Philadelphia Young Playwrights to Host 2013 New Voices Workshops at Temple Theatres, 10/10-19

Philadelphia Young Playwrights is working with students from area high schools and middle schools, some of the region's top professional directors, and casts of students from Temple Theaters to begin the 2013 New Voices Workshops. This series of performances features monologues and plays written by middle school and high school students during the previous school year. These works were first place winners of Young Playwright's 2013 Annual Playwriting Festival. The workshop performances mark the first time the plays are being produced. The monologues were selected from the winning monologues workshopped during the Young Voices Monologue Festival in Spring 2013.

Performances will run at Temple University's Randall Theater, 2020 N. 13th Street, from October 10-19. Tickets are free, but reservations need to be made in advance by calling Philadelphia Young Playwrights at 215-665-9226 or online at www.PhiladelphiaYoungPlaywrights.org.

This year Philadelphia Young Playwrights received about 1200 submissions from over 40 schools. All of the scripts were reviewed by PYP's Literary Committee. Committee members read each script and provided students with individualized written feedback. First, second and third place distinctions are awarded at the elementary, middle and high school levels. This year's winners represent Julia R. Masterman High School, Murrell Dobbins High School, Philadelphia Creative and Performing Arts High School, Lower Merion High School, Meade School, Upper Dublin High School, West Philadelphia High School, Science Leadership Academy, and Episcopal Academy. The works have been divided into two bills running on separate nights. The plays deal with a range of issues that include dealing with a sibiling with special needs, the importance of a friend, issues with being new to the country, and more.

Schedules
Bill One:
Performance Dates and Times:
Thursday, October 10 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 12 at 8 p.m.
Tuesday, October 15 at 7 p.m.
Thursday, October 17 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 19 at 8 p.m.

Featuring
Africa - Not the Country, the Continent, By Oyindamola Alliyu
Julia R. Masterman High School, 9th Grade
Directed by Malika Oyetimein

Side Effects, By Jon Barr
Episcopal Academy, 11th Grade
Directed by Jan Silverman

Star Dance, By Bysheera Moore-Williams
Science Leadership Academy, 10th Grade
Directed by Shavon Norris

My New Boyfriend (monologue), By Nkechi Sprowal
Murrell Dobbins High School, 10th Grade
Directed by Jan Silverman

Depilatory, By Sara Prendergast
Philadelphia Creative and Performing Arts High School, 10th Grade
Directed by Suzana Berger

Bill Two:
Performance Dates and Times:
Friday, October 11 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 12 at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, October 16 at 7 p.m.
Friday, October 18 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 19 at 2 p.m.

Featuring

Autism Speaks (monologue), By Lisa Gardner
Lower Merion High School, 10th Grade
Directed by Lee Richardson

The Perfect Friend, By Egypt Staley
Meade School, 8th Grade
Directed by Zak Berkman and Teri Lamm

Basic Cable, By Emily Zauzmer
Upper Dublin High School, 11th Grade
Directed by Lee Etzold

Nothing I Do is Good Enough (monologue), By James Rodgers
West Philadelphia High School, 12th Grade
Directed by Lee Richardson

Jack in the Box, By Naihema Powell
Science Leadership Academy, 10th Grade
Directed by David Stradley

There will be two special student matinees on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at 10 a.m. Those matinees will feature Africa - Not the Country, the Continent, Star Dance, Depilatory, and My New Boyfriend. For more information on the matinees, please call the Philadelphia Young Playwrights Offices at 215-665-9226.