Family-Friendly KIDSPEAK Competition Showcases Talents of Young Playwrights This Weekend

What happens when Carrollwood Players Theatre gives Tampa Bay third through seventh students free reign to create short one act plays for its inaugural Black Box playwriting competition?

This weekend, April 2 and 3, KIDSPEAK is what happens when a cast of nine new and returning actors delve into the vivid imaginations of eight young playwrights.

Throughout December and January, Carrollwood Players Theatre invited budding young playwrights throughout Tampa Bay to submit new, original short plays for its first youth playwriting challenge.

The family-friendly presentation of KIDSPEAK brings the imagination of children to life as eight short plays receive their world premiere as a staged reading with a cast of adult actors in the CWP Black Box.

KIDSPEAK offers the performers no set, props or costume to rely upon. Through only the use of their voice and facial expressions will the students' characters come to life.

Forty-four submissions were whittled down to 8 selected plays from playwrights ages 9 ½ through 12. Young playwrights from Hillel Academy of Tampa, Branchburg Middle School and Academy Prep Center of Tampa will soon see their words brought to life.

From comedies, dramas and mysteries, featured short plays are The Three Wandering Friends by Sitar Ben-Herut, age 9 1/2, Bullied by Anysea Strickland, age 10, The Haunted House by Ailen Correa, age 10, The Golden Cone by Amari Cole, age 11, Leave Me Alone by Aiyana Farquharson, age 11, Battletron NX3 by Rowan Moss, age 11, Bank Robbery by Daisy Suarez-Garcia, age 12, and Lost and Found by Qemamu Reddick, age 12.

Patron votes will make a difference in this one-of-a-kind competition.

At the close of Sunday's show, one young playwright will be announced as the winner, based upon audience and judges' vote and will receive a trophy. All others playwrights will receive a certificate of merit for participating in the inaugural KIDSPEAK.

The consensus of the young playwrights is that they are looking forward to seeing their words on stage, how the audience reacts and what emotions they feel.

KIDSPEAK is Saturday April 2 at 8pm and Sunday April 3 at 3pm. Carrollwood Players is a 501(c)3 nonprofit located at 4333 Gunn Hwy. Black Box tickets are just $10 and available online and at the theatre. Additional information and tickets are available at www.carrollwoodplayers.org/kidspeak.