WHEN:  Thursday, November 3 at 7:30 p.m. 
Friday, November 4 at 8:00 p.m.                    
Saturday, November 5 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 5 at 8:00 p.m.

WHERE:  Temple University’s Tomlinson Theater, 13th and Norris Streets, Philadelphia

WHAT:  Philadelphia Young Playwrights and Temple Theaters’ annual collaboration presenting middle and high school plays and monologues; directed by theatre professionals and performed by Temple University undergraduate actors. Content is mature and appropriate for middle and high school students.   

ADMISSION:  Admission is FREE and open to the public. To reserve tickets online, visit www.PhillyYoungPlaywrights.org. Seating is general admission. For more information, call Philadelphia Young Playwrights at (215) 665-9226.

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia Young Playwrights kicks off the 2011-12 Play Development Series with New Voices: Workshop Productions of students plays and monologues, an annual presentation of student work, in collaboration with Temple University. On November 3, 4 and 5, greater Philadelphia’s most compelling young writers will team up with professional Philadelphia theatre artists to have their work presented at Tomlinson Theater (13th and Norris Streets, Philadelphia). The plays and monologues explore a wide range of subjects and universal themes and include stories about overcoming adversity, personal identity, family relationships, friendship, love and loss.

Philadelphia Young Playwrights’ New Voices: Workshop Productions gives middle and high school playwrights the opportunity to see their work presented in a professional workshop. As part of the showcase, the student playwrights are at the center of a two-week rehearsal and production process in which they interact directly with the director, dramaturg, actors and stage crew.

Participating students come from schools throughout the region. Philadelphia School District schools include J.R. Masterman,Parkway Northwest High School for Peace and Social Justice, Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and the Science Leadership Academy (a partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and the Franklin Institute). Other schools represented include The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia, Lower Merion High School in Montgomery County, and 21st Century Cyber Charter School.

Theatre artists David Mackay, David O’Connor, Ceal Phelan, Peter Reynolds, Lee Kenneth Richardson and Jan Silverman will direct the student plays and monologues which were selected from the 2011 Annual Playwriting Festival. Undergraduate student actors in the Department of Theater at Temple University will perform the readings.

2011 Annual PlaywritingFestival winners were chosen at each grade level, and each student who submitted a play received detailed comments from theatre professionals who read his or her script.  Other staged readings and productions will take place throughout the fall and winter including the upcoming Professional Productions presented by Philadelphia Young Playwrights in association with The Wilma Theater and 1812 Productions from November 29 – December 2 at The Wilma Theater.

SCHEDULE

All New Voices performances are held at Temple University’s Tomlinson Theater, located at 13th and Norris Streets in Philadelphia. Admission is FREE and open to the public. To reserve tickets online, visit www.PhillyYoungPlaywrights.org. Seating is general admission. Content is mature and appropriate for middle and high school audiences. For moreinformation, call Philadelphia Young Playwrights at (215) 665-9226.

Program One – Thursday, November 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 6 at 8:00 p.m.

Each play or monologue summary is written by the student playwright. *School noted at the time of submission to the Annual Playwriting Festival.

Home 
By Madeleine McComb, Lower Merion High School
Directed by Ceal Phelan
About: Two people in a bar talk about loss and family.

But, I’ve Got My Fingers and These Ashes 
By Manna-Symone Middlebrooks, Science Leadership Academy
Directed by David Mackay 
­About: In this play, we are able to see life through the eyes of the higher-ups and workers in the world of sweatshop labor.

Racing with Angels
By Nashetah Tucker, Parkway Northwest High School for Peace and Social Justice 
Directed by Jan Silverman
About: Victoria Hope Bradshaw is a 16-year-old girl who discovers that she is a good track runner. As she grows closer to her coach, Coach Johnson, she struggles to get through the season and deal with her drug-addicted mother and abusive stepfather.

It’s Chuck
By Jennifer Wright, Science Leadership Academy
Directed by Ceal Phelan 
About: Charlie is a kid going into the 7th grade. He was picked on a lot in middle school and the first day offers him a chance to change his status as well as his name with the help of Mom and his friends.

Program #2 – Friday, November 4at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 5at 2:00 p.m.

Timeline
By Pascale Smith, 21st Century Cyber Charter School
Directed by Lee Kenneth Richardson 
About: This one-act play follows the life of Grace, visiting her at several at several periods of her life and exploring the evolution of her character from childhood to old age.

After the Apple 
By Hannah Field, The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush 
Directed by Peter Reynolds
About: Eliza is a normal teenage girl, until her true love’s kiss leaves her waking up as Snow White in a life she can’t remember.

Rain
By Victoria Pham, J.R. Masterman School
Directed by David O’Connor
About: Rain is a silent play about a little girl who is invisible to the world. She is content to live life by herself, but as she interacts with other people, she begins to explore the power of speech and friendship.

Pushing the Wrong Buttons
By Tom Gugliuzza, Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts
Directed by Ceal Phelan 
About: The story of an abusive relationship and divorce through the eyes of a remote control.

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