Plays by writers aged 16–19 will be staged July 10–13 at Skylight Theatre in Los Feliz.
The Blank Theatre has announced casting for week one of its 33rd Annual Young Playwrights Festival, taking place July 10–13 at the Skylight Theatre in Los Feliz.
The acclaimed festival will present 12 winning plays by writers aged 16 to 19 from across the country. Week one will showcase Chess in the Park by Max Leventon (age 17, Greenwich, CT), Revolutionary by Maya Rosen (age 19, Holliston, MA), and Noor-Eh-Man (My Light) by Keya Mehta (age 16, Glenmont, NY).
Cast: Toks Olagundoye (Veep, DuckTales, Castle, The Rookie) and Ptolemy Slocum (Westworld, Looking, Hitch).
Directed by Jazmine Nichelle | Mentored by Dave Osmundsen
Landon, lost in his thoughts while packing up his chess set, is surprised by his ex-wife Mira. As the two play, she confronts him about his emotional distance, especially from their son, in a haunting story about regret and final chances.
Cast includes: Seth Allyn Austin, Scott Bender, Joe Choi, Nathalia Coppa, Jonathan Fishman, Michael Houston, Barbera Ann Howard, Lenny Jacobson, Les “Eljaye” Jennings, Cait Pool, and Elle Van Dorpe.
Directed by Arianna Basco | Mentored by Zora Bikangaga
In the town of Podunkytunk, a fiercely guarded “vessel rights” amendment forbids traffic lights. When a constable attempts to install a roundabout, the town spirals into public hearings and constitutional chaos in this sharp, surreal comedy.
Cast: Amber Afzali, Abdullah Khalil, Abbe Rowlins, and Arezu Tavakoli.
Directed by Camille Chen | Mentored by Vichet Chum
Set in Tehran, this searing intergenerational drama follows a group of young women resisting the morality police's hijab mandates. It’s a powerful tale of fire, grief, and unflinching resistance.
Dates: July 10–13, 2025
Times: Thursday & Friday at 8PM, Saturday & Sunday at 2PM
Location: Skylight Theatre, 1816 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027
Tickets: Admission is free; reservations recommended at www.theblank.com
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