Young Playwrights Festival
Each year, FST receives play submissions by playwrights ages 5-18 from around the world, submitted through FST's award-winning WRITE A PLAY program.
In selecting winners, FST looks for plays with an imaginative plot and character, a strong sense of rhythm in the dialogue, innate wisdom, and diverse themes. The most exemplary plays submitted by students in grades K-6 are produced in a full-scale, professional production.
The year-long program culminates with FST’s Annual Young Playwrights Awards Ceremony each spring, where students, their families, educators, playwrights, and dignitaries will come together virtually to celebrate the outstanding plays created over the course of the year.
Click here to download the WRITE A PLAY submission packet.
Congratulations to our 2023 Winning Playwrights! Click the "2023 Winners" tab above for a full list of our winning titles and playwrights.
Congratulations to our 2023 winning young playwrights!
UNDER SIX Winners: Kindergarten-6th Grade
Sharing Joy
by Alyannah Dixon
Bay Haven School of Basics Plus, Ms. Wedebrock – 3rd Grade
The Big Situation
by Isabelle Fishman
Pineview School, Ms. Abeysakra - 3rd Grade
The Boy Who Wanted to Dance Ballet
by Alma Gilbo
Shelanu School, Telmond, Israel, Bar Bracha Menashe – 6th 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
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
SEVEN UP Winners: Middle and Highschool
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
Pineview School, Mrs. Light- 10th Grade
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
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.
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.
For any questions and more information, contact Shelby Lynhall at [email protected] or by calling 941.366.9797.
Young Playwrights Festival in the News
April 15, 2022 I SUNCOAST VIEW I FST Presents Collection of Award-Winning Plays Written by Young Playwrights
April 24, 2022 | SARASOTA HERALD TRIBUNE | A Salute for Florida Studio Theatre's Young Playwrights Award Winners
May 6, 2022 I SRQ MAGAZINE I Creating a Home For All
May 10, 2022 I EAST COUNTY OBSERVER I Braden River High teacher and students earn Florida Studio Theatre's Write A Play awards