PlayPenn's 21-year conference brings bold, boundary pushing new plays to life through public staged readings featuring some of the region’s most exciting playwrights, directors, dramaturgs, actors, stage managers, artists, and producing partners. Each conference offers audiences a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the development journey of new plays in progress.
All readings and community events are free and open to the public, but reservations are required to attend each reading.
Stay tuned for tickets!
All readings and community events are free and open to the public, but reservations are required to attend each reading.
Stay tuned for tickets!
PROGRAM
Emergence
by Zoe Palmer, 11th Grade
by Zoe Palmer, 11th Grade
PERFORMANCES
Performances of Emergence will run from August 1st- August 2nd 2026
Stay tuned for specific times!
Stay tuned for specific times!
ABOUT THE PROCESS
Our participation in the New Play Development Festival is part of our Play Development Series, which brings student works to life on stage! Each year, Philadelphia Young Playwrights invites students to submit their plays and monologues to the Annual Playwriting Festival. Plays are considered by the Literary Committee—a collection of nearly 70 program alumni, artists, staff, teachers, and others—who read and write individualized responses to every play. Literary Committee members recommend a number of outstanding plays to be considered for further consideration by two additional groups of readers, Pre-Final Committee and Final Committee. At Final Committee, the panel selects plays and monologues for opportunities such as public productions, one-on-one mentorship, and one-day playwriting retreats. Students whose pieces are selected for production are invited to continue to revise and develop their plays in partnership with theater professionals as part of the rehearsal and performance process.
These plays were selected from over 700 submissions from 30 different schools to be a part of our Play Development Series! Student playwrights have the opportunity to be present in the rehearsal process, and work with local professional directors and actors to bring their writing from page to stage.
These plays were selected from over 700 submissions from 30 different schools to be a part of our Play Development Series! Student playwrights have the opportunity to be present in the rehearsal process, and work with local professional directors and actors to bring their writing from page to stage.
