty “Playwright Award” Contest, (Please specify Winner List or Rules Request), PO Box 10505, Rochester, NY 14610.

SPONSOR (s): Stay Thirsty Media, Inc., PO Box 7097, West Palm Beach, FL 33405