LAMB’S PLAYERS SEEKS SCRIPTS IN CONTEST

Lamb’s Players Theatre has added another distinguishing factor to its reputation as one of the country’s best professional, Christian-oriented troupes.

Last week artistic director Robert Smyth announced a major national play writing contest, the Fieldstead New Plays Award, to be administered by National City players. First prize will be a $5,000 cash award, two weeks residency at Lamb’s Players and production of the winning entry as part of Lamb’s 1987 season.

First and second runners-up will receive $2,000 and $1,000 respectively, with Lamb’s taking a first production option.

Since its founding nine years ago, the year-round repertory company and its touring arms have produced 14 premieres. Many were written by David McFadzean, who left the company last year for a teaching position in Illinois, and Lamb’s literary manager, Kerry Cederberg, who will be heading the contest administration team.

The contest, which opens Saturday and closes Aug. 1, was conceived to broaden Lamb’s commitment to new material, particularly that which reflects “a Judeo-Christian ethic.”

“We’ve had an ongoing relationship with David as a playwright, and I’m really trying to encourage Kerry’s work; she’s got some nice gifts, too,” Smyth said. “That’s where our life’s blood is--new works.”

With that in mind, the nonprofit theater applied to the Fieldstead Institute in Orange County for a grant to cover contest awards and administration.

“They’re a nonprofit, philanthropic foundation that comes from a Biblical perspective, and their position is to encourage people who are in communications and arts,” Smyth said. “We ran into them a number of years ago, and we have finally come up with a project that they really wanted to get involved with.”

Midway through this year’s judging, Smyth said, representatives from the theater and the funding institution will sit down to decide whether or not to make it an annual event.

Requests for contest applications should be directed to Cederberg at Lamb’s National City offices. Winners will be announced Sept. 27.