Philadelphia Young Playwrights & InterAct Theatre Company Present the 2012 Young Voices High School Monologue Festival

Winning student monologues from area high schools will be performed during the 2012 Young Voices High School Monologue Festival from March 28 – 31 at The Adrienne (2030 Sansom Street, Philadelphia). Presented through the on-going partnership of Philadelphia Young Playwrights and InterAct Theatre Company, the festival highlights student pieces that range from poignant to light-hearted and offer a surprising insight into current issues such as addiction, race identity, war and the economy. Philadelphia Young Playwrights' recently appointed Resident Director David O'Connor will serve as the Festival's Production Director and will oversee a cast and crew of professional theater artists from the Philadelphia region.

This year's Monologue Festival received just over 400 entries, exceeding last year's total by more than 100 submissions. The 17 winning monologues were chosen from 13 participating high schools: the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Academy at Palumbo, Central High School, Constitution High School, High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, J. R. Masterman, Lower Merion High School, Murrell Dobbins C. T. E., Neumann-Goretti, Science Leadership Academy, Philadelphia High School for Girls, South Philadelphia High School and West Philadelphia High School. 

Among the actors bringing the works to life are alumni of the Young Playwrights program, including up-and-coming writer/director/actress Pascale Smith (performing in Pretention Detention, The Old Us), Philadelphia Young Playwrights Youth Council Member Joshua Lynch (Am I A Man or a Coward, Letters of War, Orange Paper) and Philadelphia Young Playwrights' Programs Assistant Anjoli Santiago (Addiction, Guilt, Wake Up and Smell the Glitter). Content and language is mature and appropriate for high school audiences.

All student matinees are FREE and only open to invited student groups. For reservations to student matinees, contact Anjoli Santiago at (215) 665-9226. Ticketed performances are $10 and open to the general public. Tickets are available at the InterAct Theatre Company Box Office by phone at (215) 568-8079.