DCPA Announces Finalists For 2017/18 Regional High School Playwriting Competition

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) is pleased to announce the finalists of the fifth annual Regional High School Playwriting Workshop and Competition for Colorado high school students.

Out of 153 submissions and 10 semifinalists, DCPA artistic, literary and education professionals have selected Emmaleth Ryan (Grandview High School), Julianna Luce and Trinell Samuel (Vista Peak Preparatory), and Noah Jackson (Girls Athletic Leadership School) as the three finalists in the annual playwriting competition. Each student will receive mentorship from a professional playwright and have their plays read at the 2018 Colorado New Play Summit on Saturday, February 24 at 8pm in The Conservatory Theatre. Finalists also receive a $250 cash scholarship and a complimentary pass to the Colorado New Play Summit. One submission will be selected for a full production during DCPA Education's 2018 teen summer program.

"These young playwrights are the next generation of theatre. It is our responsibility and our privilege to encourage them and give them the tools to succeed," said Allison Watrous, Executive Director of DCPA Education. "We launched the one-act play playwriting competition in 2013 to nurture Colorado's promising young playwrights, create new plays and inspire creativity. In just five short years, we've been thrilled with the response: 730 submissions and nearly 13,598 students served through the program, giving voice to the next generation of American theatre."

The 2017/18 Regional High School Playwriting Workshop and Competition served 3,002 students at 57 schools in 20 counties statewide. DCPA teaching artists conducted 146 playwriting workshops within 20 counties. Each finalist's teacher will receive a $250 gift certificate for books, supplies, or other teaching tools for their classrooms.

2017-18 Finalists: (Alphabetical by title)

• Sleep No More by Emmaleth Ryan, Grandview High School
• Technical Difficulties by Julianna Luce and Trinell Samuel, Vista Peak Preparatory
• Wine Colored Lip Gloss by Noah Jackson, Girls Athletic Leadership School

2017-18 Semifinalists: (Alphabetical by title)

• Don't Be Fooled by Murphy Manor by Katanu Mwendwa, DSST: Conservatory Green High School
• Forces of the Universe Anonymous by Amelia Middlebrooks and Ashley Wright, Valor Christian High School (Middlebrooks) and Homeschool (Wright)
• The Girl in the Yellow Dress by Gemma Vincent, Gunnison High School
• Invisible Scars by Callista Zaronias, Peak to Peak Charter School
• Sleep No More by Emmaleth Ryan, Grandview High School
• Technical Difficulties by Julianna Luce and Trinell Samuel, Vista Peak Preparatory
• Trauma Bay Five by Arianna Josue, Lakewood High School
• An Unforeseen Stop by Cameron Barnard, Eliza Keating and Joshua Martelon, Cherry Creek High School
• Wine Colored Lip Gloss by Noah Jackson, Girls Athletic Leadership School
• A World Out There by Micah Wilborn, Air Academy High School

Honorable Mention: (Alphabetical by title)

• Los Amorios by Catalin Varela, Castle View High School
• This Play is Literally Impossible to Perform by Caroline Storey, Compass Montessori High School

The 2017/18 Regional High School Playwriting Workshop and Competition is sponsored by Robert and Judi Newman Family Foundation with matching gifts from The Ross Foundation, June Travis and Transamerica. For more information on all youth playwright finalists, visit denvercenter.org/news-center.

ABOUT THE DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) is the largest non-profit theatre organization in the nation, presenting Broadway tours and producing theatre, cabaret, musicals, and innovative, multimedia plays. Last season the DCPA engaged with more than 1.1 million visitors and served nearly 106,000 students of all ages and skill levels through classes, in-school programs, matinees and audience engagement opportunities. Follow the DCPA on social media @DenverCenter and through the Denver Center for the Performing Arts News Center.

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