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Each year, Philadelphia Young Playwrights works with student playwrights to bring their plays to life for public audiences. Plays are selected from approximately 700 submissions each year from elementary, middle, and high school students.
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"A GROWN CREATIVE TYPE WOULD BE THRILLED TO SEE THEIR WORK GET SUCH TREATMENT." —Quinn O'Callaghan, The Philadelphia Citizen
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Current Season
New Voices 2025October 28, November 2, 2025 Temple University Randall Theater |
In partnership for over 30 years with Temple University, multi-generational teams of artists take on selected plays written by middle school and high school students. Bringing the new play development process to life for artists and audiences alike, New Voices is a glimpse at the freshest new plays written by the next generation of great writers, artists, and thinkers. |
Play Development Series: Community College of Philadelphia Theater ProgramNovember 20, 2025 Community College of Philadelphia Bonnell Building, Black Box Theater |
The Play Development Series bring together PYP students with collegiate and professional theater artists to present new student plays on stage. The 2025 series begins with a collaboration with the Community College of Philadelphia. Don't miss a one day only staged reading of two new student works, offering insightful examinations of what it means to be family. |
Drama Discovery Day:
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Philadelphia Theatre Company (PTC) and Philadelphia Young Playwrights (PYP) invite you to a fun-filled morning of interactive activities, creative play, and live performance. Explore acting, playwriting, and storytelling, culminating in a special showcase of original work created by PYP students. Perfect for families and youth ages 5 and up. |
Play Development Series:
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The Play Development Series bring together PYP students with collegiate and professional theater artists to present new student plays on stage. We continue the series in 2025 with a collaboration with Drexel University. Don't miss a one day only staged reading of four new student works. |
Play Development Series:
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The Play Development Series bring together PYP students with collegiate and professional theater artists to present new student plays on stage. The next installment in the series is a collaboration with the Rutger-Camden University Theatre Department. Don't miss a one day only staged reading of a new student play! |
2026 New Play Development ConferenceAugust 1-2, 2026 Location TBA |
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. |
SaturPLAY!April 18, 2026 Asian Arts Initiative |
SaturPLAY is an event for the whole family, featuring short plays and monologues written by Philadelphia-area students, performed and directed by local theater professionals! Join us on Saturday, April 18th for a delightful program of shows for young audiences, written by young artists. |
Past Seasons
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2024 - 2025 Season
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2023 - 2024 Season
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2022- 2023 Season
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2021 - 2022 Season
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SaturPLAY!April 12, 2025 Asian Arts Initiative |
SaturPLAY is an event for the whole family, featuring short plays and monologues written by Philadelphia-area students, performed and directed by local theater professionals! |
Play Development Series with Rutgers-CamdenMarch 15, 2025 Rutgers-Camden Fine Arts Building |
The Play Development Series bring together PYP students with collegiate and professional theater artists to present new student plays on stage. The next installment in the series is a collaboration with the Rutger-Camden University Theatre Department. Don't miss a one day only staged reading of a new student play! |
Play Development Series with Drexel UniversityFebruary 22, 2025 Drexel University URBN Center Annex |
The Play Development Series bring together PYP students with collegiate and professional theater artists to present new student plays on stage. We continue the series in 2025 with a collaboration with Drexel University. Don't miss a one day only staged reading of four new student works. |
Play Development Series with the Community College of Philadelphia's Theater ProgramNovember 14, 2024 Community College of Philadelphia |
The Play Development Series bring together PYP students with collegiate and professional theater artists to present new student plays on stage. The 2024 series begins with a collaboration with the Community College of Philadelphia. Don't miss a one day only staged reading of two new student works, offering insightful examinations of the ever-evolving concept of "The American Dream." |
2024 New VoicesOctober 28 - November 3, 2024 Temple University |
In partnership for over 30 years with Temple University, multi-generational teams of artists take on selected plays written by middle school and high school students. Bringing the new play development process to life for artists and audiences alike, New Voices is a glimpse at the freshest new plays written by the next generation of great writers, artists, and thinkers. |
Spring Showcase and
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This event is an evening filled with creativity and talent as we celebrate the exceptional work of young playwrights from across the Philadelphia area. The showcase will feature readings of works in progress, highlighting the unique voices and perspectives of students who represent the playwrights of the next generation. |
2023 New Voices |
In partnership for over 30 years with Temple University, multi-generational teams of artists take on five winning plays written by middle school and high school students. Bringing the new play development process to life for artists and audiences alike, New Voices is a glimpse at the freshest new plays written by the next generation of great writers, artists, and thinkers. |
Play Development Series At World Cafe LiveApril 22nd, 2023 The Lounge at World Cafe Live Readings of new student plays. |
In collaboration with World Cafe Live, we present readings of winning plays and monologues from our Annual Playwriting Festival, featuring live musical accompaniment. |
Play Development Series with Rutgers-CamdenFebruary 18th, 2023 Rutgers-Camden Black Box Studio Theatre Readings of new student plays. |
Readings of two winning plays from our Annual Playwriting Festival, presented in collaboration with Rutgers-Camden. |
Plays in ProcessDecember 15-17, 2022 The Louis Bluver Theatre Fresh new plays from fresh new voices. |
Bringing the new play development process to life for artists and audiences alike, this professionally produced production of five winning plays by middle and high school students is a glimpse at the freshest new plays written by the next generation of great writers, artists, and thinkers! |
SaturPLAY!October 22nd, 2022 In person at Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse Family friendly fun! |
An event for the whole family, featuring elementary and middle school winning plays. |
Play Development Series: Part 2April 30, 2022 Live Streaming on Zoom |
Second installment of our Virtual Readings of Winning Plays. |
Play Development Series: Part 1February 12, 2022 Live Streaming on YouTube |
Virtual Readings of our Winning Plays, in collaboration with Rutgers Camden. |
SaturPLAY!December 11, 2021
Live Streaming on YouTube Family-friendly. Fun. Plays for kids, by kids. |
An event for the whole family, featuring eight short plays written by Philadelphia-area students. Join us LIVE online as collegiate & professional actors bring these students’ imaginations to life! |
New Voices
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In partnership for over 30 years with Temple University, multi-generational teams of artists take on five winning plays written by middle school and high school students. Bringing the new play development process to life for artists and audiences alike, New Voices is a glimpse at the freshest new plays written by the next generation of great writers, artists, and thinkers.
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