Young Playwrights Festival
An annual celebration of the outstanding creative achievements of all participating WRITE A PLAY students during the school year.
Each year, the WRITE A PLAY experience culminates on Florida Studio Theatre’s five-theatre campus with Young Playwrights Festival (YPF) Day, an annual celebration of children’s imagination and creativity. Participating students, teachers, and families from across the state of Florida and from as far as Scotland and Israel, come together to enjoy live performances of the year’s winning plays. Following these live performances, playwrights are honored in an awards ceremony and are presented with certificates and medals on stage.
Submit Your Play!
For guidelines on how to submit your play to the 2023 Young Playwrights Festival playwriting competition, click here. Priority deadline for submitting your play: February 24, 2023.
I want FST's WRITE A PLAY program to be in every city and town across America.
2023 Winning Young Playwrights
UNDER SIX Winners: Kindergarten-6th Grade
Sharing Joy
by Alyannah DixonBay Haven School of Basics Plus, Ms. Wedebrock – 3rd Grade
The Big Situation
by Isabelle Fishman and Katherine Kimball Pineview School, Ms. Abeysakra – 3rd Grade
The Big Dance
by Layla Vaughn McNeal Elementary, Mrs. Freeman – 3rd Grade
The Power of PB and J
by Ivan Gorodnitchev Bay Haven School of Basics Plus, Ms. Wedebrock – 3rd Grade
Raphael’s Orchard
by Ofek Alon Shelanu School, Telmond, Israel, Bar Bracha Menashe – 6th Grade
The Office Party
by Ms. Bolstridge’s and Mrs. Solum’s Class Brentwood Elementary School – 3rd Grade
The Donut Adventure
by Mrs. Buchoffer’s Class Holy Name School, Camden, NJ – 3rd Grade
SEVEN UP Winners: Middle and High School
The Hamster and Daniel
by Diego Gonzales
Riverview High School, Mr. A– 9th Grade
Rules of Theatre
by Kubrick Croce
Hackley Schoo, Tarrytown, NY, Ms. Maddox – 7th Grade
A New Planet in the System
by Marcus Aurelien, Alanna Leissner, and Sage Sniegocki
Riverview High School, Mr. A – 12th and 9th grade
Colors
by Ottis Jackson
Booker Middle School, Mrs. Mills - 8th Grade
Kyle the Unicorn and the Stupid Little Kids
by Elle Singerman, Bille Shelks, Sy Pornasadoro, Jaden Philipi, Lesly Mariana Penagos Gonzalez, Ella Nastoff, Piper Mulligan, Haley Keigher, Alexa De Luna, Carver Cleveland, Eduardo Cavazos, Emurhi Arcadi, Olivia Andrzejewki-Wilson, Mackenzie Summers, and Zahara Sir
Booker Middle School, Mrs. Mills - 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade
Daydreams
by Anna Brodoska and Aubrey Bland
Incarnation Catholic School, Ms. Christenson- 7th Grade
WEIRD
by Matrick Thorpe
Pine View School, Mrs. Light- 10th Grade
UNDER SIX: Honorable Mentions
Taco Heroes
by Untred Garner Bay Haven School of Basics Plus, Ms. Wedebrock- 3rd Grade
River Gold
by Riley Lukachyk and Allison Fleener
Fruitville Elementary School, Mrs. Valach- 4th Grade
Annabelle and the Acorn Tree
by Victor Gierlachowski, Riley Bornhorse, Kian Brady, Hailey Fernandes, Dylan Welling and Henry D’Hondt
Ashton Elementary School, Ms. Griffith - 2nd Grade
Willo and Lilly’s Journey
by Cameron Caff
Pinevew School, Ms. Abeysakra - 3rd Grade
Bathroom Troubles
by Jasmine Mendoza
Dreamers Academy, Ms. DeVeau-Biter and Ms. Ortega – 3rd Grade
Attack of the Gingerbreads
by Adam Gratzer
Manatee School for the Arts, Mr. Bajjaly – 6th Grade
Kitchen Crazy
by Dominick DeCastro and Gabriel Ibarra
Toledo Blade Elementary School, Ms. Kinkin - Grade 3
SEVEN UP: Honorable Mentions
Dessert Bandit
by Violet Weiser
Cardinal Mooney High School, Mrs. Turley- 9th Grade
Where is the Love
by Gracie Lockey
Matanzas High School, Ms. Jones- 12th Grade
Players
by Evie Cantalamessa
Riverview High School, Mr. A- 12th Grade
Nightmare at Grandmas House
by Elliana Charles
Manatee School for the Arts Mr. Bajjaly – 6th Grade