Download Syracuse Stage announces new writing competition for middle

PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
CONTACT: Joseph Whelan, Director of
Marketing and Communications
315-443-9839 or [email protected]
Syracuse Stage announces new writing competition for
middle school students
SYRACUSE, NY – Central New York middle school students will have an opportunity
to participate in a nationwide playwriting competition as Syracuse Stage serves as a
regional host for Word to the World—Young Playwrights for Change.
Entering its fourth year, Young Playwrights for Change is a collaborative national
middle school playwriting competition run by Theatre for Young Audiences/USA
(TYA/USA) and the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE). Around
the country, local theatres serve as regional sponsors for the competition. Students
submit plays to the regional sponsor, in this case Syracuse Stage, which is the first
theatre in Central New York to host the competition. The winners of each regional
contest will have their plays entered in the national competition.
The mission of Young Playwrights for Change is to produce meaningful
conversations that will ripple across the nation to provoke change. The goal is to
spark conversation and discussion throughout classrooms, schools, and
communities. Each year, students are asked to address a specific topic in their plays.
The theme for 2016/2017 is Anti-Bullying. Plays must be no longer than 10 minutes
in duration.
Young Playwrights for Change is open to students grades 6 – 8. As a regional host,
Syracuse Stage will accept two entries selected by teachers from each participating
school. The deadline for submission to Syracuse Stage is Nov. 4. Writers of the
submitted plays will be invited to Syracuse Stage for workshops on Nov. 19 and Dec.
10. Final play revisions will be due at Syracuse Stage no later than Dec. 23.
Syracuse Stage will announce the winner of the regional contest on Jan. 6, 2017. The
winning play will then be entered in the national competition, and will also be
performed in April as part of Syracuse Stage’s annual high school Young Playwrights
Festival.
The winner of the national competition, along with a parent or guardian, will be
invited to a theatre convention for a reading of the winning play. The winning play
and up to eight others will also be included in an anthology published by TYA Press.
Teachers interested in participating in the regional contest are invited to attend
information sessions at Syracuse Stage on Sep. 15 and 22 at 4 p.m. For more
information, or to reserve a place at the information sessions, contact Kate Laissle,
assistant director of education, Syracuse Stage, at 442-7755 or [email protected].
ABOUT SYRACUSE STAGE
Syracuse Stage is Central New York’s premier professional theatre in residence at
Syracuse University. Founded in 1974, Stage has produced more than 300 plays in
over 40 seasons including a number of world, American, and East Coast premieres.
Each season 70,000 patrons enjoy an adventurous mix of new plays, and bold
interpretations of classics and musicals, featuring the finest theatre artists. In
addition, Stage maintains a vital educational outreach program that annually serves
more than 15,000 students from 14 counties. A solid core of subscribers and
supporters helps keep Syracuse Stage a vibrant artistic presence in Central New
York. Additional support comes from the government, foundations, corporations
and Syracuse University. Syracuse Stage is a constituent of the Theatre
Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre,
and a member of the Arts and Cultural Leadership Alliance (ACLA), the University
Hill Corporation and the East Genesee Regent Association. Syracuse Stage is a
member of The League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the largest professional theatre
association in the country.
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Syracuse Stage I Artistic Director: Robert M. Hupp I Managing Director: Jill A. Anderson
820 E. Genesee St. I Main: 315-443-4008 I Box Office: 315-443-3275 I www.SyracuseStage.org