Pegasus Theatre's 29th YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL to be Held in January

Pegasus Theatre Chicago shines the spotlight on the next generation of authors at its 29th YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL, featuring three world premiere works written by Chicago high school students and staged in a professional production. This year's festival will play January 1 - 23, 2016 at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.PegasusTheatreChicago.org or by calling Ovation Tickets at (866) 811-4111. The press opening is Monday, January 4 at 7 pm.

The YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL is a citywide playwriting competition that gives voice to Chicago high schoolers by teaching them to craft one-act plays. The winning teens join with professional directors and actors to workshop and stage their scripts as part of Pegasus Theatre Chicago's main stage season. The second oldest such festival in the country, the competition enhances language arts, encourages independent, high-level thinking and strong personal values and influences career development for area teens.

The 2015 competition, which encouraged students to explore the theme of "expectations," received 500 submissions. This year's winners include Myka Buck of Kenwood Academy (Our Little Secret), Brian Hayes of Taft High School (The Adventures of FeRB) and Keauna Pierce of Lane Tech High School (A Cup of Souls and One Grim Reaper, Please).

The 29th YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL will feature Chris Acevedo, Chris Cinereski, Will Kiley, Shadana Patterson, Erica Pezza, Danielle Rennalls, Brenann Stacker and Eric Walter.