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.
PROGRAM
Grow, Wither and Return
by Amelia Terry, 8th Grade
Shadows of Blood
by Sheron Bundy, 9th Grade
Sanctuary
by Theo Lee, 11th Grade
The Disconnect
by Liv Weinberg, 8th Grade
by Amelia Terry, 8th Grade
Shadows of Blood
by Sheron Bundy, 9th Grade
Sanctuary
by Theo Lee, 11th Grade
The Disconnect
by Liv Weinberg, 8th Grade
PERFORMANCE
February 21st, 2026 at 2PM
Tickets are PAY WHAT YOU CAN with a suggested donation of $15.
ABOUT THE PROCESS
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 chooses the plays for a number of opportunities, including those that will be produced for public presentations. Those students are invited to continue to revise and develop their plays in partnership with theater professionals for production.
These shows were selected from over 700 submissions from 30 different schools to be a part of this production! 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 shows were selected from over 700 submissions from 30 different schools to be a part of this production! 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.
