Women Playwrights’ Initiative Announces Winners of 6th Annual Script Competition
Women Playwrights’ Initiative is pleased to announce the winners of their 6th Annual Script Competition. A variation to past script competitions, this year WPI accepted original plays written by school-age girls residing in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake Counties. The readings of the winning plays will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2009 at The Stage, located at the corner of Red Bug Lake Road and Tuskawilla Road in Winter Springs.
Jessica Ross, a 12th grade student from Ocoee High School in Orange County, is the winner of the high school script competition (9th-12th grades) for her script Transference. Jessica’s play is inspired by her study of psychology, which she will go on to pursue a major in at University of Florida in the fall. She will also continue her love for writing by studying for a Creative Writing minor. As the winner at the high school level, Jessica is receiving a full scholarship to WPI’s 4th Annual Playwriting Workshop taking place on June 20-21, 2009.
From the middle school category (6th-8th grades), Karina Dandashi placed first for her script Destination Reality. Karina is a 7th grade student from Indian Trails Middle School in Seminole County. Karina wrote her winning play in only 30 minutes.
Both Transference and Destination Reality will be directed by Laura Lippman who has been directing and developing new plays for over a decade. Previous WPI collaborations include Letters to Sala at Orlando PlayFest and Upright Position. In addition to directing the staged readings, Lippman is working with the school-age playwrights to further develop their scripts.
Casting for both readings includes Orlando favorites Tommy Keesling, Sarah Lockard and Brett Carson who were last seen in Amadeus at Mad Cow Theatre. Sophia Wise, whose most recent work includes The Tempest at Valencia Community College, will also join the cast. Completing the line-up is actress Courtney Bahr, who has previously appeared in WPI’s Letters to Sala, Swimming After Dark and Upright Position. Students from Winter Springs Performing Arts will also be featured in Destination Reality.
The staged readings of both Transference and Destination Reality will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 19 at The Stage, home of Winter Springs Performing Arts, located at 1425 Tuskawilla Road # 145 in Winter Springs, FL 32708 (corner of Red Bug Lake Road and Tuskawilla Road in the Albertson’s/K-Mart shopping plaza). Tickets will be sold at the door on a 'pay what you wish' basis in support of WPI’s mission; cash and checks will be accepted.
For more information about the WPI readings, please contact Courtney Miller at CourtneyMillerProductions@gmail.com or 407-949-9596.
Women Playwrights’ Initiative
6th Annual Script Competition
*Women Playwrights’ Initiative does not accept unsolicited scripts. Please check our website in the fall of each year to find out about our yearly call for scripts.
A call for original plays written by school-age girls residing in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake Counties
Guidelines:
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There will be a winning script selected from each of the following grade levels:
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3rd-5th grade
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6th-8th grade
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9th-12th grade
- Scripts may be of any length, and collaborations among girls are encouraged; in the case that the collaborators are not from the same grade level, the category will be determined by the grade of the oldest collaborator.
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Scripts will be accepted electronically or via mail now through March 2, 2009, and winners will be announced by April 30, 2009.
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All scripts should have a title page listing the playwright’s name, name of school, grade level, county of residence and contact information
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The three winning plays will receive professional readings to be produced in conjunction with the WPI’s fourth annual Playwriting Workshop in early Summer 2009.
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Please email scripts to WomenPlaywrights@gmail.com, or send them to WPI, PO Box 1546, Orlando, FL 32802-1546
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