The Winners of the 29th Annual New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest

Playwrights Theatre is pleased to announce the winners of the 29th Annual New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest. From the 261 plays submitted by young writers throughout the state, a panel of theatre professionals has selected four High School plays, three Junior High School plays and three Elementary Schools plays. In each category, plays were selected without knowledge of playwrights' schools or grade. Judges were not provided with any of the playwrights' information. The 29th Annual New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest Festival will be held on May 21 and May 22 as part of a partnership between Playwrights Theatre and Premiere Stages at Kean University. Select plays from this festival will be reprised at Playwrights Theatre’s nationally-recognized Forum Reading Series in December 2012. This reading series brings together writers from all over the United States.

The plays will be presented at the University Center's Little Theatre at Kean University on Monday, May 21 at 7 pm for the Elementary and Junior High Division winners and on Tuesday, May 22 at 7 pm for the High School Division winners’ plays. The readings will feature professional actors and directors and reservations can be made by calling 973-514-1787 X21 or via email njypf@ptnj.org. Admission to the readings is free, but reservations are required, as seating is limited.

In the High School Division (grades 10-12), the winners are:
Monster by Samuel Gelman, 12th grade, The Pingry School
The Mystery Madame of 110 and Broadway by Emma Hathaway, 11th grade, Bergen County Academies
Must-Read by Isabelle Ingato, 11th grade, Toms River High School East
Disneyland by Alina Sodano, 11th grade, Bergen County Academies

The aforementioned winners will receive a New Jersey Governor’s Award in Arts Education, which is co-sponsored by New Jersey Arts Education Partnership and the New Jersey Department of Education, at the Governor’s Awards Ceremony on May 10 at 4:30 pm at the War Memorial in Trenton. The Governor’s Award is the highest honor in arts education in New Jersey.

In the Junior High School Division (grades 7-9), the winners are:
It Always Would by Emma Q. Baxter, 7th grade, Randolph Middle School
Fame in the Family by Madeleine Granovetter, 9th grade, Glen Ridge High School
Only Strangers by Nicole Zanchelli, 9th grade, Mount Saint Mary Academy

In the Elementary School Division (grades 4-6), the winners are:
Rosedale by Elizabeth Kilgore, 5th grade, St. Vincent Martyr School
The Time Travelers by Jason Li, 6th grade, Cranbury School
From Geek to Chic by Mollie Sullivan, 4th grade, Torey J. Sabatini School

Samuel Gelman (High School) and Elizabeth Kilgore (Elementary) were winners in their respective divisions last year. For the past two years, Emma Q. Baxter has submitted plays to contest and she was recognized last year with an Honorable Mention. Mollie Sullivan’s (Elementary) play was presented in March 2012 during the Madison Young Playwrights Festival.

January 14 and 15 Will Be Here Very Soon

Attention playwrights in grades 4-12. The submission deadlines for the 2012 New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest & Festival are quickly approaching! Have your voice heard and submit your play today.

Submissions must be received by January 14, 2012 for playwrights in grades 10-12; and by January 15, 2012 for playwrights in grades 4-9.

Scripts will be reviewed by theatre professionals from across the country and a written critique will be provided to each playwright.

Select plays will be chosen for further development and a public reading in May and December.

Further information about the Contest and Festival may be found online at www.njypf.org.

Don’t miss out…. Have your voice heard! Submit a play today!

2012 New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest & Festival

For 29 years, the New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest & Festival (NJYPF) has been deepening the writing experience for young writers by providing detailed feedback from theatre professionals about students' plays. For the 7th year in a row, winning plays will be presented during the New Jersey Young Playwrights Festival, a partnership between Playwrights Theatre and Premiere Stages at Kean University.

Through a series of rounds, a team of readers may select plays from each division to be honored as statewide winners. These plays will receive a staged-reading performance by professional actors during the Festival. Date to be determined. This is certain to be a must-see event!

Plays are accepted in the following divisions:
Elementary (grades 4-6)
Junior High School (grades 7-9)
High School (grades 10-12)

High School play submission deadline - January 14, 2012
Elementary and Junior High School submission deadline - January 15, 2012

Are you working on your play? For more details visit, our website

It's a Wrap--2011 NJYP Festival

The 28th Annual New Jersey Young Playwrights Festival has come to an end. It was an amazing time and you can read all about it on the NJYP Blog.

In the meantime, here are some photos from the festival.2011 New Jersey Young Playwrights Elementary School Winners

2011 New Jersey Young Playwrights Junior High School Winner with the Cast

2011 New Jersey Young Playwrights High School and Honorable Mention Winners

Actor Jack Moran portrays Issac in "For The Sake of America: A Story of Patriotism" by Sam Gelman

Actors Tim Regan and Shannon Sullivan in "The Prologue to After" by Jenna Postiglione

Actors Daniil Krimer and Shannon Sullivan played Devon and Bianca in "Wacky Wednesday" by Justine DeSilva

Actors Daniel Bartkewicz and Jack Moran in Sam Gelman's play "For the Sake of America: A Story of Patriotism"

Actors Noelle Cristiano and Daniil Krimer as Patty and Billy in "The Prologue to After" by Jenna Postiglione