January 19 – 29, 2017.
The Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in the Conrad Prebys Theatre
Center at The Old Globe
Center at The Old Globe
Sponsored by the Sheila and Jeffrey Lipinsky Family
Fund, the festival will
feature winning scripts from its California Young Playwrights Contest for ages
18 and under.
Fund, the festival will
feature winning scripts from its California Young Playwrights Contest for ages
18 and under.
 |
| From left to right: Matthew Maceda of The Dumping Ground, Cassandra Hsiao of Supermarket of Lost, Katie Taylor of Pros and Cons, Eliana Dunn of Hackathon, Minh-Son Tran and Samantha Rafter of A Play on Words, and Absinthe McDonald of Turtle on a Rock. Photo: Geri Goodale of Reminisce Photography |
Contest winners were selected from 385 plays submitted by
students from across the state. Four scripts will receive full professional
productions, and two scripts will receive staged readings in this highly
regarded festival of new voices.
students from across the state. Four scripts will receive full professional
productions, and two scripts will receive staged readings in this highly
regarded festival of new voices.
All 385 contest submissions were evaluated blindly by the Ed
Delos Reyes (Contest Coordinator) and a pool of theatre professionals who
volunteered their time and expertise. The top 70 scripts were reviewed by
Cecelia Kouma (Executive Producer), who worked with the Contest Coordinator to
choose 16 finalists whose plays were evaluated by Final Judges. Final Judges in the selection process
included Jennifer Thorn (Associate Artistic Director, MOXIE Theater), Danielle
Ward (Literary Manager at the San Diego REPertory Theatre), Monique Gaffney
(prominent local actor), and Ruff Yeager (prominent local
actor/director/playwright/producer and adjunct instructor at Southwestern College).
Yeager (who is also serving as Festival Artistic Director) and Kouma chose the
final plays for the season based on the judges’ feedback and interviews of top
finalists.
Delos Reyes (Contest Coordinator) and a pool of theatre professionals who
volunteered their time and expertise. The top 70 scripts were reviewed by
Cecelia Kouma (Executive Producer), who worked with the Contest Coordinator to
choose 16 finalists whose plays were evaluated by Final Judges. Final Judges in the selection process
included Jennifer Thorn (Associate Artistic Director, MOXIE Theater), Danielle
Ward (Literary Manager at the San Diego REPertory Theatre), Monique Gaffney
(prominent local actor), and Ruff Yeager (prominent local
actor/director/playwright/producer and adjunct instructor at Southwestern College).
Yeager (who is also serving as Festival Artistic Director) and Kouma chose the
final plays for the season based on the judges’ feedback and interviews of top
finalists.
The selection criteria focused on creative ideas, intriguing
and authentic characters, fresh use of language, a story that is revealed
through dialogue and action, and a script that would benefit from further
development in the production process.
and authentic characters, fresh use of language, a story that is revealed
through dialogue and action, and a script that would benefit from further
development in the production process.
The Festival is divided into Program A (appropriate for ages
11+) and Program B (for ages 16+).
Each
program includes one staged reading and two full productions. Two acting ensembles will present the two
different programs, with actors playing multiple roles.
program includes one staged reading and two full productions. Two acting ensembles will present the two
different programs, with actors playing multiple roles.
Program A for ages 11 and up
Full Productions
- Supermarket of Lost Playwright: Cassandra Hsiao, age 16, Walnut
- Hackathon Playwright: Eliana Dunn, age 16, Pacifica
Staged Reading
- Turtle on a Rock Playwright
Absinthe McDonald, age 12, San Diego
In Supermarket of Lost two teenagers and a young girl meet
by chance in a mysterious warehouse where you can recover what you’ve lost in
exchange for something of equal value. As their friendship develops, they
discover a compelling difference between what we lose and what we choose to
give away. The play was written by Cassandra Hsiao, at age 16, while attending
Orange County School of the Arts. Supermarket of Lost was originally produced
in The Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival in Los Angeles, CA. George Yè
will direct and dramaturg this thought provoking play.
by chance in a mysterious warehouse where you can recover what you’ve lost in
exchange for something of equal value. As their friendship develops, they
discover a compelling difference between what we lose and what we choose to
give away. The play was written by Cassandra Hsiao, at age 16, while attending
Orange County School of the Arts. Supermarket of Lost was originally produced
in The Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival in Los Angeles, CA. George Yè
will direct and dramaturg this thought provoking play.
 |
| Cassandra Hsiao speaks about the inspiration for her play Supermarket of Lost. |
issues of gentrification and bias in the tech industry, as teenagers from
different walks of life compete to create an app that will change the world.
When the names of the finalists were revealed to the producers, they were
surprised and delighted to learn that Hackathon was written by 16 year old
Eliana Salzer Dunn, who is the granddaughter of Playwrights Project’s Founder
Deborah Salzer. Eliana attends City College of San Francisco; George Yè will
direct and Mabelle Reynoso will dramaturg.
 |
| Minh-Son Tran and Samantha Rafter, writers of A Play on Words with Arlene Gapusan. Minh-Son and Samantha wrote their winning play in Mrs. Gapusan’s class during a playwriting residency lead by Playwrights Project Teaching Artist Wendy Waddell. |
In Turtle on a Rock, an unfulfilled turtle sings of his
longing to find his purpose in life.
Playwright Absinthe McDonald, age 12, took part in a playwriting
residency in Mr. Lindsey’s class at Creative Media and Performing Arts School
in Clairemont led by Teaching Artist Wendy Waddell, where she composed her
winning script. Erika
longing to find his purpose in life.
Playwright Absinthe McDonald, age 12, took part in a playwriting
residency in Mr. Lindsey’s class at Creative Media and Performing Arts School
in Clairemont led by Teaching Artist Wendy Waddell, where she composed her
winning script. Erika
Beth Phillips, Playwrights Project’s Program Manager of
School Programs, will direct Turtle on a Rock and Deborah Salzer will serve as
the dramaturg/writing mentor.
School Programs, will direct Turtle on a Rock and Deborah Salzer will serve as
the dramaturg/writing mentor.
Program B for ages 11 and up
Full Productions
- The Dumping
Ground Playwright: Matthew Maceda, age 17, Rancho
Peñasquitos - Pros and Cons Playwright: Katie Taylor, age 18, Woodlake
Staged Reading
- A Play on Words Playwrights: Samantha Rafter, age 14, San Diego
Minh-Son Tran, age 13, San Diego
 |
| Matthew Maceda of The Dumping Ground. This year marks his 5th win! Photo:Geri Goodale of Reminisce Photography |
The Dumping Ground depicts the story of Mark, a high school
student whose promposal is publicly rebuffed in front of his peers. As he
struggles to make sense of his rejection, he learns valuable life lessons from
supportive mentors. Playwright Matthew Maceda attends Westview High School in
Poway, and this is Matthew’s fifth play to win the contest. Three of his plays received staged readings
and Coffee, Cream and Closure received a full production in 2015. The Dumping
Ground will be directed by Wendy Maples, local theater educator and
founder/Artistic Director of Step UP Theatre.
student whose promposal is publicly rebuffed in front of his peers. As he
struggles to make sense of his rejection, he learns valuable life lessons from
supportive mentors. Playwright Matthew Maceda attends Westview High School in
Poway, and this is Matthew’s fifth play to win the contest. Three of his plays received staged readings
and Coffee, Cream and Closure received a full production in 2015. The Dumping
Ground will be directed by Wendy Maples, local theater educator and
founder/Artistic Director of Step UP Theatre.
Pros and Cons is a clever farce about formerly incarcerated
friends who reunite for a fresh start as they reenter society. Despite their
altruistic efforts, old habits die hard and whacky escapades ensue. In the
playwright’s words, “the road to comedy is paved with good intentions.” Katie Taylor, who penned the play, lives in
Woodlake where she attends College of the Sequoias. Pros and Cons will be
directed by Phil Johnson, and Ruff Yeager will dramaturg.
friends who reunite for a fresh start as they reenter society. Despite their
altruistic efforts, old habits die hard and whacky escapades ensue. In the
playwright’s words, “the road to comedy is paved with good intentions.” Katie Taylor, who penned the play, lives in
Woodlake where she attends College of the Sequoias. Pros and Cons will be
directed by Phil Johnson, and Ruff Yeager will dramaturg.
A Play on Words by Samantha Rafter and Minh-Son Tran,
introduces Patrick a piece of math homework, Patricia a pretty pencil, and
Eileen an introverted eraser, as they experience an existential crises during
Spring Break. Samantha and Minh-Son wrote their winning script in a playwriting
program at Black Mountain Middle School, which was taught by Teaching Artist
Wendy Waddell in Ms. Gapusan’s Language Arts class.
introduces Patrick a piece of math homework, Patricia a pretty pencil, and
Eileen an introverted eraser, as they experience an existential crises during
Spring Break. Samantha and Minh-Son wrote their winning script in a playwriting
program at Black Mountain Middle School, which was taught by Teaching Artist
Wendy Waddell in Ms. Gapusan’s Language Arts class.
Plays by Young Writers
Schedule
Public Performances
Saturday, January 21 – 7:30 PM – Opening
Night (four full productions/no readings)
Friday, January 27 – 7:30 PM – Program B Saturday, January 28 – 2:00 PM
– Program B Saturday, January 28 – 7:30 PM – Program A Sunday, January 29 –
2:00 PM – Program A
Night (four full productions/no readings)
Friday, January 27 – 7:30 PM – Program B Saturday, January 28 – 2:00 PM
– Program B Saturday, January 28 – 7:30 PM – Program A Sunday, January 29 –
2:00 PM – Program A
School Matinees (available to press; not available to the
general public) Thursday, January 19 – 10:00 AM – Program A Friday, January 20
– 10:00 AM – Program B Tuesday, January
24 – 10:00 AM – Program TBD Wednesday, January 25 – 10:00 AM – Program A
Thursday, January 26 – 10:00 AM – Program B Friday, January 27 – 10:00 AM –
Program A
general public) Thursday, January 19 – 10:00 AM – Program A Friday, January 20
– 10:00 AM – Program B Tuesday, January
24 – 10:00 AM – Program TBD Wednesday, January 25 – 10:00 AM – Program A
Thursday, January 26 – 10:00 AM – Program B Friday, January 27 – 10:00 AM –
Program A
Production Team
- Executive Producer
Cecelia Kouma - Festival Artistic Director Ruff Yeager
- Production Manager Kevin Six
- Production Stage Manager Charmaine Reed
- Stage Manager Beonica Bullard
- Director – Program A Full Productions George Yé
- Director – The Dumping Ground Wendy Maples
- Director – Pros and Cons Phil Johnson Director
- Program Staged
Readings Erika Beth Phillips
 |
| Playwrights Project Executive Director and Festival Executive Producer Cecelia Kouma with Festival Artistic Director Ruff Yeager. |
- Dramaturg – Supermarket of Lost George Yé
- Dramaturg – Hackathon Mabelle Reynoso
- Dramaturg – Turtle on a
Rock Deborah Salzer - Dramaturg – The Dumping Ground Mabelle Reynoso
- Dramaturg – Pros and
Cons Ruff Yeager - Dramaturg – A Play on Words Deborah Salzer
- Box Office & Marketing Manager Emily Fleet
- Opening Night Coordination Linnea Searle
Tickets:
- Individuals $25
- Seniors, Students, Military $20
- School Groups of 10 or more $10
- Other Groups of 10 or more $15
- Opening night (includes reception) $60
For more information and reservations: Playwrights Project (858) 384-2970 or [email protected]
