ANNOUNCING:
​ THE 2020 ANNUAL PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL WINNERS

Chosen from almost 350 submissions from students in 37 different schools, the winners of this year's Annual Playwriting Festival are...

Elementary

First Place
  • Lillian Henderson, Untitled
    Cheltenham Elementary, Teacher Gerald Aungst, Teaching Artists Mr Stine and B.J. Tindal

  • Lynnea Prunty, The Chicken and the Missing Shoe

Second Place
  • Class Play, The Aliens and the Movie Star
    Glenside Elementary, Teachers Dana Harbison and Stacy Epstein, Teaching Artist Linnell Truchon

  • Class Play, The Fight for the Secret Feather
    Wyncote Elementary, Teacher Kristin Krause, Teaching Artists Mr Stine and B.J. Tindal

  • Alexis Keke, Caitlyn Rix, and Kayla Sumitra, A Time Machine and a Whole Lot of Mayhem
    Wyncote Elementary, Teacher Kristin Krause, Teaching Artists Mr Stine and B.J. Tindal

  • Annabel Larkin, A Puppy Named Spikey, a Hedgehog Named Fluffy, and a Dragon Named Flamy
    Cheltenham Elementary, Teacher Gerald Aungst, Teaching Artists Mr Stine and B.J. Tindal

  • Lily Lexer and Kaitlin Wilkin, The Plane Named Electra
    Saint Patrick School, Teachers Elizabeth Houlette and Courtney Thresher

  • Aurora McCain, Mariah Pleasant, and Mattison Conway, 2121
    Myers Elementary, Teacher Jaime Osea, Teaching Artist Mr Stine

  • Celia Nielsen, Fear

  • Zoe Nesbit, The Story of Alfador

  • Tina Ramberg-Michael and Harper Rawes, Enchanted Shadows
    Myers Elementary, Teacher Jaime Osea, Teaching Artist Mr Stine

  • Lena Swedloff, The Mystery Shoe

  • Gabe Tellefsen, Jun Werner, and Sydney, The Tale of Two Earrings (And Others)
    Myers Elementary, Teacher Jaime Osea, Teaching Artist Mr Stine

Third Place
  • Grace Byard and Abigail Edgar, Untitled
    Wyncote Elementary, Teacher Kristin Krause, Teaching Artists Mr Stine and B.J. Tindal

  • Class Play, The Epic Tale of Fish Jack and Friends
    Glenside Elementary, Teachers Leslie Brock and Sara Ryzner, Teaching Artist Linnell Truchon

Middle School

First Place
  • Nina Chen, Maya Gest, and Tess Mullen, Fertilizer and Flying Pigs
    J.R. Masterman School, Teacher Karen Celli, Teaching Artist Ryan Walter

  • Gwyneth Jones, Untitled
    Independence Charter School, Teacher Olukemi Kamson, Teaching Artists Donovan Lockett and Jillian Jetton

  • Gretchen Lutz, DanielLE
    Welsh Valley Middle School, Teachers Elizabeth Serpentine and Bernadette Bartholomew, Teaching Artist Steve Gravelle

  • Rheva Wolf, My Humans Are Having a What?!?
    Cedarbrook Middle School, Teacher Elizabeth Susanin, Teaching Artist Kate McGrath

Second Place
  • Lila Anafi, Zombie Apocalypse 2020
    Bala Cynwyd Middle School, Teacher Rachel Nichols, Teaching Artist Phoebe Schaub

  • Bamba Babou, False Prophets
    Independence Charter School, Teacher Olukemi Kamson, Teaching Artists Donovan Lockett and Jillian Jetton

  • Sullivan Barsanti, Emotions of a Machine
    Independence Charter School, Teacher Olukemi Kamson, Teaching Artists Donovan Lockett and Jillian Jetton

  • Madhura Boominathan, Promise You Won’t Cry
    Cedarbrook Middle School, Teacher Elizabeth Susanin, Teaching Artist Kate McGrath

  • Iris Cheng, Ditch
    Strath Haven Middle School, Teacher Eleanor Salgado, Teaching Artists Anthony Martinez-Briggs and Kate McGrath

  • Rita Dobbins, Built on Lies
    Drexel Hill Middle School, Teacher Pat Livoy, Teaching Artist Kate McGrath

  • Zola Flickinger, Gabrielle Garcia and Fiona Shi, The Forbidden Book of Fairytales
    J.R. Masterman School, Teacher Leeanne Fox-Jones, Teaching Artist Ryan Walter

  • Matthew Greene, When He Hits Rock Bottom
    Independence Charter School, Teacher Olukemi Kamson, Teaching Artists Donovan Lockett and Jillian Jetton

  • Maylon Guigui-Sancir and Torry Joseph, The Best Surprise Party
    Grover Washington Middle School, Teacher Michele McQuade, Teaching Artist Evan Raines

  • Lydia Hessel-Robinson, Take Me Home

  • Andy Huynh and Ranzel Santana, Apocalypse
    Grover Washington Middle School, Teacher Michele McQuade, Teaching Artist Evan Raines

  • Shahaad Jones, A Change Gon Come
    Independence Charter School, Teacher Olukemi Kamson, Teaching Artists Donovan Lockett and Jillian Jetton

  • Chance Loomis, Sliced Bread
    Strath Haven Middle School, Teacher Eleanor Salgado, Teaching Artists Anthony Martinez-Briggs and Kate McGrath

  • Isabella Master, Trekking up the Hill
    Drexel Hill Middle School, Teacher Pat Livoy, Teaching Artist Kate McGrath

  • Eloise Palandro, The Sun Still Comes Out in Winter
    Independence Charter School, Teacher Olukemi Kamson, Teaching Artists Donovan Lockett and Jillian Jetton

  • Lily Wilden, Don’t Forget
    Cedarbrook Middle School, Teacher Elizabeth Susanin, Teaching Artist Kate McGrath

Third Place
  • Chase Alizzi, The Worlock's Necklace
    Drexel Hill Middle School, Teacher Pat Livoy, Teaching Artist Kate McGrath

  • Jed Cohen, Untitled
    Independence Charter School, Teacher Olukemi Kamson, Teaching Artists Donovan Lockett and Jillian Jetton

  • Robel Dilnessa, Braylon Dunlap, Chacko Scarpelli, and Jonas Schwartz, The Path of Light
    J.R. Masterman School, Teacher Paula Conzelman, Teaching Artist Ryan Walter

  • Steven Dimitrov, Sean Hoffman, and Sean Rolando, The Alpacalypse
    J.R. Masterman School, Teacher Karen Celli, Teaching Artist Ryan Walter

  • Lia Dunakin, Guilty
    Independence Charter School, Teacher Olukemi Kamson, Teaching Artists Donovan Lockett and Jillian Jetton

  • Jordana Jasner, Moving Forward
    Strath Haven Middle School, Teacher Eleanor Salgado, Teaching Artists Anthony Martinez-Briggs and Kate McGrath

  • Lucio Mazzucchi, A Reason to Shine
    Independence Charter School, Teacher Olukemi Kamson, Teaching Artists Donovan Lockett andJillian Jetton

  • Amina McCain, The Photo Booth

  • Savannah Montague, The Search for Trees
    Cedarbrook Middle School, Teacher Elizabeth Susanin, Teaching Artist Kate McGrath

  • Kai Xin Morales, Aether of Iridescence
    J.R. Masterman School, Teacher Karen Celli, Teaching Artist Ryan Walter

  • Alex (Ariana) Piech, Wolves Among Sheep
    Strath Haven Middle School, Teacher Eleanor Salgado, Teaching Artists Anthony Martinez-Briggs and Kate McGrath

  • Isabella Smith Santos, When You Free a Witch
    J.R. Masterman School, Teacher Alexandra Volin Avelin

  • Gabby Somppi, Even Better Than The Boys
    Drexel Hill Middle School, Teacher Pat Livoy, Teaching Artist Kate McGrath

  • Oyindamola Songonuga, The Lone Soldier
    Strath Haven Middle School, Teacher Eleanor Salgado, Teaching Artists Anthony Martinez-Briggs and Kate McGrath

  • Audrey Stevens, Missing in Action
    Strath Haven Middle School, Teacher Eleanor Salgado, Teaching Artists Anthony Martinez-Briggs and Kate McGrath

  • Elijah W., God and Satan
    Cedarbrook Middle School, Teacher Elizabeth Susanin, Teaching Artist Kate McGrath

High School

First Place
  • Mya Banegas, Untitled
    Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Teacher Sally Wojcik

  • Jordyn Flaherty, she was your steering wheel
    Charter School of Wilmington

  • Alexis Hammond, Not Your Average Story
    Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Teacher Sally Wojcik

  • Katie Lu, Pandemic
    Wissahickon High School

  • Lamot Watters, Mad Wonderland
    Furness High School, Teacher Christine Hsu, Teaching Artists MR Stine and Phoebe Schaub

  • Kira Wiener, Plants and Other Growing Things
    Springfield Township High School

Second Place
  • Sadib Ahasan, Announcer Esports
    Lankenau High School, Teacher Donna Bucknor, Teaching Artists Steve Gravelle

  • Grace Angelastro, It’s All About Control
    Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Teacher Sally Wojcik

  • James Blue, Isabella Cacciatore, Aidan Cardona, Ashley Chen, and Joshua Fagan, Herding Pigs in the Garden: The Weekend
    Furness High School, Teachers Christine Hsu and Rene Justis, Teaching Artists MR Stine and Phoebe Schaub

  • Hannah Dubb, The Stand
    Friends Select, Teacher Donna Romero

  • Georgia Evans, If You Knew Me You'd Know: The False Consensus Effect
    Haverford Senior High School, Teacher Michael Mullen

  • Olivia Lynn Faillace, Unwelcomed
    Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Teacher Sally Wojcik

  • Maya Jennings, Glitterbomb

  • Shidae Jones, The Abhorrent Embrace
    Academy at Palumbo, Teacher Anissa Weinraub

  • Jack Lyons, Sunshine
    Bayard Rustin, Teacher Sarah Gallagher

  • Elizabeth McWilliams, The Love We Deserve
    Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Teacher Sally Wojcik

  • Keysha Polanco, Our Future
    Esperanza Academy, Teacher Dwight Wilkins

  • Samantha Roehl, The Shopkeep and the Mourner

  • Danny Shellenberger, Dreamland
    Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Teacher Sally Wojcik

  • Xaxa Sheng Smith, Ashtray of Reveries
    Friends Select, Teacher Donna Romero

  • Louise Sims, A Weekend Away

  • Amrita Sookram, Perhaps Love
    Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Teacher Sally Wojcik

  • Steven Ferlaino and Andy Tran, Hammer Fist Homecoming From Justice Universe
    Furness High School, Teacher Rene Justis, Teaching Artists MR Stine and Phoebe Schaubz

  • Ashley Williams, It’s What You Make It
    Academy at Palumbo, Teacher Anissa Weinraub

  • Jeremiah and Jameer, Untitled
    Roxborough High School, Teacher Dawn Geiger, Teaching Artists Stevie Neale

  • Lorenzo, Untitled
    Roxborough High School, Teacher Dawn Geiger, Teaching Artists Stevie Neale

  • Karis and Otis, Untitled
    Roxborough High School, Teacher Dawn Geiger, Teaching Artists Stevie Neale

Third Place
  • Elijah Andino, Heathens: The Miseducation of a Wayward Pagan
    Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Teacher Sally Wojcik

  • Lucy Bonin, Birdseye
    The Baldwin School, Teacher Scott Warfel

  • Brenda Dos Santos, Debating Who's the Good Scientist
    Northeast High School, Teacher Theresa Bramwell

  • Gavin Ethridge, Detrimental Magic
    Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Teacher Sally Wojcik

  • Melynda Harper, You Will Be My Girl
    Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Teacher Sally Wojcik

  • Dominick Jenkins, Unsuccessful Professions
    Lankenau High School, Teacher Donna Bucknor, Teaching Artist Steve Gravelle

  • Dante Keyes, Football Journey
    West Philadelphia High School, Teacher Peter Thomas, Teaching Artists Kate McGrath and Donovan Hagins

  • Ella Nadler, Things to Say
    Cheltenham High School, Teacher Molly Lazer, Teaching Artist Ryan Walter

  • Dylan Nelson, Captive
    Cheltenham High School, Teacher Molly Lazer, Teaching Artist Ryan Walter

  • Veronica Redden, You and Me
    Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast, Teacher Patrick Walsh

  • Giana Reithmeier, The Green Room
    Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Teacher Sally Wojcik

  • Kashmir Turry, When Freedom Doesn’t Prevail
    Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast, Teacher Patrick Walsh

  • Adrien Wilson, The Marble Incident
    Downingtown West High School, Teacher Francis Daulerio
THANK YOU to all of the writers, teachers, and teaching artists for all of your hard work, both that which is recognized in this list and that which is not. We are honored to read your work and to share your talents and perspectives with others.  

Past Winners Lists

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License.
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