young playwrights festival
Employing the signature “O’Neill process,” the festival provides professional-level support to develop original one-act plays written by middle and high school students.
Application Dates
Festival Dates
2026 Dates Coming Soon!
January 15 - January 29
Each year, a cohort of young playwrights is invited to spend a weekend at the O'Neill with a dedicated creative team—director, dramaturg, and actors—to help them develop their short plays based on the principles and techniques of the O'Neill's renowned National Theater Institute . Students receive a rigorous exploration of their work guided by professional artists as well as a script-in-hand public reading of their new play.
In addition to the five Featured Playwrights whose work is selected for a weekend of development, the O'Neill welcomes a number of students to attend as Guest Playwrights. Guest Playwrights will observe the development processes, attend playwriting workshops and rehearsals, and hear their scripts read aloud.
YPF welcomes young playwrights to apply to spend a weekend at the O'Neill with a dedicated creative team—director, dramaturg, and actors—to help them develop their short plays. In addition to the five Featured Playwrights whose work is selected for development, a number of students are invited to attend as Guest Playwrights who will observe rehearsals, attend writing workshops, and hear their scripts read aloud.
Applications for the 2026 Young Playwrights Festival COMING SOON! Please review our application and eligibility information below.
YOU ARE ELIGIBLE IF YOU:
-
Are between the ages of 12-18 and currently enrolled in middle or high school.
-
Reside in the United States.
-
Have permission from your parent or guardian to apply.
-
Have written an original 10-15 page play.
-
Are the only writer of the play.
-
Are interested in seeing a play of yours workshopped at the world-renowned Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.
TO APPLY:
-
Include your name and the title of your play on the front page of the script.
-
Include a listing of character names and descriptions.
-
Number every page of your script.
-
Submit only one play for consideration.
-
Submit your script as a PDF. We do not accept Google Docs or Word Documents.
NOTE:
-
Application materials will not be returned or archived.
-
Plays will be selected on a competitive basis.
-
The O'Neill only accepts digital submissions.
-
Early submissions are strongly encouraged.
-
The O'Neill does not provide housing or travel for festival attendees.
COVID POLICY
The O'Neill requires all participants of YPF to show proof of a negative PCR or rapid antigen COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours before arriving at the O'Neill campus. Those who do not submit their test prior to arrival will be given a rapid antigen test on-site for a fee of $25.00 per test. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Company Management team.
For the full text of the policy, please click HERE.
Sophia Chapadjiev is the Artistic Director of the Young Playwrights Festival and the O’Neill’s Director of Education. With nearly two decades of experience as an arts educator, Sophia has worked with a number of leading theater organizations in teaching students and teachers alike. Sophia is also a playwright and librettist whose work has been performed in New York, London, Toronto and Sydney. Her play, Over the Moon won Best Play, plus Audience Favorite at the American Globe Theater and In This House was selected as part of London’s inaugural Dark Horse Festival. Selected musical works of hers include: the one-act opera Aloha Flight 243 (music: A. Leyton-Brown) at HERE Arts Center, NY; Tobias Bentley’s World Cello Tour: of the Lesser-Known Nether Regions (music: N. Barstow) at The St. James (nka Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Other Palace), London; and the bijou opera, The Bone Keepers (music: C. O’Neil), a co-production of NYU and American Opera Projects which was highlighted in Broadway World’s opera review and described as “a kind of creep show meets Laverne and Shirley." Sophia is also the author of Teaching Playwriting: A Step-by-Step Guide to Fostering Creativity in Your Classroom. BFA, Emerson; MFA, NYU's Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program.
Dramatic writing is visual writing: A play is different from a novel or a short story in that it is meant to be performed. A playwright must always focus on what the stage will look like once it is live. This can be a point of real creativity: if you want to set it in a kitchen, set it in a kitchen. If you prefer the moon, set it on the moon.
Drama is conflict: Somebody has a desire, and something stands in their way. It sounds vague, but it's the essence of drama.
Don't over-explain: Once you lose an audience, it's almost impossible to get them back. So keep things going forward, and don't pause to explain. The audience may get confused, but a little confusion can be fun. And exposition is never dramatic.
Strange events permit themselves the luxury of occurring: You've probably been exposed to Realism, with a big R. Realism was a movement that sought to represent "real life" on stage. When it debuted in the late 1800s, it caused riots. It's been the American formula for over 60 years.
But...
You don't have to follow that. You can have a hover-car chase, swap characters faces, and stage a gunfight in a field of pineapples. In fact, in Len Jenkin's Careless Love, all of that happens. If you have an idea, any idea, no matter how crazy it may seem, write it. Somebody will find a way to do it.
Have fun: Writing a play is hard and it takes a lot of work. But seeing something you wrote live on the stage is unbelievably rewarding.
We've compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions for your convenience. If you don't see your questions answered below, please contact Sophia at sophia@theoneill.org.
What is the Young Playwrights Festival?
The Young Playwrights Festival (YPF) is the O'Neill's program for middle school and high school students. The festival's mission is to provide young artists an opportunity to improve their writing and give them experience with playwriting as a craft and discipline. The festival begins with two days of rehearsal and culminates with a script-in-hand reading.
Who can submit a play to YPF?
Please review our eligibility guidelines above. Students between the ages of 12-18 who reside in the United States are welcome to apply.
How do I submit a play to YPF?
After you’ve written your 10-15 page play and made sure it is properly formatted (see script sample), navigate to the O'Neill's online application, complete the questions, and upload your script.
What kind of plays does YPF want?
YPF is looking for all sorts of plays. They can be serious, they can be funny. They can be about real situations or imagined ones. Most of all, YPF is looking for original plays that come from you!
What does YPF offer students?
YPF is an opportunity for students interested in playwriting to get experience with the development process at a truly world class institution. Participants will gain an understanding of dramatic form and structure, work with experienced theater artists, and most importantly, see their creative vision brought to life on the stage. Students will have an entire creative staff to work with, and will be given ample opportunity to re-write heading into the staged reading. They will then see their play performed before a live audience.
What does the Young Playwrights Festival not offer?
Housing and travel for festival attendees are not provided (although meals are).
How much does it cost to participate in the Festival?
Currently, there is no cost to be involved in the festival.
When did YPF begin?
YPF began in 2006 with only a handful of playwrights submitting from a single school. It has now grown to include hundreds of submissions from scores of schools— both local and national. Sophia Chapadjiev, Director of Education, has been running the festival and teaching in-school playwriting workshops since 2008.
What is the rehearsal schedule for the Festival?
Typically on the first day, Friday, from 6-10pm you will meet the other young playwrights and your artistic team (director, actors, dramaturg, designer). You will also hear the first read-through of the selected plays. On Saturday, rehearsals take place starting at around 9am and go until around 6pm. On Sunday, rehearsals start in the morning again, followed by an afternoon technical rehearsal and the public performance in the early evening. If your play is selected, you will be required to be there for all rehearsals and for the presentation.
Can I view a script sample?
Absolutely. Please see below:
2025:
Featured Playwrights
Pursuing the American Dream by Carson Brown; Clark Lane Middle School, Waterford, CT
Shadows of Pride by Tia George; Robert E. Fitch High School, Groton, CT
Terrifying Déjà Vu by Aleena Hasan; Riverdale Country School, Bronx, NY
450 Minutes by Callum Hicks; Saint Ann’s School, New York, NY
Oni No Mori by Elsa Ross; Groton Middle School, Groton, CT
Guest Playwrights
Ghosts of the Jungle by Henry Bosché; Saint Bernard School, Groton, CT
The Magical Monday by Elara Corriveau; Groton Middle School, Mystic, CT
in the cosmos by Lily Dunham; Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, New York, NY
Cursed by Kayla Franklin; Old Saybrook Middle School, Old Saybrook, CT
Lost by Angelina Gammone; Clark Lane Middle School, Quaker Hill, CT
Being Seen by Bee Kanofsky; Lehigh Valley Charter High School, Pen Argyl, PA
Rest Their Souls by Basil Lee; Pittsburgh CAPA, Pittsburgh, PA
Chess in the Park by Max Leventon; Choate Rosemary Hall, Greenwich, CT
A Dance Among the Dead by Lorelai Maynard; Clark Lane Middle School, Waterford, CT
Slim by Samantha Olokodana; Clark Lane Middle School, Quaker Hill, CT
Sold Out by Callan Scott; Washington Montessori School, Sharon, CT
The Not List by Summer Stern; Croton Harmon High, Croton on Hudson, NY
To the Top by Rebecca Tsai; Groton Middle School, Groton, CT
Unseen by Leah Weiser; Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Natick, MA
Ophelia: A Christmas Special by Zixuan Xin; The Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, NJ
What We Keep by Chloe Zhao; Trinity School, New York, NY
2024:
Featured Playwrights
Grieving by Abby Eggers; Clark Lane Middle School, Waterford, CT
Words for Worse by Natalie Hambidge; Groton Middle School, Mystic, CT
Timebound by Keira O’Donnell; Old Saybrook Middle School, Old Saybrook, CT
One Step Away from the Top of the Mountain by Emily Roy; Three Rivers Middle College Magnet High School, Waterford, CT
A Crazy Cat Lady and Her Big Red Scarf by Savannah Savas; Brooklyn Prospect Charter High School, Brooklyn, NY
Guest Playwrights
Peter Is Dead by Kaelyn Barricklow; Clark Lane Middle School, Waterford, CT
A Wizard’s Folly by Emmalee Durk; Clark Lane Middle School, Waterford, CT
Aaron by Stephanie Flores Aguilar; New London High School Multi Magnet Campus, New London, CT
Whispers from the Stalls of Hell by Sophia Goldman; Hall High School & Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Half Day, West Hartford, CT
The Adaline Show by Lily Griffin; Robert E. Fitch High School, Groton, CT
Lost in the News by Sofia Guccione; Old Saybrook Middle School, Old Saybrook, CT
Finding Home by Gabriel Harkins; Clark Lane Middle School, Waterford, CT
Regrets of Man by Noah Howard; Fuquay-Varina Middle School, Willow Spring, NC
Forgive and Forget by Sebastian Irausquin-Petit; Riverdale Country School, New York City, NY
Control World Z by Zinira Izmir; Manlius Pebble Hill School, Syracuse, NY
Painted Peppers by Bee Kanofsky; Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, Roseto, PA
Talk to the Wall! by Max Leventon; Choate Rosemary Hall, Greenwich, CT
Surffield’s Legacy: Search for Lost Treasure by David Pan; Groton Middle School, Mystic, CT
Antiquated Values by Amalia Seedman; Conard High School, West Hartford, CT
Fate’s Decision by Hazel Siu; Waterford High School, Waterford, CT
Cereal Invasion by Hannah Winn; Groton Middle School, Groton, CT
2023:
Featured Playwrights
Crows by Aerin Rollins; Clark Lane Middle School, CT
All The Space Between by Nazariah Isaac; New London Visual And Performing Arts Magnet High School, CT
A Classroom Heist by Musharraf Atik; Waterford High School, CT
You Are Cordially Invited To Elika Strauss' Birthday Celebration by Hannah Weisz; Golda Och Academy, NJ
Sidewalk Eggs by Elena Eiss; Pittsburgh CAPA, PA
Guest Playwrights
ON THE ACCOUNT OF A WESTERN STAR by Henry Choi; Bergen County Academies, NJ
The Man Who Would Definitely Not Be King by Penelope deRosset; Burlington High School, VT
GYOPO by Stephanie Groves; Lake Braddock Secondary School, VA
Killer Queen by Gabrielle Mckayle; Rockville High School, CT
The Story of Achilles and Patroclus by Miro Meek; Classical High School, Rhode Island, RI
The Reaper by Lesley Moran; Robert E. Fitch High School, CT
Haunting Insecurities by Elisabeth Oslovich; Rockville High School, CT
(whispers)lesbians by Etta Singer; Horace Mann School, New York, NY
Fly Free by Mia Brady; Old Saybrook Middle School, CT
Playwright Woes by Jaedon Emerich; Clark Lane Middle School, CT
Ellie’s Good Fortune and Lucky Dog by Annalise Girard; Clark Lane Middle School, CT
Stalker Girl: A Comedic Murder Mystery by Frankie Kane; Saint Ann's School, NY
It's all a disaster by Maliyah Kievits-Centeno; Groton Middle School, CT
Abandoned by Shia Pascal; ISAAC, CT
The Best Tom Greeley Stories by Alberto "Ace" Perez; Hackley School, NY
Figure of Mind by Jake Wang; Clark Lane Middle School, CT
2022:
Featured Playwrights
The Modern American Dragonslayer on the 4th of July by Sierra Blanco; Professional Children's School, NY
Somewhere out There by Ella Brady; Old Saybrook High School, CT
Death Deadlines by Isabella Dioquino; Clark Lane Middle School, CT
Mr. Hit Man by Emma Montieth; New London Multi Magnet High School, CT
Small Bank by Hazel Sui; Waterford High School, CT
Guest Playwrights
Birthday by Eliana Álvarez; Fitch High School, CT
Don’t Forget! By Hannah Belknap; Old Saybrook Middle School, CT
Dying To Love You by Aiden Jackson Cash; ISAAC School, CT
Time’s Running Out by Jada Collins; Clark Lane Middle School, CT
Pen Guin’s Takeover by Rami Elhadhoudi; Clark Lane Middle School, CT
He said/He said by Leo Fishman Janowitz; Interlochen Arts Academy, NY
All The Words I Never Said by Alexis Grasdock; Lyme-Old Lyme High School, CT
Punk Club 51 by Lily Griffin; Fitch High School, CT
Loyalty Oath by Will Grimes; Noble and Greenough School, MA
The Elders by Jayden Kujawski; Old Saybrook Middle School, CT
The Desire by Marcus Lowy; Old Saybrook Middle School, CT
Merry Christmas? by Gabrielle McKayle; Rockville High School, CT
The Chalice of Dionysus by Mikayla Senkewitcz; Waterford High School, CT
Gone for an Hour or Two by Juan Vieyra; Old Saybrook High School, CT
2020:
Featured Playwrights
The Stories of Myth by Marlie Jae Kass; Brimmer and May, MA
Sneakers by Anya Jiménez; Professional Performing Arts School, NY
Negative Space by Julia Browning; Norwich Free Academy, CT
The Speech by Isabel Comas-Soares; Robert E. Fitch HS, CT
Mrs. Witherbee and the Super Moles by Stefen Kuhn; Clark Lane Middle School, CT
Guest Playwrights
A Different Type of Thanksgiving by Caroline Ancona; Old Saybrook MS, CT
Betwixt by Huda Ayaz; The Wheatley School, NY
Loss/Lost by Maleigh Crespo; Mississippi School of the Arts, MS
Under the Stars by Madelyn Gorra; Clark Lane MS, CT
Annette by Harmony Lepikko; Robert E. Fitch HS, CT
Government Files by Michelle Liu; Clark Lane MS, CT
Big by Maggie Munday Odom; The Grove School, CT
Remedy at the Jordan by Aiden Rodgers; East Lyme HS, CT
Princess Rule by Addyson Rogers; Cutler Magnet MS, CT
Break My Bones by Tess Rowan; Langley HS, VA
"A GREAT EVENT! Those students were beaming from the experience, as they should have been. What a learning event for them. They will never forget it, I know. Those seeds we planted will flower, I can practically guarantee it. We at the high school are very grateful to you for extending this opportunity to our students." ~ Gay Collins, English Teacher, Waterford High School
“I was surprised by the amount of excitement and joy I had during the weekend and during the performance. I thought being a Select Playwright would be serious—and it was—but it was also really fun and exciting. Every aspect of the process was so enjoyable and interesting, and all the people involved were nice and supportive. My favorite part was the actual performance because I got to see my final play in front of the audience and see how everyone reacted. And it was great seeing the other playwrights’ plays. Being a part of a group of people who were all collaborating and helping each other was so one of my best experiences of my life.” ~ William Palmer, age 12, Achilles’ Dilemma; YPF 2017
“Working with actors in rehearsal was especially helpful for me… a play is meant to live onstage, not merely on a page. Just hearing the speech patterns of each of my characters read by these amazingly talented performers gave me inspiration to strengthen my characters. The actors asked me interesting questions about their roles, which allowed me to think more deeply about each set of objectives and tactics. It was thrilling to watch the actors come into each rehearsal with so much positive energy and respect for the work being done.” ~ Lucy Sydel, age 16, Saving Grace (The Human Experiment); YPF 2017
“My time a YPF was truly a life changing experience. Given that I had never even met another playwright before, I really had no idea what to expect. I was really surprised that I had my own creative team: my own director and actors and dramaturg. It’s very easy for adults to talk down to teenagers who write. I think the thing that most surprised me was how respectful all the adults were in the program. They truly treated the playwrights as writers first and teenagers second, rather than the other way around. This is always very encouraging for young artists; to feel like someone respects you and your work can make all the difference.” ~ Isabelle Pierce, age 15, The Bedroom; YPF 2016
“Georgia attended YPF the first year as a runner-up, and the second year as one of the winners. The encouragement she received first time--being selected, and having her work taken seriously by professionals--gave her the confidence to try again. And then the reward of learning, from the inside, the hard work that goes into developing a play, combined with seeing her play performed by professionals was worth more than I can describe. The whole experience was enormously confidence-building. It confirmed for her that her individual ideas mattered.” ~ Ruth, mother of Georgia White, age 17, Deliverance; YPF 2016
"Good Guy, Bad Guy, Bad Guy, Bad Guy was my first play, ever. So you can only imagine my surprise when I was chosen to be a part of the Young Playwrights Festival. I try to avoid big events and spotlights as much as possible. Friday, May 9th rolled around quicker than I hoped it would, and this is where the fun began. I was nervous [but] something about the place felt like I belonged there. I just had to get used to the crowd of people. Turns out that it wasn’t that hard. Every person I met and spoke to during the weekend was friendly. Everyone just slipped right into comfortable conversation. As if we all knew each other beforehand. I stopped feeling like a stranger. The butterflies in my stomach never left, they just calmed down a tad bit. I’m not too good with names but I’ll remember everyone's faces forever. Being with playwrights and actors for a weekend gave me a whole new love for theatre. I got in the car to go home Sunday May 11th with a new sense of the person I am. I learned to use my voice and share the thoughts I have. I learned that you have to step up and make what you want happen. I still don’t enjoy the spotlight but putting on a show people like and want more of made me so proud of myself. I hope to do it again. The Young Playwrights Festival will stay on the list of Top 5 Life Changing Events for me. I wish that all aspiring Playwrights can experience the weekend I experienced. It was truly worth it." ~ Sasha Volkerts, age 17, Good Guy, Bad Guy, Bad Guy, Bad Guy; YPF 2014
“Before YPF I was always kind of skeptical [of] plays. Why act something out live when you can make a movie with special effects and stuff? That’s all changed now. I think I actually prefer plays over movies. You get to see real, live people performing, reading lines that they aren’t just reading off a teleprompter. As for collaborations, I love them. I was always the sort of person to work alone, but by working with the actors and my director, I was able to get SO much more out of my play than I ever thought was even possible. And… it really exposed me to all the things I never even knew went on, such as lighting, character development, and blocking. Altogether, I think YPF was an amazing experience for both me and the other attending playwrights.” ~ Owen Seltzer, age 13, Warehouse Whereabouts; YPF 2016
“It was simply incredible to see something that had once been only an idea in my head come to life even brighter than I had ever pictured and none of it would have been possible without the Young Playwrights Festival." ~ Carin Estey, age 16, A World with Three Sides; YPF 2013
Funding for the Young Playwrights Festival provided by: Chelsea Groton Foundation, Jack and Gail Feinberg, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, and Eversource Energy.