2025 Young Playwrights 10-Minute Play Contest Winners Revealed

Palm Beach Dramaworks has announced the 10 winners of its eighth annual Young Playwrights 10-Minute Play Contest (YPC). The plays will receive a staged reading by professional actors in front of an audience at the Don & Anne Brown Theatre on Wednesday, March 12 at 7pm. Tickets are free, but reservations are required.

In addition, It's Only Life, a revue by composer and lyricist John Bucchino, will be performed by talented teenagers from Palm Beach County for three performances, June 27 and 28 at 7pm, and June 29 at 2pm. The show is being staged by theAcademy@pbd, a summer program that offers rigorous, professional-level training for both teen actors and stage managers, and creates a safe and positive environment for optimal learning. “It's Only Life is a beautiful musical about longing, fulfillment, loss, triumph and – ultimately – wisdom,” said Director of Education and Community Engagement Gary Cadwallader. “It's an opportunity for our Academy@pbd actors to explore what it means to be human.” Tickets are $15 for students and $35 for adults.

The YPC was established to introduce the joy of writing for live theatre to high school students and to give them an outlet for expressing their thoughts and ideas. The program proved to be so popular that in 2023 PBD launched the Young Playwrights 1-Minute Play Contest for middle school students. The winning plays for that contest will be announced in late March.

“We were thrilled to receive powerful, thought-provoking plays from students who are reacting to the challenges and anxieties of what is happening in our community and in the world,” said Cadwallader, who is directing all the plays. “Working with the 10 winners on their plays has been an extraordinary experience, and I can't wait for the public to see their work on our stage.”

Following are the names of the winning playwrights (in alphabetical order) of the 10-Minute Contest, along with their grade, school, and teacher.

Zepplyn Berry 11        Dreyfoos School of the Arts     Kristina Leljedal 

Ford Cash 12         The Benjamin School          Jason Peck 

Fredericka D'Loughy 12 The Benjamin School          Jason Peck 

Namah Horton 11       Donna Klein Jewish Academy  Zoraida Adams

Hudson Reynolds* 11    G-Star School of the Arts       Gretchen Porro 

Yair D. Roman* 12      G-Star School of the Arts       Gretchen Porro 

Rachael Rotter 12       The Benjamin School          Jason Peck 

Atlas Saavreda 11       Dreyfoos School of the Arts     Kristina Leljedal 

Oliver Shane* 12        William T. Dwyer High School   Alison Ferrucci 

Sean Sheehan 12       The Benjamin School          Jason Peck

(*Oliver Shane has been a winner three years in a row. It's the second time for Yair D. Roman and Hudson Reynolds.) Each of the student playwrights will be awarded a $250 prize and receive a keepsake anthology of the winning plays.

The Young Playwrights 10-Minute Play Contest provides teens with the chance to write about subjects that are meaningful to them, and to inspire teachers to incorporate playwriting into their classrooms. The young playwrights are invited to participate in the rehearsal process, where they learn how professional playwrights, directors, and actors work together to revise and strengthen their plays. Meredith Bartmon and Emma Sue Harris are the dramaturgs.

To reserve your free ticket to the 10-Minute Play Contest or purchase tickets for It's Only Life, visit palmbeachdramaworks.org or call the box office at 561.514.4042, x2.

Miami Metro Awards - Live Stats

Best Musical - Top 3

1. SWEENEY TODD (Inside Out theatre company)

11.4% of votes

2. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Lake Worth Playhouse)

8.9% of votes

3. WEST SIDE STORY (Delray Beach Playhouse)

8.2% of votes

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