Blank Theatre's Young Playwrights Festival Chooses 12 Winning Plays, Begins 6/4

The Blank Theatre Company's 17th Annual Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival has chosen 12 winning plays by teenaged playwrights, aged 15 -19 from 7 different states. The winning plays will be presented by professional actors and directors in the month-long Festival at The Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood beginning June 4, 2009.

"Ever since I acted in the First AnnuAl Young Playwrights Festival, I have always had a special place in my heart for these extremely talented teenaged playwrights, " says Blank Artistic Producer Noah Wyle. "The caliber of these plays keeps getting better and better. It is remarkable to know that there are kids creating art at a level that can be compared to most adults. And by the way, often more entertaining!"

And the winners are: WHAT ALL SCHOOL CHILDREN LEARN by Benjamin Sprung-Keyser (Age 16) from Los Angeles, CA; I GET KNOCKED DOWN by Patrick Howley (age 19) from Avon, CT; A. & A. by Alexander Nunnelly (age 17) from St. Petersburg, FL; FROM YOUR SWEETHEART by Alex Valdez (age 15) from Pasadena, CA; NONE OF MY FRIENDS ARE DYING by Sam Meyer (age 17) from Houston, TX; BLOOD by Jessica Juhrend (19) Spearfish, SD; OTHER PEOPLE'S GARDEN GNOMES By Aliza Goldstein (17) Jacksonville, FL; GOD'S BOARD MEETING by Lauren Marie Buangan (16) Twenty Nine Palms, CA; AFTER MAREN by Zoe Barker-Aderem (16) Seattle, WA; MOON ON THE HORIZON by ElizaBeth Frankel (16) Leonia, NJ; EYE OF THE BEHOLDER by Joe Larrea & Graham Riley (19) Sacramento, CA; WHO IS MORRIE ROTHLINE by Gabriel Nuestadt (16) St. Petersburg, FL.

Winning plays were chosen by a panel of theatre professionals from plays submitted by teenagers from across the nation. Winning playwrights are next assigned a mentor and then a professional director who will help them hone their scripts for five public performances with professional Hollywood actors. In the past sixteen years, The Blank has produced 184 plays by teenaged playwrights. Eleven of those plays or playwrights have gone on to be presented on The Blank's Mainstage including SPEECH AND DEBATE by Stephen Karam, a 3-time winner in The Blank's YPF. Additionally, many of the plays have been nominated for LA theatre awards including: an Ovation Award for "Best Writing-World Premiere", LA Weekly Award "Best One Act Playwrighting"

"Alumni" playwrights are populating the nation's theatres and soundstages with their work. Many of our winners have gone on to successful writing careers creating TV shows, filling regional stages, teaching writing to others, founding regionAl Young Playwrights Festivals. This year's Fest is made possible by The James Irvine Foundation, The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, The Plum Foundation, The Rosenthal Charitable Trust, Los Angeles LA County Arts Commission, & City of LA Department of Cultural Affairs.

The Blank Theatre Company's 17th Annual Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival plays Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm & 7pm, June 4 through June 28, 2009 at The Stella Adler Theatre, 6773 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood 90028. Program includes 3 plays each week. Tickets are $15. Festival Passes-1 seat each week- are $50. Both may be purchased in advance by calling (323) 661-9827or at The Blank.com.The Blank Theatre Company's 17th Annual Nationwide

Young Playwrights Festival Schedule

WEEK ONE June 4 - June 7

WHAT ALL SCHOOL CHILDREN LEARN by Benjamin Sprung-Keyser age 16 Los Angeles, CA

When school bullying becomes too much for the tiniest kid in class, he takes matters into his own hands, much to the dismay of the concerned parents involved. When does bullying go too far and where does its ripple effect end?

I GET KNOCKED DOWN by Patrick Howley age 19 Avon, CT

With all the trouble in the world today, a group of college kids yearns for the good old days of 1998: Barenaked Ladies. Britney Spears. Monica Lewinsky. They decide to return to happier times by ignoring the present and living as if it were 1998. How long can the "98 Movement" last?

A. & A. by Alexander Nunnelly age 17 St. Petersburg, FL

The "Superman" of AA sponsors tries to convince a reclusive and destructive man to follow his court ordered sobriety. However, when the man takes the sponsor hostage on a boat in the middle of a hurricane, they must work together to survive the storm...and each other.

WEEK TWO June 11 - June 14

FROM YOUR SWEETHEART by Alex Valdez age 15 Pasadena, CA

You thought your life was tough? Have you ever been dumped by a guy in a giant bunny costume? Especially oNe You're not even dating?

NONE OF MY FRIENDS ARE DYING by Sam Meyer age 17 Houston, TX

What does it mean to be a part of something? When it seems as if everyone else has lived through bigger things than you, how do you distill what matters most and what identity really belongs to you? If none of your friends are dying for a cause, what cause are you living for?

BLOOD by Jessica Juhrend age 19 Spearfish, SD

When the mother of three teenagers is murdered, there is no shortage of suspects. After one of her children confesses, the siblings must figure out how to protect themselves and each other from the authorities and their own minefield of wounds.

WEEK THREE June 18 - June 21

OTHER PEOPLE'S GARDEN GNOMES by Aliza Goldstein age 17 Jacksonville, FL

When a wild night of garden gnome stealing ends up in a hospital waiting room, a teenage girl reaches out to her gnoming buddy, a nurse, and her "Fairy Not-Father" in order to make some sense of the chaos around her.

GOD'S BOARD MEETING by Lauren Marie Buangan age 16 Twenty Nine Palms, CA

What happens when Zeus, Thor, Muhammad, the Devil, Abraham, Buddha, Confucius, and Shiva all gather for a summit? A madcap mix of ego, ideology, insults, zaniness, and hilarity ensues. What will Jesus do?

AFTER MAREN by Zoe Barker-Aderem age 16 Seattle, WA

A young man struggles to keep his life intact as his sister's ghost haunts him. He struggles to unravel the mystery of how she died and how he can heal his relationship with his girlfriend.

WEEK FOUR June 25 - June 28

MOON ON THE HORIZON by ElisaBeth Frankel age 16 Leonia. NJ

When a famous author's biggest fan wins a lunch date with him, he is stunned to discover the depths of her obsession with his breakthrough novel. Could she possibly know more about his book than he does?

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER by Joe Larrea & Graham Riley age 19 Sacramento, CA

After a freak eyelash curling accident changes everything for a nervous young groom, he must try to separate looks from love. Can he do it? This comedy will have you laughing down the aisle.

WHO IS MORRIE ROTHLINE? by Gabriel Nuestadt age 16 St. Petersburg, FL

A grieving brother reaches out to an eccentric figure from his brother's shadowy past. However, stepping into Morrie Rothline's world will be a much more strange and difficult task than anyone could imagine.

For further information: TheBlank.com or 323/661-9827

 

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