Young Playwrights Get a Chance On the Broadway Stage

In the Playmaking program, children from the Chelsea public school PS 11 enroll in a 12-week playwriting course, led by Daniel Judah Sklar and Kim Greene. Developed in conjunction with Circle in the Square Theatre School, this professional program was adapted from Daniel Sklar's book, Playmaking: Children Writing and Performing Their Own Plays. Six weeks through the workshop, each child finishes his/her own imaginative play. Professional actors then read each one aloud and begin the process of final performance development. Plays are rehearsed and performed on the Broadway stage at Circle in the Square.

It is a unique experience for the children, who find and express their own creative voices as they learn playwriting and character development. "It is amazing to see how children's life joys and struggles are reflected in their playwriting. They have so much to bring to their stories. Children don't overthink, they just write from their experience and stick to what's really important, which makes the plays a delight to act in." says actor Gaia Visnar. Similarly, actor Cristina Sebastian comments, "Through this creative process children become confident as they develop their plays. They're playful and fearless in their writing, and as an actor it's so refreshing to be given that permission to just play on stage. I hope that by bringing their stories to life on a Broadway stage, we validate their artistic vision and show to them that their ideas do matter and are worthy of being heard."

Performances will take place on the Broadway stage at Circle in the Square March 5th - 9th, performed by actors Danielle Amendola, Matthew Boyd, Shana Casey, Eliki, Colton Pometta, Frances Ramos, Cristina Sebastian, Alexander Scelso, Gretchen Schneider, and Gaia Visnar.