
young playwrights festival
Sophia Chapadjiev, Director of Education
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. With these methods, the young playwrights hone their work, furthering it from the initial isolation of writing to the collaborative process involved in making their script into a living, breathing play. 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.
The 2021 Young Playwrights Festival will take place April 30 - May 2, 2021.
The 2021 Young Playwrights Festival will likely look different due to the continuing presence of COVID-19. However, the core tenets of the YPF process remain and feature a writer-driven development with collaboration and rehearsal time with creative teams and actors. Writers selected through the submission process will experience these processes through in-person or digital development.
2020 overview
director of education
advice to young playwrights
frequently asked questions
> Review frequently asked questions, alumni testimonials, and a sample script
application
Applications are due Monday, February 1, 2021. Below is information about our application process. NOTE: Due to staff health and safety concerns, the O’Neill is only accepting digital submissions for consideration.
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are between the ages of 12-18 -
have written an original 10-15 page play -
are interested in seeing a play of yours workshopped at the world-renowned Eugene O’Neill Theater Center
TO APPLY:
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Complete this online application form by the deadline. -
You may only submit one play for consideration. -
All plays must be submitted as PDFs or Word documents. We do not accept Google Docs. -
Ensure you review the application guidelines at the top of the form.
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Applications must be received by 11:59pm PST, February 1. -
Application materials will not be returned or archived. -
Plays will be selected on a competitive basis. -
The O'Neill does not provide housing or travel for festival attendees.
meet our 2020 playwrights
Julia Browning
Negative Space
Isabel Comas-Soares
The Speech
Anya Jiménez
Sneakers
Marlie Kass
The Stories of Myth
Stefan Kuhn
Mrs. Witherbee and the Super Moles
Norwich Free Academy
Robert E. Fitch High School
Professional Performing Arts School
Brimmer & May School
Clark Lane Middle School
Connecticut
Connecticut
New York
Massachusetts
Connecticut
2020 Featured Playwrights
NEGATIVE SPACE by Julia Browning
About the playwright: Julia Browning is a junior at Norwich Free Academy. She is part of the costume department for Playshop and helps work on a student magazine for Writer's Ink. For the past eight years, Julia has been part of Tolland Youth Services Community Theater, where she is a member of the senior chorus. Last year, Julia was invited to the O’Neill’s YPF as an honorable mention Guest Playwright and is thrilled to return this year as a Featured Playwright. She enjoys reading, writing, and baking in her free time.
MRS. WITHERBEE AND THE SUPER MOLES by Stefan Kuhn
About the playwright: Stefan Kuhn is in eighth grade at Clark Lane Middle School. He loves animals, and will attend the Agri-Science program at Ledyard High School this fall. Mrs.Witherbee and the Super Moles is his first play.
THE STORIES OF MYTH by Marlie Kass
About the playwright: Marlie Jae Kass is thrilled to share one of her stories with the O’Neill’s YPF this year! Marlie lives in Boston, and is currently a freshman at Brimmer and May, where she is heavily involved in all aspects of their creative arts department. Over the summer, she attends Stagedoor Manor both to perform and, in the past two years, write and direct for DramaFest. When she’s not listening to her current favorite cast recording, she can be found creating and writing down new adventures and stories!
SNEAKERS by Anya Jiménez
About the playwright: Anya Jiménez is a sophomore at the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan. She is a writer, singer, and actor. Her writing has previously been recognized by the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards, the Blank Theatre YPF, and the Lucille Lortel YPF. She is extremely grateful for the support from her friends and family, and honored to be part of the O’Neill’s Young Playwrights Festival!
THE SPEECH by Isabel Comas-Soares
About the playwright: Isabel Comas-Soares lives in Groton, Connecticut and is currently a sophomore at Robert E. Fitch High School. She recently joined Fitch after moving from Chicago, IL where she completed her early education. While in Chicago, Izzy attended a summer youth writing camp where she acquired some background in fiction writing. Izzy contributes and participates in Amphora, the Fitch School Magazine.
Guest Playwrights
A Different Type of Thanksgiving by Caroline Ancona; Old Saybrook MS, CT
YPF Since 2008
2008 - 2009
2009:
2015 - 2019
2010 - 2014
Funding for the Young Playwrights Festival provided by: The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut; CT Automotive Retailer's Association; Bodenwein Public Benevolent Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee; the Waterford Education Foundation; and O'Neill Annual Fund donors
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