Presented by Performing Arts Department

The A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Competition & Festival are endowed by alumnus, novelist, poet and playwright A.E. Hotchner. This annual playwriting competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at Washington University. Many past “Hotch” plays have gone on to full production in the Performing Arts Department season and at various professional venues around the country. Our Hotchner playwrights have garnered many awards over the years, including The Kevin Kline Best New Play Award (St. Louis), The Liota Diesel Ashton Prize in Playwriting (Wash U.), The Jefferson New Play Award (Chicago), The Alfred P. Sloan Award, (NYC), The Wendy Wasserstein New Play Award (National), and many others. Hotchner playwrights have been commissioned and developed at many of our country’s most prestigious theaters.

This year the Hotch Fest was a live-streamed virtual event on October 16 & 17. The performances have been recorded and will be available for viewing through October 31. Patrons and Wash U students may obtain links to the festival events by clicking on the links below.

This year because of increased production costs for video equipment and streaming, we are giving festival goers the opportunity to give a donation through our “pay what you can” ticket system. If you would like to make a contribution to help support this event, click the “Pay What You Can” Festival Package link below. You will receive links for all three events.

FREE Event Registration / Wash U Student Registration
Click Here to view “Cheryl Robs a Bank: An Evening of Dramatic Entertainment Presented in Play Form by Cheryl Pryor”
Click Here to view “Women Eating Cake” (a ten minute play) and “The Five-Year Reunion”
Click Here to view “Grand”

“Pay What You Can” Festival Package (all 3 events)
Suggested Package Donation: $10
Click Here to donate and receive your event links