WRITE A PLAY
Florida Studio Theatre is proud to present the 31st 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 31st 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 Russia, 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].
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 Lynall at 941.366.9797 or [email protected].
2021-2022 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.
Cinderella
by Sarah Durham
Have a ball with FST’s all-new adaptation of Cinderella! Enjoy the story you love with even more added fun, including a soundtrack of contemporary pop hits, audience interaction, slapstick humor, and more. Will Cinderella be able to escape her cruel stepmother and stepsisters and finally get her happily ever after with Prince Charming? Find out in this music-filled re-imagining of the timeless tale. Begins October 7 at Florida Studio Theatre.
OR
Hare & Tortoise
by Brendan Murray. Produced in special agreement with Plays for New Audiences.
Hare wants nothing more than to speed through everyday life and make time pass faster. Tortoise prefers to take her time, tending her garden and celebrating each season of life. This fun, treasured tale tells a timeless story of friendship, change, and the excitement of growing up. Available to tour to your school beginning September 23.
Play #2: The Play That Inspires
This interactive performance and playwriting lesson at your school is designed to get your students writing!
The Write Stuff
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 Stuff includes up to eight in-class workshops to get your students writing. All students are encouraged to submit their plays to FST’s 2022 Young Playwrights Festival to be considered for a professional production in the spring. Available to tour to your school beginning October 12.
Play #3: The Play That Celebrates Young Playwrights
The Grandma That East Everything & Other Winning Plays
By Young Playwrights
Finally, your students will see the winning plays from FST’s 2022 Annual Young Playwrights Festival! These winning plays, written by elementary school students from our community and around the world, are brought to life by a cast of professional actors. From a star who could not twinkle to a dragon plagued by hiccups, we've shined a spotlight on the magic of children's creativity through this beloved annual production for over 30 years. Join us in celebrating what stories young playwrights have imagined this school year in an all-new play filled with laughter, lessons, and learning for us all. Begins March 24 at Florida Studio Theatre OR Available to tour to your school beginning April 19.
Register for 2021-2022!
Contact Shelby Lynhall at 941.366.9797 or [email protected] for more information or to book your classroom’s experience today!
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.
2021-2022 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 theatre production masterclasses and more.
Build Your Own Workshop pricing and length of residency vary depending on the specific project. Call for details.
Register for 2021-2022!
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
PLAY SUBMISSION FORM
For guidelines on how to submit your play to the 2022 Young Playwrights Festival playwriting competition, click here.
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