WRITE A PLAY

Florida Studio Theatre is proud to present the 33rd year of its award-winning WRITE A PLAY program. 

WRITE A PLAY is a year-round arts integration program providing students with the example, the inspiration, and the skills to write their own original plays. From field trips to the theatre to see professional productions, to an interactive performance created at your school, to playwriting lessons that will develop the inner artist in your students, this award-winning program is designed to inspire the next generation of playwrights. Now in its 33rd year, WRITE A PLAY reaches over 47,000 students annually across the state of Florida; nationally as far as Camden, NJ and Woodstock, IL; and internationally as far as Scotland and Israel.

For more information about this year's plays and offerings, click the Elementary or Secondary tabs above. To book your classroom's experience, contact Shelby Lynhall at 941.366.9797 or [email protected]

Young Playwrights Festival


Annual Playwriting Competition

All students are encouraged to submit their work to FST’s Young Playwrights Festival, which celebrates those students and their teachers whose plays reveal a budding creative talent that deserves congratulations!

All winning plays must have the four key ingredients: Characters, Setting, Conflict, and Dialogue. In addition to the core ingredients, winning plays also have creative and interesting stories. They can be funny or serious, or a combination of the two. All winning plays have the truth and imagination that only a young playwright can bring to a play.

Click here to download the WRITE A PLAY submission packet. 


Click here to watch the PBS Documentary about WRITE A PLAY.

 

WRITE A PLAY: ELEMENTARY (Kindergarten - Fifth Grade) is a three-part program, designed to have multiple interactions with each student and educator throughout the school year.

For more information about this year's offerings, see below. For questions or to book your classroom's experience, contact Shelby Lynhall at 941.366.9797 or [email protected]


2022-2023 Plays

Play #1: The Play That Sets the Example
In this introduction, students will see a professional theatrical production that serves as an example of a play. 

Charlotte's WebCharlotte's Web
Adapted by Joseph Robinette. Based on the book by E.B. White

Wilbur may be the runt of the pig litter, but he’s living large after capturing the heart of his farm owner’s young daughter, Fern. That is until Wilbur grows too big, and is shipped off to a farm owned by Fern’s uncle. There, Wilbur discovers his eventual fate…the dinner table! It’s up to Charlotte, Wilbur’s new, wise, and kindhearted spider friend, to hatch a plan to save him. Begins September 29 at Florida Studio Theatre.
 

OR

The Lion, The Witch and The WardrobeThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Based on the story by C.S. Lewis and Adapted by le Clanche du Rand

Join Peter and Lucy on their travels to Narnia! The White Witch has cast a spell that makes it always winter and never Christmas. Peter and Lucy meet Mr. Tumnus the faun, Aslan the Great Lion, and all the talking animals of the kingdom. Watch as they all courageously battle the forces of evil and discover that love is the deepest magic of all. Available to tour to your school beginning October 5.
 
 

Play #2: The Write Way
This interactive performance and playwriting lesson at your school is designed to get your students writing!

The Write Way

The Write Way

Take the next step in the series with a play that will inspire your students to write plays of their very own! In this interactive experience, your students will learn the ingredients of a play and see a brand-new one created (using their OWN ideas) right before their eyes. More than just a performance, The Write Way includes up to eight in-class workshops to get your students writing. All students are encouraged to submit their plays to FST’s 2023 Young Playwrights Festival to be considered for a professional production in the spring. Available to tour to your school beginning October 18. 


Play #3: The Play That Celebrates Young Playwrights
 

The Last AcornThe Last Acorn & Other Winning Plays
By Young Playwrights

Finally, your students will see the winning plays from the 2022-23 WRITE A PLAY School Year! Performed by a cast of professional actors, this original production features an anthology of stories that only children could write, filled with laughter, lessons, and learning for us all. Begins March 23 at Florida Studio Theatre OR Available to tour to your school beginning April 25.
 
 
 

Register for 2022-2023!

Contact Shelby Lynhall at 941.366.9797 or [email protected] for more information or to book your classroom’s experience today!

*Additional discounts available for Title I schools

WRITE A PLAY Sponsors

WRITE A PLAY: Secondary (Grades 6-12) offers in-classroom workshops led by our professional teaching artists. These workshops will reinforce your teaching methods and use arts integration tools to motivate your students to unleash their creativity through writing.

Participating students have the opportunity to submit their plays to FST’s annual Young Playwrights Festival. Each student will be recognized for their participation and achievement. Winning writers will be honored by FST on the day of the festival in Sarasota, FL.


2022-2023 In-Classroom Workshops


Select One Area of Focus:

Playwriting
Using proven theatrical methodology, FST teaching artists will guide students to write plays of their own focusing on the 4 elements of a play: Characters, Setting, Problem, and Dialogue. Build stronger writers and enhance creativity through hands-on learning.

 


Improv
Using engaging games and activities, Improv will help your students grow in public speaking, creative collaboration & teamwork, leadership, listening, and receiving and giving constructive feedback. In a positive learning environment, students will improve communication and problem-solving skills that prepare them for real-life situations.

 


Build Your Own Workshop
Do you have a lesson that could benefit from some theatrical arts? Let Florida Studio Theatre build a workshop specifically for your students. Past “Build Your Own” workshops have included specialized workshops in how to write a musical, introduction to costume design, sketch comedy writing, and more!


Build Your Own Workshop pricing and length of residency vary depending on the specific project. Call for details.


Register for 2022-2023!

Contact Shelby Lynhall at 941.366.9797 or [email protected] for more information or to book your classroom's experience today!

*Additional discounts available for Title I schools

WRITE A PLAY Sponsors

 

 
PLAY SUBMISSION FORM

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.


HELPFUL GUIDES

For a step-by-step playwriting guide (recommended for grades 6-12) click here. 

For a playwriting brainstorm (recommended for grades K-5) click here. 


WATCH

Elementary Playwriting Video Tutorials:

Character Lesson  |  WATCH
Setting Lesson  |  WATCH
Conflict Lesson WATCH
Dialogue Lesson WATCH
Final Steps  |  WATCH
WRITE A PLAY Sponsors


 

The WRITE A PLAY Program would not be possible without the valuable and generous support of the following individuals and organizations.

UNDERWRITERS

Anonymous
Cordelia Lee Beattie Foundation 
Cookie Boudreaux & Dennis Hassell
Georgia Court
Philip & Suzan Gaynes
Robert & Wendy Grady
Dennis & Graci McGillicuddy
Patrick & Mary Mulva
Carol B. Williams

CO-PRODUCERS

Tom & Carol Beeler
In Memory of Marilyn Berman
J. Robert Donnelly & Mary Jane Donnelly Charitable Fund 
Shelley & Sy Goldblatt
Chehalis Hegner & Arthur Ganson 
John & Rebecca Hegner Charitable Fund
In memory of Betty D. Hegner & Richard Hegner Family Foundation
Mark & Linda Nordenberg 
Ina Schnell
David & Lois Stulberg Foundation
Sally & Bob Theis 
Fred & Ann Wurlitzer

GRAND DONORS

Susan Dweck & Elno Family Foundation
Jimmie & Emil Hess Fund 
Robert & Marian Kaiser
Jeryl Schriever & Alex Huppe 
Carole Schwartz

FOUNDATIONS 

Bank of America Client Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee 
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County
Cordelia Lee Beattie Foundation
Embracing Our Differences
The Greenfield Foundation
Manatee Community Foundation
Publix Super Markets Charities
Sarasota Sister Cities Association
The School Board of Broward County-Florida
The Shubert Foundation
Wells Fargo

THE FST IN-THE-SCHOOLS ENDOWMENT OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY

Anonymous
Mandell & Madeleine Berman Foundation
Abraham D. & Annette Cohen Foundation
Georgia Court
Joel & Sandy Cuba
Tom & Celina Forrester
Shelley & Sy Goldblatt
Jeff Hotchkiss & Betsy Winder
Harold& Valerie Joels
Harry Leopold Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County
Dennis & Graci McGillicuddy
The Patterson Foundation
Jules & Sheila Rose
Lois Stulberg
Jill Wilson
Tom Wilson & Patrick Crimmings
Charles O. Wood, III & Miriam M. Wood Foundation
Peter & Wendy Wright
Sally Yanowitz