Morris, Welch, Green et al. Set For Young Playwrights Festival 6/3-27
By: Emily Faye Oakley May. 19, 2010
Twilight Saga star Michael Welch, GLEE star Heather Morris, Jennifer Stone (Wizards of Waverly Place, Harriet the Spy), Constance Zimmer (Entourage), Lenny Jacobson & Mackenzie Aladjem from Showtime's Nurse Jackie, Michael J. Willett from United States of Tara, Scott Lowell (Queer as Folk), Jenna Leigh Green (Broadway's Wicked, Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and Larry Poindexter from MTV's upcoming series The Hard Times of RJ Berger will all be starring in The Blank Theatre Company's Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival.
Twelve winning plays by teenaged playwrights, aged 14 -19 from six different states, will be presented by professional actors and directors in the month-long Festival at The Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood beginning June 3, 2010.
Among the 75 actors who will appear in this year's Festival, WEEK ONE (June 3-6) will feature: Larry Poindexter, along with Tony Todd (Transformers 2, 24) and Jessy Schram (TNT's new Spielberg series). WEEK TWO (June 10 -13) will feature: Jennifer Stone, Constance Zimmer, Lenny Jacobson, Michael J. Willett, Scott Lowell and Deborah Van Valkenburgh. WEEK THREE (June 17-20) will feature: Heather Morris, Michael Welch, Jenna Leigh Green. WEEK FOUR (June 24-27) will feature: Elaine Hendrix (The Parent Trap), Mackenzie Aladjem, and Todd Grinnell (Desperate Housewives, Parks and Recreation).
Directors and mentors for this year's Fest include: Three-time Emmy Award winner Barbara Bain, Tony Award nominee Jane Lanier, writer David Rambo (CSI, The Lady with All the Answers), Adam Belanoff (TNT's The Closer), 2010 Outer Critics Circle Award nominee Mark Saltzman (Tin Pan Alley Rag, Setup & Punch), Daniel Henning (Blank's Founding Artistic Director), Barry Primus, Jon Shear, Jonathan Tolins and Austin Winsberg. (full schedule follows).
June 3 - June 6
THE ENDS OF THE EARTH by Kate Herzlin Rockville Centre, NY Age 17Mentor: Mark Saltzman Director: Barbara Bain
Most parents SAY they'd go to the ends of the earth for their kids, but how many would actually be up for the journey? Devoted parents will embark on a difficult and challenging expedition in order to prove their love to their skeptical children.
A SIMPLE PROOF by Benjamin Sprung-Keyser Los Angeles, CA Age 17
Mentor: Robert L. Freedman Director: Michael Matthews
The students of the high school debate team argue the finer points of God's existence and find some revelations in the unlikeliest of places. How would you prove God exists?
ALLAN CHANG IS A TOTALLY BOGUS GHOST by Aliza Goldstein Jacksonville, FL Age 18
Mentor: Adam Belanoff Director: Kirsten Sanderson
In a split second, everything changed for best friends Allan, Luce, and Finn. Now, they grapple with unresolved questions that cut to the deepest matters of the heart. Can these three friends work past tragedy to create peace between them, once and for all?
June 10 - 13
RUDE AWAKENING by Marissa Bohrer Buffalo Grove, IL Age 17
Mentor: Gary Tieche Director: Warren Davis
When an angel appears at his bedside and warns him he's going to hell if he doesn't change his ways, Jeremy's got only a few short hours to redeem himself- can he make things right with the world before his number is up?
OLIVER & HANNAH by Michael Trottier Goffstown, NH Age 19
Mentor: David Rambo Director: Daniel Henning
A therapist carefully untangles the psyche of his complicated patient. As that world is delicately examined, shocking events are revealed.
MOMMY by Emma Steinkellner Santa Barbara, CA Age 15
Mentor: Dave Holstein Director: Jon Van Middlesworth
As if being a pregnant teenager isn't trouble enough, how does Julie explain to the other kids that she's still a virgin? And what will the rest of the world do when they find out about her Immaculate Conception? Saint Julie?
June 17 - 20
SOPHISTICATED BROADWAY by Danny Barry Buffalo Grove, IL Age 17
Mentor: Dean Mitchell Director: Jane Lanier
Musical theatre - ya either love it or you hate it! Annabel definitely HATES it and she delves into just why there are so many toe-tapping, Fosse-fingered lovers of Broadway out there...but does the lady protest too much?
MAY by May Treuhaft-Ali New York, NY Age 14
Mentor: Jen Huscza Director: Sara Israel
When the Breeze falls in love with a young girl, he must try everything he can to convince her their romance is worth pursuing. However, she has already fallen for a human boy...is there any way the Breeze can win?
HUNTER IN THE SNOW by Ava Kofman Los Angeles, CA Age 17
Mentor: Ellen Byron Director: Jon Shear
Larry is living the American Dream with a solid job, wife, and daughter. However, Larry is lonely and seeks connection both to himself and to others. Will a good dose of self reflection help him create the closeness he seems to have lost?
June 24 - 27
DISTANCE by Erik Mattos Mill Valley, CA Age 17
Mentor: Hilly Hicks Jr. Director: Barry Primus
Grief can lead the brain down confusing pathways. As Nora mourns the tragic death of her beloved pet dog, we learn that there is something far more distressing plaguing her family.
A SNAPSHOT OF MY FAMILY by Elyse Pitock Villanova, PA Age 17
Mentor: Jonathon Tolins Director: June Carryl
With a brother who has Asperger's Syndrome, Jocelyn is constantly torn between feeling embarrassed by his behavior and wanting to fiercely protect him. But, as in most families, it's the differences that are the glue that holds this complex family together.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT FROM A BANANA by Chase Yenser Whitehall, PA Age 18
Mentor and Director: Austin Winsberg
It's a news flash that sweeps the nation. Are you safe in your own home? Terror reigns when rogue bananas roam the streets and finally get to have their dreams come true...and everyone should be on full yellow alert.
Tickets are $15. A Festival pass is available for $50 and get pass holders one seat each week. Tickets and more information are available at TheBlank.com or by calling (323) 661-9827.
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 four public performances with professional Hollywood actors. In the past seventeen years, The Blank has produced 196 plays by teenaged playwrights. Eleven of those plays or playwrights have gone on to be presented on The Blank's Mainstage including Speech & Debate by Stephen Karam, a three-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".
The Blank Theatre Company's 18th Annual Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival plays Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm, June 3 through June 27, 2010 at The Stella Adler Theatre, 6773 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood 90028.
For more information visit http://www.youngplaywrights.com/
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