Honorees Announced for CENTERSTAGE’s 26th Annual Young Playwrights Festival

CENTERSTAGE announces the honorees for the 26^th Annual Young Playwrights Festival. More than 300 students from across Maryland submitted plays, which were then evaluated by CENTERSTAGE staff and artists. The final honorees will have their plays workshopped and then either performed in the students' schools or at the Young Playwrights Festival performance at CENTERSTAGE on Monday, April 30, at 7 pm.

All members of the community are invited to CENTERSTAGE for the Young Playwrights Festival. The annual awards ceremony will include staged readings of selected plays, recognition of honorees, and a reception in honor of all of the students who submitted scripts. The event is free; however, a $5 donation is suggested at the door. Groups up to 10 can reserve their tickets online.

 

Staged Reading at CENTERSTAGE, Honorees

The 3rd Grade Class of City Neighbors Charter School

Penguins, Donuts, and Thievery - Oh My!

Grade 3, City Neighbors Charter School, Baltimore City

A penguin gets caught stealing jewelry, and the chase is on! Two donut-loving mall cops set out to catch the criminal, but they're outsmarted at every turn. A hilarious game of cat and mouse-or rather birds and badges-ensues.

 

Elijah Aren Gur-Arie

The CEO

Grade 5, Chevy Chase Elementary School, Montgomery County 

Joe is a content computer programmer at a big corporation. When his CEO decides to retire, and a greedy colleague plans to take over the company, Joe realizes that the only solution is to become CEO himself. The only problem: Joe's secret past stands in his way.

 

Belle Dallam

When Pigs Fly

Grade 6, Harford Day School, Harford County

Life in the pig-pen couldn't be better for Sam and Willie. But somehow Willie still longs for more-in fact, he's determined to fly. But as his quest to build a flying device takes its toll on him, how will he ever outwit The Farmer's wife?

 

Cole Crampton

Was He Ever There?

Grade 8, Loyola Blakefield, Baltimore County

A doting mother sees her son abducted, only to discover that all records of him have also vanished. Undeterred, she begins a search to reclaim this missing piece of her life.

 

Daniel Kolodkin

Good People

Grade 12, Baltimore Lab School, Baltimore City

This comedy takes a peek into the home life of a Baltimore power couple as they debate food, fashion, politics, and what's best for their 14-year-old son.

 

In-school/community readings

 

Liam McConnell & Roric Coletta

The Three Little Plusses and the Big Bad Minus

Grade 3, Midtown Academy, Baltimore City

 

Isabelle Simmons

It's Locked!

Grade 5, Montessori International Children's House, Anne Arundel County

 

Samuel McCullough

Paranormal Ghost Activity

Grade 6, Bluford Drew Jameson STEM Academy, Baltimore City

 

Tamia Bailey

Is There Somebody Out There

Grade 7, Sisters Academy of Baltimore, Baltimore City

 

Stella Kazibwe

GrANNIE

Grade 7, Harford Day School, Harford County

 

Tori Chambers

Secrets Within

Grade 12, Arlington Baptist (H.O.M.E.) Program, Baltimore County

 

Meaghan Menzel

The Unfortunate Incident of the Boy and the Bridge

Grade 12, Governor Thomas Johnson High School, Frederick County

 

Sunny Minihane

A Painter's Model

Grade 12, The Park School of Baltimore, Baltimore County

The Young Playwrights Festival is presented by CENTERSTAGE's Department of Community Programs & Education, under the direction of Julianne Franz. The Festival is made possible through the generous support of our many community partners, including Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation, T. Rowe Price Associates Foundation, Inc., M&T Bank, Procter & Gamble, and Maryland State Arts Council.

For more information on the Young Playwrights Festival, contact the Department of Community Programs & Education at either 410.986.4050 or education@centerstage.org. 

 

The State Theater of Maryland, CENTERSTAGE will soon announce its 50^th Anniversary Season. The not-for-profit company serves as a local hub and national leader for smart, provocative, and entertaining theater and as a catalyst for conversation with the community. Each year, a consistently broad range of productions in two intimate performing spaces attracts highly diverse audiences of more than 100,000 people-including more than 8,000 fiercely loyal members, many of whom have been with the theater during its entire history. Additionally, CENTERSTAGE offers a variety of dramaturgical, community, and educational programs to broaden access and enhance the theatergoing experience. 

 

Now Playing:  Into the Woods, by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine, through April 15.

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