Out of School Programs

Plenty of chances to play!

Join Philadelphia Young Playwrights to write, create, and experiment all around Philly.

Playwriting Playground
9:00am - 3:00pm
July 6 - 10, 2026

Looking for a unique theater and writing adventure for your 8 - 13 year old this summer? At PYP's Playwriting Playground, campers will learn brainstorming, storytelling, writing, acting and improv skills in a safe and playful environment. Over 5 days, participants will work together to select themes for a devised play and shape their own monologues and scenes, culminating in a performance for family and friends that will then later be featured in the Cannonball Festival at Philly Fringe this September! No prior writing or acting experience is needed!

Camp tuition is offered on a sliding scale of $275 - $500 and we do have two scholarship slots available. Email [email protected] to inquire about scholarship slot availability.

Day-Off Camps
9AM - 4PM with performance at 3:30PM.
Dates listed by camp.

Four FREE full-day play-making workshops! Join PYP to brainstorm, improvise, write, design, direct, and perform a play, all in one day! Each workshop will be focused on a different question, with each day standing independently, though we encourage you to sign up for all four.

WHO: Students in grades 2-8.

WHERE: The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street

Who gets to tell the stories of our past and of our present?: October 13th, 2025

Voting day: looking back and looking ahead: November 4th, 2025

What does America mean?: February 16th, 2026

What change do you want to see in Philadelphia in the next 25 years?: May 19th, 2026

Writing the Worst Play Ever
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
February 23, March 2 and 9 (Mondays)

Intimidated by writing? No need to be! In this workshop you're going to join us to write the Worst Play Ever! As we incorporate random elements from the proverbial pot, draw or collage them individually and use those visuals and our imaginations to make a story out of them, we'll find the fun in storytelling without the pressure. The most strange, goofy, mischievous, odd, silly or even illogical stories are often the most interesting and the most fun to tell. Come write, draw, craft, and create a play! This program is for students ages 7 - 13.

This program is FREE and registration is not required.

Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library
68 W Chelten Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144

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enACTing Change Workshop
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, and April 7 (Tuesdays)

Calling all young artists, performers, and changemakers! Join us for a six-week after-school theater workshop focused on making your voice heard through drama. In enACTing Change, you'll work with other young artists to create an original play about an issue you want the world to pay more attention to. This program will support a group of young playwrights to create a play, from page to stage, which centers around an issue they care about.

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