History & Program

History

Philadelphia Young Playwrights was conceived by founder Adele Magner. In 1986, Adele consulted with Gerald Chapman of Young Playwrights, Inc. in New York and gathered a group of Delaware Valley educators and theatre professionals to further her vision. The program emerged as a groundbreaking tool for classroom teachers to inspire students’ literacy learning and creativity. It began its first full year operation in the 1987-88 school year.

Young Playwrights mourned the passing of Adele Magner in 2000. In the summer of 2001, the Board hired Glen Knapp as Executive Producing Director to sustain and advance Adele’s outstanding legacy. Glen, a seasoned arts manager, thespian, and advocate for the role of arts in education, continues to work closely with the Board to build program excellence and broaden visibility and community support.

The Program

In the classroom
A hallmark of Philadelphia Young Playwrights is the Artistic Team — comprised of a classroom teacher and a theatre professional as a teaching artist. The Team works with student writers to inspire collaboration, perseverance, and transformation.  Each student in the program writes at least a full scene, and most complete one-act plays.

In the Annual Playwriting Festival
Students from around the region are invited to submit their plays to the Annual Playwriting Festival. Young Playwrights’ Literary Committee reads each script and provides each and every student with individualized written feedback.  First, second, and third place distinctions are awarded at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.  

In the theatre
Select winners of the Annual Playwriting Festival are invited to develop and share their plays with the public in Young Playwrights’ Play Development Series. Young Playwrights’ commitment to student voices is realized through these public presentations that include in-school mini festivals, staged readings, workshop presentations and acclaimed professional productions. A number of Philadelphia Young Playwrights’ Festival winners have gone on to win Young Playwrights, Inc.’s national competition and seen their plays professionally produced in New York. 

Click ON STAGE for Play Development Series information.