My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Dirt Dogs Theatre Co. Names Selections For Annual Student Playwright Festival

The festival is on June 5, 2024 at 7:30pm.

By:
Dirt Dogs Theatre Co. Names Selections For Annual Student Playwright Festival

Plays by local high-school seniors, Obiajulu Mgbechi, Delilah Romero, and Thomas Fernandes have been chosen by Dirt Dogs Theatre Co. (DDTCo.) as selections for its sixth annual Student Playwright Festival. Each playwright is awarded a $500 scholarship and is paired with a Houston-based playwright as a mentor to fine-tune the plays and prepare them for production. The students will be guests of honor as their plays are performed at the MATCH – Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston on June 5, 2024.

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHTS

Obiajulu Mgbechi, a senior at Obra D. Tompkins High School, presents her play Tech Savvy in which teenage students face down inequality and privilege through participation in a city-wide app design competition. Mgbechi will be mentored by playwright, Crystal Rae, best known to Houston audiences as the author of Tied. Tech Savvy will be directed by Jeff Merriman, whose directorial credits include Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol, Almost, Maine, and Ann.

Delilah Romero is a senior at Spring High School. She presents Ephemeral, a story about Iris who is struggling to have a relationship with her verbally abusive father while trying to understand her overly optimistic mother. Romero is being mentored by author and playwright, Doug Williams, best known to Houston and DDTCo. audiences as co-author of The Boundary. Ephemeral will be directed by Curtis Barber who recently directed the DDTCo. productions of The Revolutionists, Misery, and The Birds.

Thomas Fernandes, a senior at Klein Oak High School, debuts his play The Butler Didn't Do It This Time (Trust Me). When the friend of two roommates is found murdered, a suspicious person appears in their apartment claiming to be a detective. If they want to find the real killer (and make it out alive), they may just have to trust him. Fernandes is mentored by Gwen Flager, author of Shakin' the Blue Flamingo produced by DDTCo. in 2022. The Butler Didn't Do It This Time (Trust Me) is directed by Jessica Jaye, whose Houston area directorial credits include Fame, Just Like Family, and Measure of a Man.



Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Direction of a Musical - Top 3
1. Michael Arden - The Lost Boys
24.6% of votes
2. Michael Mayer - Chess
14.5% of votes
3. Lear deBessonet - Ragtime
11.8% of votes

Need more Houston Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...


Videos


The Stable Genius in Houston The Stable Genius
Midtown Arts and Theater Center (5/21-5/31) VIDEOS
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Houston Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
A.D. Players at the George Theater (6/24-8/02)
Liverpool Legends "The Complete Beatles Experience!" in Houston Liverpool Legends "The Complete Beatles Experience!"
Stafford Centre (6/04-6/04)
I Only Have Fangs for You in Houston I Only Have Fangs for You
Cast Theatrical Company (6/05-6/28)
Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston Presents: Topsy-Turvy (with live pre-show performance) in Houston Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston Presents: Topsy-Turvy (with live pre-show performance)
River Oaks Theatre (6/02-6/02)
that drive thru monterey in Houston that drive thru monterey
Stages (5/08-6/07)
Jesus Christ Superstar in Houston Jesus Christ Superstar
Deluxe Theatre (8/14-8/17)
Drunk Pirates in Houston Drunk Pirates
Emerald Theatre (5/14-9/19)
Havana Grooves in Houston Havana Grooves
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (6/11-6/12)
Misery in Houston Misery
The Alley Theatre (5/29-6/21)