Videos

Young Voices Monologue Festival Workshop Session

On Saturday, January 28, the winners of the Young Voices Monologue Festival gathered at InterACT Theatre in Philadelphia for the first of several workshop sessions leading up to the performances of their monologues. See this clip for interviews from a few of the winners as they talk about the importance of this session, as well as clips where they discuss segments that they wan to revise.

Young Voices Monologue Festival will play at InterACT Theatre from March 28-31.

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Philadelphia Young Playwrights Resident Director David O’Connor

Barrymore Award winner and longtime Young Playwrights collaborator David O’Connor recently joined our staff as Resident Director! Hear David talk about how he started working with Young Playwrights, what it’s like to work with young artists, and why it’s important to keep doing the work that he does with Young Playwrights.

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Youth Council Members Speak to the Economy League

Youth Council members Thien To, Manna-Symone Middlebrooks, Gina Dukes, and Joshua Lynch spoke to the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia as part of a video project in which young people are questioned about what they would like to see change and stay the same in Philadelphia. See this behind-the-scenes footage of the Youth Council getting ready to go on the air, and check in for more video from the actual interviews!

To learn more about the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, visit http://economyleague.org/.

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Saturday Reading Series: Dec. 10, 2011

Featuring winning elementary and middle school plays of the Philadelphia Young Playwrights Annual Playwriting Festival at the Philadelphia Art Alliance!

This week:
Cheesecake Bully
&
Twinkletora and the Lost Princess or The Jester Takes Over
(both group-authored by students from Cheltenham Elementary School)

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Professional Productions Post-Show Reactions

Check out these reactions from audience members at the Professional Productions!
Professional Productions played at The Wilma Theater between Nov. 29 and Dec. 2. 

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Mayor Michael Nutter and Principal Otis Hackney Speak at Professional Productions

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and South Philadelphia High School Principal Otis Hackney speak to students at an all-South Philadelphia High School student matinee. Later, students write what South Philly High means to them on posters at the Wilma Theater.

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2011 Artistic Team Retreat

On October 29, our teachers, Teaching Artists and staff braved snow and ice for a day of professional development and artistic training in preparation for the new school year. See this video from some of the retreat’s workshops!

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Audience Reactions from New Voices: Workshop Productions at Temple

Listen in as audience members share their praise for the Workshop Productions!
New Voices: Workshop Productions features productions of winning high school plays and monologues on Temple University’s Tomlinson Theater stage. Produced by theater professionals, performed by Temple undergraduate actors.

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Youth Council Members and “We Write South Philly High” showcased at the 2011 Barrymores

The Barrymore Awards honor the best in Philadelphia theater performance and education. This year, South Philadelphia High School Principal Otis D. Hackney III received the Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service Award for his work on “We Write South Philly High.” Produced in collaboration with 1812 Productions and The Wilma Theater, the play was excerpted for an opening performance by students involved in its writing and professional actors.

See an interview with Kate Shindle with our Youth Council members (including two South Philly High performers/writers) and a clip from the opening performance.

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“Re-Vision” Movie by Justin Seegmueller

A big thanks is owed to the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage: Heritage Philadelphia Program and the Loeb Performing Arts Fund for their generous support that made this possible, as well as the stellar student playwrights and teaching artists for sharing their talents! And, of course, thanks to our filmmaker, Justin Seegmueller!

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“Re-Vision” Summer Playwriting Retreat

The scorching heat of late-July Philadelphia could not stop the student playwrights and teaching artists of the summer playwriting retreat, Re-Vision, from traveling around the city to seek inspiration. They visited the neighborhoods to see just how stories live, breathe, and reinvent themselves in everything from the images of family photos to the neighborhoods and buildings where history is made. From Old City to Elkins Park, South Street to one’s own family albums, the city and its eclectic history of characters continues to inspire young minds in their exploration of how ideas are created and continue to be reimagined and revised.

A big thanks is owed to the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage: Heritage Philadelphia Program and the Loeb Performing Arts Fund for their generous support that made this possible, as well as the stellar student playwrights and teaching artists for sharing their talents!

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Independence Charter Mini-Festival

On June 3, 2011 four eight grade classrooms from Independence Charter School presented scenes from the plays they’ve been writing in Philadelphia Young Playwrights workshops. Teacher Julie Lenard and Teaching Artists Justin Jain and Aime Kelly worked with the eight graders all year long and then the students produced, directed, performed and designed select scenes from their finished works in this mini-festival. It was presented to a large crowd of eight and seventh graders as well as parents, teachers and supporters in the Levitt Auditorium at the Gershman Y on Broad Street.

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6th Grade Masterman Mini-Festival

On June 2, 2011, the 6th Graders in Teacher Karen Celli’s classroom at J.R. Masterman School presented scenes from the plays they’ve been creating in their yearlong playwriting workshops led by Teaching Artist David Raphaely. Watch this short montage to get a small taste of the mini-festival they presented to their peers!

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Saturday Reading Series: May 7, 2011

On May 7, 2011 we featured “The Reason We Listen” by Hannah Pierce-Hoffman of Strath Haven High School. In her play, Leo is confronted with a tough decision between pursuing his dream of a music career and spending a year on a research expedition in the Galapagos Islands.

BJ Tindal joined us as the Youth Council Host and both Joellen Brown and Antonio Williams were Board Hosts for the morning. The reading featured undergraduate actors from Temple University and University of Pennsylvania.

For more information about Saturday Reading Series, CLICK HERE.

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“A Woman, A Man, A Ravenous Ghost”: PDS at PTW

On May 8 and 10, Philadelphia Young Playwrights and Philadelphia Theatre Workshop collaborated to bring to life “A Woman, A Man, A Ravenous Ghost” by Gianfranco Rosselli. In this hilarious play, news reporter Terra is haunted by The Dahlia, a hungry ghost, and must find a way to save the day before her husband gets eaten alive!

This play was selected to be produced as part of the Philadelphia Young Playwrights 2011 Play Development Series and was performed during the Philadelphia Theatre Workshop 4th Annual PlayShop Festival at Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5. It played to packed houses both nights!

To learn more about the 2011 Play Development Series, CLICK HERE 

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“Lessons on Relationships by a Guy Who’s Never Been in One”: PDS at 1812

On May 9, Philadelphia Young Playwrights and 1812 Productions partnered to bring “Lessons on Relationships by a Guy Who’s Never Been in One” by BJ Tindal (Masterman School) to life in a staged reading at Plays and Players Theater.

The hilarious play follows the misadventures of a young man who wants to help his friends in troubled relationships and win the girl of his dreams but ends up taking a few wrong turns down the road to becoming an advice writer.

Directed by Jen Childs of 1812 Productions and performed by professional actors Bi Jean Ngo, Jame Ijames, Maria Burkholder, David Raphaely and Karen Getz.

To learn more about the 2011 Play Development Series, CLICK HERE

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A look back at Write On! 2011

Check out this short video filmed at Write On! 2011 as attendees reflect on Young Playwrights, the honorees, and celebrating student voices!

Many thanks to our student reporters: Aarron Coleman, Arjun Dravid, Dahlia LaBan and Glenna Walsh!

To learn more about Write On! 2011, CLICK HERE.

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“The Examined Life” and “L-O-V-E” at UArts

On April 30, 2011, as part of the 2011 Play Development Series, Philadelphia Young Playwrights and the Ira Brind School of Theater Arts at The University of the Arts brought to life two winning student plays from the 2010 Annual Playwriting Festival:

• “The Examined Life” by Samantha DiTonno (SS John Neumann-Maria Goretti High School)
• “L-O-V-E” by Emma Martin (Strath Haven High School)

Both plays were performed as staged readings after two weeks of workshopping with student actors and directors at UArts. To learn more about the Play Development Series, CLICK HERE.

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Meet the 2011 AMMA Nominees!

The Adele Magner Memorial Award was established by the Young Playwrights Board of Directors to honor the memory of our founder, Adele Magner, and recognizes the work of an outstanding Young Playwrights team: a student, a teacher and a teaching artist for whom the program has made a significant difference in their lives.  The criteria for this award reflect the three qualities that Adele admired the most: collaboration, perseverance and transformation.

Nominees include the following teams:

• Student Natalie Sanchez, Teaching Artist Kate McGrath and Teacher Josh Block (Science Leadership Academy)
• Student Lauren Pierre, Teaching Artist Jan Michener, Teacher Toni Ruddy (Beverly HIlls Middle School)
• Student Jourdan Dunbar, Teaching Artist Justin Jain, Teacher Kathleen Melville (Constitution High School)
• Student Kris McCormick, Teaching Artist Justin Jain, Teacher Kathleen Melville (Constitution High School)

The winning team will be presented with their awards at Write On! 2011.

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Meet three amazing student playwrights at Constitution High

Listen in as we meet three students in a Philadelphia Young Playwrights classroom workshop at Constitution High School in Philadelphia. They share their thoughts on the writing process, stepping onstage and dreaming big.

PYP intern Aarron Coleman conducted this interview.To see more of Aarron’s videos, visit “Aarron’s Corner” HERE.

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Saturday Reading Series: March 19, 2011

On Saturday, April 9, we hosted the fourth Saturday Reading Series of the season at the Philadelphia Art Alliance. We presented two winning plays: “I Am The Best Me” by Arjun Dravid (The Haverford School) and “Teach Me to Fold” by Huidan Mei (General G. McCall School). Board hosts Honorable Blondell Reynolds Brown and Thelma Reese and previous Saturday Reading Series winning playwright Dahlia LaBan introduced the reading. The plays were performed by Temple undergraduate actors, guest actors including two students at University of Pennsylvania and PYP staff member Leyla Eraslan.

The morning also included a very special tribute to Patricia del Rio, a longtime supporter of Philadelphia Young Playwrights, whose recent passing was a huge loss to our community. Family and friends of Patricia shared their thoughts and commemorated her lasting contributions to PYP, the arts, and the wider Philadelphia community.

Join us for the last reading of the season on May 7 featuring “The Reason We Listen” by Hannah Pierce-Hoffman (Strath Haven Middle School)! Visit http://phillyyoungplaywrights.org/production/saturday-reading-series

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An interview with Teaching Artist Apprentice Sarah Mitteldorf

PYP high school intern Aarron Coleman sat down with Sarah to chat about her role as Teaching Artist Apprentice and why she loves using theater to teach and bring people together!

To learn more about Sarah, read her bio on the Staff Page HERE.

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Saturday Reading Series: March 19, 2011

Featuring winning elementary and middle school plays of the Philadelphia Young Playwrights Annual Playwriting Festival at the Philadelphia Art Alliance!

This week:
Nelson and the Remote by Olivia Case (William Penn Charter School)
The Most Evil Wampire in Transylvania by Dahlia LaBan (Elkins Park Middle School)

For more information about Saturday Reading Series, click HERE

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PYP intern Aarron Coleman interviews playwright Glenna Walsh

Aarron sits down with winning 2011 Young Voices Monologue Festival playwright and blogger Glenna Walsh to chat writing, revising and the PYP experience.

To read Glenna’s blog about her work with the Monologue Festival, visit http://www.youngvoicespyp.blogspot.com/

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An interview with two-time alum Jesse Bernstein

Listen in as alum Jesse Bernstein shares his playwriting advice, why you should never judge yourself and how to stay involved with Philadelphia Young Playwrights. Interview by General and Program Manager Genne Murphy.

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The 2011 Young Voices Monologue Festival

Check out this montage of the monologues from the third annual collaboration between Philadelphia Young Playwrights and InterAct Theatre Company. Presenting 15 winning high school monologues performed and directed by professional theatre artists.

CLICK HERE for more information.

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Our audiences were “inspired” and “impressed” at the Young Voices Monologue Festival!

Check out this feedback from the audience (including Suzanne Roberts) after the show. All interviews were conducted by our amazing intern Aarron Coleman.

CLICK HERE for more information.

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Check out the playwright talkbacks at the Young Voices Monologue Festival

 Listen in as the playwrights and actors discuss the work behind the scenes of the Young Voices Monologue Festival!

CLICK HERE for more information.

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Meet two-time winning playwright alum Marquis Herring!

Alum and General and Program Manager Genne Murphy interviews alum Marquis Herring on the revision process, seeing his words come to life and an unexpected friendship with another Young Playwright.

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Join us on a site visit to Grover Washington Middle School

We take a look in the 6th grade classroom at Grover Washington Middle School where Teaching Artist Mindy Early explains the basics of dialogue and character development. Watch a clip from a student-written play and listen as Mindy describes a few star students!

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Quiara Alegria Hudes explains the road to “In the Heights”

Quiara Alegria Hudes explains how she and Lin-Manuel Miranda developed the original Tony-Award-winning musical “In the Heights.”

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Quiara Alegria Hudes visits her alma mater Central High School

Quiara Alegria Hudes sat down with students from her alma mater Central High School in Philadelphia to discuss playwriting, casting and the magic of theatre.

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Youth Council member Haley Gordon interviews alumna Quiara Alegria Hudes

Quiara is a 1993 winner of the Annual Festival, Tony-nominated author for the book for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “In the Heights,” and a finalist for the 2007 and 2009 Pulitzer Prizes.

Here, winning student playwright and Youth Council member Haley Gordon interviews Quiara during the Paula Vogel Playwriting Bootcamp. The Bootcamp, which took place over January 15 and 16, 2011, engaged a group of students, playwrights and theatre artists from across Philadelphia in conversations on playwriting form, the current state of theater and the craft of writing. The participants engaged in a number of collective and individual writing challenges led by Paula Vogel. To read more about the Bootcamp, click HERE.*********************************************************************************************

Youth Council member Lyn Nguyen interviews alum Bruce Walsh on the Paula Vogel Playwriting Bootcamp

Listen as Lyn talks to Bruce about the experience of writing in the Bootcamp and why they are standing in a Starbucks. To learn more about the Bootcamp, click HERE.

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Youth Council Member Kris McCormick reflects on the Paula Vogel Playwriting Bootcamp

Listen in as Kris discusses a writing exercise that challenged her. To learn more about the Bootcamp, click HERE.

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Genne Murphy Interviews Fellow Alumna Dashiya Wallace

Listen in as Dashiya chats about playwriting, college and how theater can make an impact.

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Saturday Reading Series #2: December 11, 2010

We held another successfulSaturday Reading Series at the Philadelphia Art Alliance with winning plays by Alex Dworetzky and Rica Quiambao. Check out this video for some audience feedback after the reading!

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Saturday Reading Series #1: November 20, 2010

Check out this short montage of what playwrights, audience members, actors and directors all had to say about the first Saturday Reading Series of the season!

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Interview with Kevin Robinson

Our General and Program Manager Genne Murphy, a 1999 alum of the program herself, spent some time chatting with 2001 alum and Board Member Kevin Robinson about how Young Playwrights has influenced him over the past decade.

Check out the ALUMNI section for more information about Kevin and how to get involved.

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Advanced Summer Playwriting Ensemble 2010: Facebook High

Watch a short compilation of scenes from the culminating project “Facebook High” built over the course of two weeks this summer by our amazing student playwrights!

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Creating Impact Demo Video

Professional Development Workshops designed and delivered by The Wilma Theater and Philadelphia Young Playwrights to strengthen leadership, collaboration and innovation in your workplace.

Watch below.

For more information on bringing Creating Impact into your workplace, visit Professional Development/Corporate Training.

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Alumni Video Showcase 

Program Alum Lyn Nguyen Interviews 2010 Winning Student Playwright Emily Acker.

Lyn Nguyen of Upper Darby High School (left) has taken the initiative to begin her senior project about Young Playwrights programming this summer before her senior year.  Here she interviews Emily Acker (right), winning student playwright of Milk and Honey featured this year in our 2010 Professional Productions, currently a freshman at Northwestern University studying playwriting.

Click HERE to watch!

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Presenting Our Adele Magner Memorial Award Teams:

Click HERE to watch interviews with the Winning and Finalist teams.  

Winning Team (right to left):  Student Jamekea S. Lee from General George G. Meade, teaching artist Dwight Wilkins and teacher Lori Odum.
       

Nominated Team (right to left): Student Kierra Jones-Fogle from St. Francis de Sales, teaching artist Jackie Ruggiero Jacobson and teacher Cecilia Barr from St. Francis de Sales.
       

The Adele Magner Memorial Award was established by the Young Playwrights Board of Directors to honor the memory of our founder, Adele Magner, and recognizes the work of an outstanding Young Playwrights team: a student, a teacher and a teaching artist for whom the program has made a significant difference in their lives.  The criteria for this award reflect the three qualities that Adele admired the most: collaboration, perseverance and transformation.

Celebrate and sustain Adele’s legacy by SUPPORTING YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS TODAY!

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WRITE ON! 2010 Honorees:

Distinguished Service Award
R. Andrew Swinney
President, The Philadelphia Foundation

President’s Award
Taylor Williams
Legal Counsel, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Click HERE to watch a video of the WRITE ON! Evening.

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Costuming Torn Between:

Director David Bradley and Torn Between actress Bi Ngo explain the process of costume and fittings.  Interview by Genne Murphy.

Click HERE to watch the video.

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