Barter Theatre Young Playwrights Festival

Barter Theatre announced the winners of the 9th Annual Young Playwrights Festival (YPF), Monday, Nov. 8, 2010. Winners were chosen from twelve area high schools, with more than 180 students participating in this year's festival.
 
The winner of the YPF First place prize of $500 went to "The Mrs. Monty Situation" by Chelsea Thrasher of Abingdon High School. Miss Thrasher is a repeat honoree, having received the third-place award in last year's festival. The writing team comprised of Drew Bailey, Aaron Haynes, and Jeff Preptit, of Tennessee High brought home the second-place prize with "What's in a Name?" which earned the young men a cash award of $100 each. Rounding out the top three was Brooke Widner of Chilhowie High who received third-place honors and a $200 cash prize for "Murderous Success." The Prather Foundation has sponsored cash prizes for the past four years.
 
The five honorable-mention plays were "The Acker" by Cassidy Taylor of Jonesborough Repertory Theatre's Education Program; "How to Pick Your Nose" by Sam Taylor of Marion Senior High; "Inside the Walls" by Sarah Collie of Holston High; "Deliberations" by McKalia Coleman and Rachel Bolinger and "So Long" by Lauralee Yeary all of Abingdon High.

Teachers and students received their trophies and plaques after Barter professionals staged readings of winning plays at Barter Stage II. A reception in honor of the students and their teachers took place immediately following the awards presentation.
 
Every fall, the Young Playwrights Festival is open to high school students in southwest Virginia, northeast Tennessee and southeast West Virginia. To participate in the program, students in groups of no more than three write and submit plays to Barter Theatre through their schools.
 
This year's participants hailed from Tennessee High, Lebanon High, Council High, Marion Senior High, Chilhowie High, Northwood High, Abingdon High, Holston High, Williamson High, Jonesborough Repertory Theatre's Education Program, and two new schools to the festival: Lee High and Daniel Boone High.
 
Bank of America, The Prather Foundation and Crutchfield sponsored this annual event, which is part of Barter Theatre's Educational Outreach Program. The Educational Outreach Program includes not only the Young Playwrights Festival, but also The Barter Players' season in Abingdon and tour, and new and emerging e-learning opportunities for the region's youth. For more information about Barter Theatre's educational programming, please contact Karen Sabo at education@bartertheatre.com or (276) 619-3344, or Tere Land at playertours@bartertheatre.com or (276) 619-3347.