Young Playwrights Festival 2013 to Deliver Comedy and Character to The Rose, 4/18-21

From mysterious meteorites to the heartfelt moments between mother and daughter, stories by Omaha teens take the stage at the Young Playwrights Festival, April 18-21 at The Rose. The 16th annual Festival showcases a large ensemble of talented teen actors, six creative young writers, and three professional director mentors, in the culmination of a year-long class led by The Rose's award-winning Playwright-in-Residence, Brian Guerhing.

"I love helping teen writers find their voice and express themselves through writing," said Guerhing, who's helped translate their passions, observations, and quirky senses of humor into scripts with strong conflicts, unique character voices, and satisfying conclusions. "Teen writers have such unique points of view on the world, and all six of these works helps celebrate them."

In Closing Curtain, by Sarah Sindelar, a group of five high school seniors connected by theatre reflects high school before it's time to leave the school and stage behind. In 10,000 Masks by Megan McCracken, a sixteen year-old-girl who's just moved to town shows that everyone has someone they want to be, someone they used to be, and someone they really are. Continuing the theme of personal identity, Maggie Fey's Remembering Evan recounts a mother's story to her daughter, about a boy from high school who helped her grow into the woman she is.

"Over the past 16 years, the Young Playwrights program has developed many unique teen writers," said Guehring. "Whether they're earning BFA's in dramatic writing; studying theater in college as actors, designers and directors; or going on to study philosophy, medicine, law or education; the skills they developed in Young Playwrights has helped them gain confidence, share their points of view, and have lots of creative fun."

In addition to dramatic situations, the plays also feature a healthy dose of comedy and mystery.

When Geometry, Art, Music, History, Drama, and Geography show up for an overnight sleepover at school, horror ensues in Homework By Emma Hampp. For four teenagers in There Goes the Clock by Tricia Hughes, it's a chance to have a laugh and explore an old house-but Elyse knows the sinister truth behind the game. And after a meteorite crashes into the small town of Cornaska, Nebraska, four residents set out to discover the truth, in Death by Meteor(ite) By Annah Shipman.

The teens have been working on their playwriting all school year in Saturday morning workshops. The fall semester was dedicated to reviewing and honing their playwriting skills, while the winter was spent generating ideas and concepts for the Festival. They've focused the spring term on revising their scripts, finishing drafts, and giving each other feedback.

Not only are the plays written by teens, but will be performed by teens, as well. Actors include: Deirdre Burgdorf (Omaha North High School), Jennifer Cerriteno (Sword of the Spirit), Daniel Elkins (Home School), Christina Epperson (Central Middle School), Emma Hampp (Central Middle School), Tina Huynh (Abraham Lincoln High School), Maggie Jeffrey (Duchesne Academy), Kelly McGonigal (Marian High School), Charlie Robinson (Bennington High School), Allie Trefz (Papillion-LaVista South High School), Gina Wilcox (Russell Middle School), and Paige Wolfe (LaVista Junior High).

"Working with an original piece that has never been done before is cool because you can really make it your own," said actor Burgdorf. "A piece that's written by teens is easier to understand because we relate to what the characters experience and the adversity they face."

Young Playwrights Festival will be presented April 18th at 7 p.m and Sunday, April 21^st at 4:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 and available at the door or in advance by calling the Box Office at (402) 345-4849. Tickets are not available online. For more information, visit www.rosetheater.org.

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