Plays by Young Writers 2016 to Be Held in January

Playwrights Project will produce its 31st annual festival of Plays by Young Writers, sponsored by the Sheila and Jeffrey Lipinsky Family Fund, at The Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center at The Old Globe on January 21 - January 31, 2016. The festival will feature winning scripts from its California Young Playwrights Contest for ages 18 and under.

Contest winners were selected from 269 plays submitted by students from across the state. Four scripts will receive full professional productions, and two scripts will receive staged readings in this highly regarded festival of new voices.

All contest submissions were evaluated by theatre professionals who volunteered their time and expertise. Final Judges in the selection process included Deborah Salzer (Founder of Playwrights Project), Martin Benson (Founding Co-Artistic Director of South Coast Rep), Randy Reinholz (Theatre Professor at San Diego State University and Producing Artistic Director, Native Voices at the Autry), Shirley Fishman (Resident Dramaturg of La Jolla Playhouse), and Derek Charles Livingston (Plays by Young Writers Festival Producer for the past four years). Ed Delos Reyes, Playwrights Project's new Contest Coordinator and Producer, and Cecelia Kouma, Executive Producer, chose the final plays for the season after interviewing the finalists. The selection criteria focused on a sense of truth, imagination, fresh use of language, and grasp of dramatic structure. All contest participants who requested feedback received individualized written critiques.

The Festival is divided into Program A (appropriate for ages 11+) and Program B (for ages 16+). Each program includes one staged reading and two full productions. Two acting ensembles will present the two different programs, with actors playing multiple roles.

While the older writers often create multifaceted teenager characters and the younger writers plays focus on characters who are inanimate objects or animals, each writer creates an engaging protagonist embarking on a significant journey to achieve a profound universal need -- friendship, equality, understanding, and personal relevance.

For tickets and more information, visit www.playwrightsproject.org/productions/pbyw.

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Program A for ages 11 and up

Full Productions
Fronteras Hechas del Dinero
Quarter Cup

Playwrights
Jennifer Curiel, age 18, Fallbrook
Lani Kording, age 17, Costa Mesa

Staged Reading
Daisy's Journey

Playwright
Sydney Alper, age 11, Rancho Pen?asquitos

Full productions directed by Ruff Yeager:

Fronteras Hechas del Dinero was written by Jennifer Curiel, who took part in a Playwrights Project program in Allison Trattner's theatre class at Pacific Ridge School her senior year. Jennifer is now attending Whittier College. Fronteras Hechas del Dinero translates to Borders Made of Money, and it tells the story of 16-year-old Sofia, who struggles with the choice of pursuing an education or supporting her family in a small house in Nayarit, Mexico. Jennifer's writing mentor will be Playwrights Project teaching artist and Plays by Young Writers alumna, Mabelle Reynoso.

Quarter Cup was written by 17 year old Lani Kording who attends Orange County School of the Arts. Quarter Cup, tells the story of Mitzi Petricca, a confident outgoing 16-year-old who is working hard to stay afloat in school despite hardships at home. Unaware of her challenges, her teachers are quick to judge her change in behavior as apathy, and award her a certificate of achievement for "A Quarter Cup of Potential."

Staged reading directed by Chelsea Kaufman, former festival producer:

Daisy's Journey by Sydney Alper, age 11, is about a flower who finds that warmth and friendship can come from unexpected places. Sydney took part in a playwriting residency in Ms. Blackmore's class at Mesa Verde Middle School in Rancho Penasquitos led by Founder Deborah Salzer.

Program B for ages 16 and up

Full Productions
The Acquittal
The Tangible Tollbooth

Playwrights
Emily Midgley, age 16, Carmel Valley
Alara Magritte Slonaker, age 17, San Mateo

Staged Reading
The Secret of Adventure

Playwright
Koushiki Bhattacharya, age 12, Rancho Penasquitos

Full productions directed by George Yé:

The Acquittal was written by Emily Midgley, who attends The Bishop's School in La Jolla. In Emily's play, set in a seemingly benevolent futuristic society, protagonist Jeston discovers the hidden forces of evil that are used to ensure the blind compliance of the people. Emily will be mentored by Aleta Barthell, and her play will be directed by George Yé.

The Tangible Tollbooth was written by Alara Slonaker from San Mateo, who she wrote her winning play "The Tangible Tollbooth" during a program at Hillsdale High School. The program was conducted by one of Playwrights Project's former teaching artists, Jake Arky, who is now the Associate Education Director at Theatre Works in the Bay Area. Alara's play reveals that the lives of four tollbooth workers on the Golden Gate Bridge are anything but ordinary.

Staged reading directed by Chelsea Kaufman, former festival producer:

The Secret of Adventure by Koushiki Bhattacharya tells the story of a puppy who struggles to find out what she wants: a life of freedom, or a life of comfort with her owner. Koushiki wrote her winning script in a playwriting program at Mesa Verde Middle School, which was taught by Teaching Artist Tori Rice in Ms. Kimble-Manalo's classroom.

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Schedule:

Public Performances
Saturday, January 23 - 7:30 PM - Opening Night (four full productions o readings)
Friday, January 29 - 7:30 PM - Program B
Saturday, January 30 - 2:00 PM - Program B
Saturday, January 30 - 7:30 PM - Program A
Sunday, January 31 - 2:00 PM - Program A

School Matinees
(available to press; not available to the general public)
Thursday, January 21 - 10:00 AM - Program A
Friday, January 22 - 10:00 AM - Program B
Tuesday, January 26 - 10:00 AM - Program A
Wednesday, January 27 - 10:00 AM - Program A
Thursday, January 28 - 10:00 AM - Program B
Friday, January 29 - 10:00 AM - Program A

Production Team:

Executive Producer - Cecelia Kouma
Producer - Ed Delos Reyes
Director - Program A Full Productions - Ruff Yeager
Director - Program B Full Productions - George Ye?
Director - Program Staged Readings - Chelsea Kaufman

Dramaturg - Fronteras Hechas del Dinero - Mabelle Reynoso
Dramaturg - Quarter Cup - Jessica Ordon
Dramaturg - Daisy's Journey - Tori Rice
Dramaturg - The Acquittal - Aleta Barthell
Dramaturg - The Tangible Tollbooth - Deborah Salzer
Dramaturg - The Secret of Adventure - Rhianna Basore

Production Stage Manager - Sharon Strich
Assistant Stage Manager - Beonica Bullard
Costume Design - Kate Bishop
Sound Design - Melanie Chen
Lighting Design - Chris Renda
Scenic Design - Kristen Flores
Properties Design - Angelica Ynfante
Technical Director - Andrew Young

About Playwrights Project: Playwrights Project advances literacy, creativity and communication by empowering individuals to voice their stories through playwriting programs and theatre productions.

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