Four Local High School Students Receive Joseph Curka Playwrighting Prize at Young Playwrights Competition

Eight gifted students were honored at THE THEATER PROJECT'S eleventh annual Young Playwrights Competition Performance and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, March 16. The four prize winners received savings bonds and saw their work performed by the professional actors of THE THEATER PROJECT at the ceremony, held at the Cranford Community Center with the support of the Friends of the Cranford Library. Four additional writers were presented with honorable mention citations and gift certificates.

The Joseph Curka Prize received by the students honors the memory of Mrs. Marion Curka's late husband. Mrs. Curka is a long-time friend and supporter of The Theater Project, an award winning professional company whose next production, HAVING OUR SAY, will be presented at the Burgdorff Center in Maplewood April 4 -21. The Theater Project also presents free monthly workshops at the Cranford Community Center, with the support of the Friends of the Cranford Library.

The goal of the competition is to encourage the next generation of theater practitioners and audience by honoring their work and bringing it to life. The competition was inspired by a generous donation from Bill Mesce, Jr. Linden resident Mesce, who addressed the audience, is an award-winning playwright/screenwriter whose novels have been published by Bantam Books. The winner of the 2006 competition, Jake Brandman of Westfield, now a graduate of New York University's playwrighting program, also attended the ceremony to honor the efforts of the student authors, and shared his experiences with the audience. He advised students to learn on their own as well in the classroom: "Get a few of your friends to read your play and a few more to watch it, you can make it happen - instant theater."

Christine Vapsva of Berkeley Heights received first prize; Reeve Harden of Newton won second. Tied for third were Nicholas Cho of Glen Rock and Emma Ohlig of Westfield. Honorable mentions were given to Phillip Anastassiou (Tenafly), Rebecca Koch (Washington Township), Ashley Neal (Scotch Plains), and Sophia Nitkin (Linden).

The presentation was performed by professional actors who regularly appear in The Theater Project's productions. "Participation in the arts builds fundamental skills in reading, writing and critical thinking," says Theater Project artistic director Mark Spina, "The actors and directors here today donated their time because they know they are helping to create a future generation of theatergoers and practitioners, people with the ability to listen, interpret, evaluate, empathize, and imagine."