Plays by Young Writers
April 1-10, 2011

Congratulations to this year's Winning Playwrights!

The 26th Season of Plays by Young Writers will be produced at The Lyceum Theatre in downtown San Diego in April 2011. The work presented springs from the imaginations of playwrights under age 19, the winners of our California Young Playwrights Contest. Contest scripts are evaluated in two age groups - winners age 14 or under receive readings, while the others work with Playwrights Project to stage full productions of their scripts. The older playwrights spend months on revision, guided first by writing professionals and later by questions from the artists mounting the plays.

This year's festival will feature a script incorporating material from our Telling Stories: Giving Voice to Foster Youth program. Playwrights Project commissioned professional playwright Lisa Kirazian, and her play Switch will run in rotation with the Plays by Young Writers festival.

Audiences of all ages enjoy weekend and evening performances, while weekday performances are reserved for school groups. Students are inspired by the teenage writers and intrigued by characters grappling with conflicts much like their own.

Photos by Ken Jacques


Plays by Young Writers

Full Productions

Trevor
By Ben Kelly
Age 18, Carlsbad
Directed by Ruff Yeager
Thirteen-year-old Trevor is a quirky, misunderstood outsider with a plan . . . world domination!

Next Train to Nowhere
By Kelsey Bavencoff
Age 18, Santee
Direced by Carrie Klewin
In this humorous look at life and death, two strangers meet on a train and change the course of each other's life.

 

Readings
Directed by Aleta Barthell

Russet
By Kira Nolan
Age 11, Encinitas
Russet, a timid wolf pup, struggles to please his ferocious father.

The Spirits of the Bells
By Kaylin Jeanne Greisen
Age 11, San Diego
and Sydney Yockey
Age 11, San Diego
Grace can prove that spirits ring the bells in the Silver Tower, but at what cost?

 

Telling Stories: Giving Voice to Foster Youth

Switch
By Lisa Kirazian
With changes constantly surrounding them, foster care youth and adults endure challenges few others face.
Come hear their voices of hardship and hope in a new play by professional playwright Lisa Kirazian, incorporating material from theatre artist Katie Harroff and participants in the Telling Stories program.

Recommended for ages 15 and older

 

Performance Schedule

  Friday, April 1 Plays by Young Writers
 
10:00 AM
Trevor, Next Train to Nowhere, The Spirits of the Bells, and Russet
 
 
Saturday, April 2 *
Plays by Young Writers - Opening Night
 
7:30 PM
Trevor, Next Train to Nowhere, The Spirits of the Bells, and Russet
 
 
Sunday, April 3
Telling Stories: Giving Voice to Foster Youth
 
7:30 PM
Switch+
 
 
Tuesday, April 5
Plays by Young Writers
 
10:00 AM
Trevor, Next Train to Nowhere, The Spirits of the Bells, and Russet
 
 
Wednesday, April 6
Telling Stories: Giving Voice to Foster Youth
 
10:00 AM
Switch+
 
 
Thursday, April 7
Plays by Young Writers
 
10:00 AM
Trevor, Next Train to Nowhere, The Spirits of the Bells, and Russet
 
 
Friday, April 8
Telling Stories: Giving Voice to Foster Youth
 
10:00 AM
Switch+
 
 
Friday, April 8
Plays by Young Writers
 
7:30 PM
Trevor, Next Train to Nowhere, The Spirits of the Bells, and Russet
     
  Saturday, April 9 Plays by Young Writers
  2:00 PM † Trevor, Next Train to Nowhere, The Spirits of the Bells, and Russet
     
  Saturday, April 9 Telling Stories: Giving Voice to Foster Youth
  7:30 PM Switch+
     
 
Sunday, April 10
Telling Stories: Giving Voice to Foster Youth
  2:00 PM † Switch+
     

*Opening Night includes a performance and reception. Proceeds help support Playwrights Project.
+Recommended for ages 15 and older due to mature content and themes; other plays for ages 11 and older.
Inspire a Youth performance: Purchase an adult ticket and bring a youth for free.
Morning performances are scheduled for school groups; however, individual tickets may be available.

Tickets at the door as available.

Ticket Sales

Contact Playwrights Project (619) 239-8222 for
Opening Night on April 2*
Weekday matinees
General information
Purchase Opening Night tickets online CLICK HERE

Call Lyceum Theatre Box Office (619) 544-1000 for
All evening shows except Apr. 2
Weekend matinees
Purchase tickets online at www.lyceumevents.org

Ticket Prices

Individual Tickets $20.00
Students/Seniors 62+/Military $15.00
School Groups of 10+ $9.00
Other Groups of 10+ $12.00
*Opening Night $50.00

Let us know if your school is interested in attending a school matinee!

 

Theplays were amazing. I loved them all. They were so well performed. What a gift to your young playwrights! I found them touching, funny, thought provoking.

~ Audience member
Plays by Young Writers

 
 
 
 
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