CENTERSTAGE Announces Young Playwrights Festival Honorees

 CENTERSTAGE is pleased to announce the students to be honored at this season's Young Playwrights Festival. Selected plays receive one of three levels of recognition: three workshop days with professional theater artists and a staged reading during the Festival, a workshop and staged reading at the playwright's school, or an honorable mention.

Now celebrating its 21st year, Young Playwrights Festival is presented by CENTERSTAGE's Department of Community Programs & Education with the support of Provident Bank, Washington Gas, and Comcast. All members of the community are invited to CENTERSTAGE's Pearlstone Theater on Monday, April 16th at 7 pm for an awards ceremony hosted by WJZ's Denise Koch, staged readings of selected plays, and a reception in honor of the more than 300 students who submitted scripts. Reservations are free but required, and can be made by calling the CENTERSTAGE Box Office at 410.332.0033. For more information, contact the Department of Community Programs & Education at either 410.986.4050 or education@centerstage.org.

The following plays will receive a Staged Reading at CENTERSTAGE:

• Yankee Haters by Paul Gianfrancesco
  5th grade, Whetstone Elementary (Montgomery County)

Baseball meets the American Revolution as three friends argue allegiances…and did we mention Mary Poppins and the time machine? 

• The Survey by Alice Sheehan
  Originally conceived & developed with contributing writer Ariel Wasserman
5^th grade, City Neighbors Charter School (Baltimore City)

Small-but-mighty Lucia convinces a 6th-grade know-it-all to rethink his views on a female President.

• Bob the Slushy Guy by Mitchell Hopkins
  6th grade, Harford Day School (Harford County)

When Bill the Boss Man unfairly fires him, Bob sets out to build his own slushy empire with the help of a few friends. 

• The Life of a Dollar Bill by Kendall Baskin
  8th grade, Harford Day School (Harford County)

Ever wondered what your money thinks about all day? Join Dollar Bill on his adventures and find out.

• Growing Up in the West by Fahmida Sultana
  10th grade, Northwestern High (Baltimore City)

Eighteen-year-old Suman is torn between the boy she loves and her father's traditional ideas. 

• Getting In by Alison Burris
  12th grade, The Park School (Baltimore City)

Watch Brandon take on a tough admissions counselor in this send-up of the college application process. 

• T'Ain't No Sin by Benjamin Jonah Korman
  12th grade, Carver Center for Arts & Technology (Baltimore)

Jeffrey and his mother engage in a battle of wills as their apartment building burns.

The following plays will receive a Playwright Workshop, including a reading at the playwright's school:

 

• The Land of Doodles by Isaac Dykeman
  5th grade, Chevy Chase Elementary (Montgomery County)

• A Comedy of Manners by James Morogiello
  5th grade, Whetstone Elementary (Montgomery County)

• The URC by Letravious J. Holley
6th grade, City Neighbors Charter School (Baltimore City)

• Saving the World . . . of Not by Tyler Sparks
8th grade, Harford Day School (Harford County)

• A Curious and Unlikely Band of Men by Molly Mountain
10th grade, Baltimore City College High School (Baltimore City)

 

The following plays will receive an Honorable Mention:

• Lemon Tarts and Betrayal by Gillian Waldo & Isaac Lunt
5th grade, Roland Park Elementary (Baltimore City)

• Where Am I? by Obria Shaw
7th grade Home-schooled (Baltimore City)

• Blood Thinner Than Water by Krystle N. Johnson
12th grade, Eleanor Roosevelt High

• Goodbye, Sophie by Samantha Manchester
12th grade, Loch Raven High (Baltimore County)

Congratulations to all of the honorees and participants!

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