MadLab Announces 2017 Young Writers Short Play Festival

MadLab's Young Writers Short Play Festival, featuring a collection of ten short plays written by 14 area high school students, will take place July 14 - 29, 2017 at MadLab, 227 N. 3rd St., in Columbus. Admission is $18 for the general public, $15 for students and seniors and $13 for MadLab members. Tickets are available online at www.madlab.net.

Founded in 2011 and now in its sixth year, MadLab's Young Writers Short Play Festival is designed to give local high school playwrights a professional theatrical experience. Students are invited to submit their 10-minute plays, a selected group of which are chosen to be developed and produced. Each student is given the opportunity to attend specialized workshops and collaborate with local and national mentor playwrights during their time in the program. At the end of the program, the plays are performed at MadLab in a fully-produced short play festival.

The program has a lasting impact on student and adult participants. Former playwrights have gone on to major in theatre in college, have their work included in textbooks, and perform on national television.

This year's plays include:

Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Alyssa Shulman, directed by Becky Horseman

Featuring Chorsie Calbert IV, Sam Clements, Michael Moore and Jasmine Smith

Death, Discovering Your Role by Jenny Morrison, directed by Constance Hester

Featuring Jessica Gibson, Maggie McCann and Jasmine Smith

Guardian Matchmaker by Kami Tibbles, Directed by Madeline Jobrack

Featuring Miranda Alch, Chorsie Calbert IV and Cat McAlpine

Hideaway Bay by Maddie Conley, Directed by Michelle DiCeglio

Featuring Sidney Edson, Erynn Robe, Zach Throne and Hannah Woods

Hope by Taylor McGowan, Directed by Tay Lane

Featuring Sam Clements, Taylor Davis, Samantha Eyler, Kristin Green, Julia Leet, Ayla Mendenhall and Shane Stefanchik

Offensive Penalty by Emily Henderson, directed by Stephen Woosley and Nick Arganbright

Featuring Cat McAlpine, Dallas Ray, Erynn Robe and William Scarborough

Ovaries River and Through the Woods by Kasey Belding, Haley Fournier, Elliot Marrocco and Joelle Odoguardi, directed by Kelley Freeman and Alex Greene

Featuring Julie Azelvandre, Karen Benedict, Keith Jackson, Angela Karen, Greg MCgill, Erynn Robe and Cameron Schneider

Quite Possibly the Worst Play Ever Written by Liam Flanigan, directed by Josh Kessler

Featuring Jared Raines, Dallas Ray, William Scarborough, Matt Schlichting and Cameron Schneider

Sarajevo, 1914 by Rachel Phillips, directed by Randi Morgan

Featuring Sam Clements, Joe Liles, Cat McAlpine, Cameron Schneider

The Void by Andrea Gapsch and Zoe Thomas, directed by Carl Burgason

Featuring Samantha Eyler, Aylah Mendenhall, Michael Moore, Will Thompson and Emily Turner

Two separate programs will be offered, each showcasing five plays. Friday evening performances and the July 16 matinee performance will feature Because I Could Not Stop for Death, Death, Discovering Your Role, Hope, Offensive Penalty and Quite Possibly the Worst Play Ever Written. Saturday evening performances and the July 23 matinee performance will feature Guardian Matchmaker, Hideaway Bay, Ovaries River and Through the Woods, The Void and Sarajevo, 1914. Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinee performances begin at 3 p.m.

MadLab is a non-profit organization that provides an artistic haven for the creation and experience of original works. For more information about events at MadLab, visit www.madlab.net. The Community Arts Fund of The Columbus Foundation, Greater Columbus Arts Council and Ohio Arts Council support MadLab throughout the year.

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