Dates: April 2-4, 2020
Run time: approximately 110 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission
Location: Bullitt Cabaret
Welcome to the 18th annual Young Playwrights Festival showcasing select new works from ACT’s Young Playwrights Program (YPP) in schools last fall. Eight talented writers aged 13-18 join with a professional team of local directors and actors to bring their new plays to life.
This year’s selection of staged readings features an exciting team of artists, including Gregory Award Winner Shermona Mitchell, ACT Theatre Core Company members Avery Clark and R. Hamilton Wright, and many other of your local favorites. Join us as we share the work of these amazing YPP writers!
Program A
Thursday, April 2 at 7:30pm
Saturday, April 4 at 4:00pm
The Lighthouse Has Spirits
By Natalie Williams, 10th grade, Ballard High School
Directed by Annie Lareau
Tomorrow Ain’t Promised
By Messiah Biney-McCullum, 12th grade, Garfield High School
Directed by Shermona Mitchell
To Be A Whale
By Sofia Fox, 12th grade, Garfield High School
Directed by Mimi Katano
Playing with Fire
By Henry Neiman, 12th grade, Garfield High School
Directed by Riley Gene
Program B
Friday, April 3 at 7:30pm
Saturday, April 4 at 1:00pm
The Things You Miss While You’re On Your Phone
By Mira Gross-Keck, 8th grade, TOPS K-8
Directed by Tracy Hyland
The Story of Us
By Harlen Mitchell, 9th grade, Highline High School
Directed by Ariel Bradler
One Screw Loose
By Maxon F. Shethar, 12th grade, Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences
Directed by José Amador
Estrella
By Sofia Dominguez, 12th grade, Lakeside School
Directed by Ana María Compoy
The Young Playwrights Program (YPP) is ACT Theatre’s flagship arts residency program. Since 2002, YPP has paired professional playwrights and theater artists with classroom teachers to engage middle and high school students into a deep, creative exploration of identity, the world we live in, and artistic voice. By the end of a YPP residency, each student develops an original, one-act play.
YPP aligns with Washington State Learning Standards for the Arts, English Language Arts Learning Standards, and 21st Century Skills development. Additionally, YPP provides support to students as they develop a creative cohort in the classroom that values creative risk-taking, self-expression, and a sense of belonging.
Often school partners showcase finished YPP plays during in-school assemblies or evening presentations, performed and/or directed by peers. Other plays are selected for the Young Playwrights Festival at ACT Theatre each spring.
ACT believes that our patrons can determine what is offensive for themselves, and what is appropriate for their children. We don’t create age restrictions but do our best to offer content advisories for each show. For detailed information about show content and possible triggers, please contact communications@dev.acttheatre.org.
“Helping each of these teen playwrights amplify their voice has been such an incredible experience. It’s tempting to say these are the voices of the future. But the reality is this: these playwrights are the voices of the present”