City Theatre Announces Six Young Playwrights Contest Winners; Festival to Run 9/30-10/10

City Theatre is pleased to announce six Young Playwrights Contest winners who will develop their scripts in collaboration with professional theatre artists-a director, dramaturgs, and actors-for productions in City Theatre's Hamburg Studio during the 15th annual Young Playwrights Festival, September 30 - October 10, 2014.

Middle School Winners:

Attack of the Psycho Geese from Outer Space!

by Weston Custer

Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12

The Bat Boy

by Joseph Bornes

Sharpsville Middle School

Cologne

by Michelle Do

North Hills Middle School

High School Winners:

The Cellar

by Casey Zadinski

South Fayette High School

Conflict

by Michael Kelly

Moon Area High School

Dream House

by Drew Praskovich

Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12

In addition to producing the six winning plays, City Theatre will also feature readings of three plays that were selected as Young Playwrights Contest finalists, as follows.

Finalists:

Catch That Bird

by Brenda Nicole Dressel

Canon-McMillan High School

God Hates Pancakes

by Madeline Smith

Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12

The Now

by Daniel DiFabio

Washington High School

The winning and finalist one-act plays were selected from a record 305 Young Playwrights Contest submissions. Students from middle and high schools in Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia are eligible to participate. Each script is read by at least two members of the Literary Committee, comprised of 60 theatre professionals from across the United States. All writers who submit scripts receive constructive criticism and encouraging suggestions for continued revisions.

"Young Playwrights encourages student writers to make their voices heard and to take ownership of their work in a professional, artistic environment," says Kristen Link, City Theatre's Director of Education and Accessibility. "Through our playwriting program, students not only learn a new craft, but also discover different ways to think critically, connect with their peers, and form valuable networks within the local theatre industry."

This October, City Theatre's Young Playwrights Festival will showcase diverse theatrical storytelling, including identity crisis in Barbie and Ken's Dream House, adventures with a psycho goose from outer space, and more. Subjects tackled range from sports and time travel to alcoholism and death in combat, with imaginative stage directions and vivid characters throughout.

Young Playwrights Festival tickets will go on sale September 2, online at CityTheatreCompany.org or by phone at 412.431.CITY (2489). The full festival schedule will be announced.

Young Playwrights is City Theatre's comprehensive, dynamic approach to arts education serving teachers, students, and the Pittsburgh community. The program fulfills state and Common Core academic standards, including Arts & Humanities and Reading, Writing, Speaking, & Listening. Four major components make up the Young Playwrights program: the Young Playwrights Teacher Institute, In-School Workshops, the Young Playwrights Contest, and the Young Playwrights Festival.

City Theatre's 40th anniversary season begins this fall. Located on Pittsburgh's historic South Side, City Theatre specializes in new plays, commissioning and producing work by playwrights including Daniel Beaty, Jessica Dickey, Christopher Durang, Michael Hollinger, Willy Holtzman, Tarell McCraney, and Theresa Rebeck. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Tracy Brigden, Managing Director Mark R. Power, and a 45-member Board of Directors, City Theatre's mission is to provide an artistic home for the development and production of contemporary plays of substance and ideas that engage and challenge a diverse audience. CityTheatreCompany.org