YOUNG DRAMATISTS' PROJECT – BACKGROUND
There are shortcuts to fame and fortune. The Gorilla Theatre's Young Dramatists' Project is the only Bay Area event that offers full-scale, professional productions of teens' works! Now in its tenth year, YDP '10 is a playwriting competition open to all middle and high school-aged students in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. The world premiere of the five winning scripts by five up-and-coming student playwrights will take place June 2-13, 2010, as the official close of the Gorilla Theatre's 2009-2010 season.
"I wish there had been a Young Dramatists' Project around when I was a budding playwright back home in Indiana in nineteen hundred and ...oh, oh never mind," Gorilla Theatre cofounder and producer Aubrey Hampton, states.
Together with his wife, Gorilla Theatre cofounder and producer Susan Hussey, he created the next best thing by sponsoring and producing a program to help young student playwrights get their works produced.
Winners attend a three-session writing workshop and receive ongoing mentoring by Dramaturge and YDP Artistic Director James Rayfield, in preparation for their debut production. Also, each is awarded a royalty of $250 for each produced play, a professional, ten-performance production, and paid membership into the Dramatists' Guild (the professional association of playwrights, composers, lyricists and librettists).
Our winning playwrights have a history of launching their careers with YDP. Matt Newton, a second time YDP winner, went on to Marymount College in NY to study playwriting; Eric Kanner, Gabriel Neustadt and Alex Nunnelly have each been named winners in The Blank Theater's Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival in Hollywood, CA; and Gabriel Neustadt's work has been published by Baker's Plays.
"The themes of the winning plays, as well as the playwrights' views are sharp and incisive," Sheri Whittington (YDP Artistic Director 2000-2007), comments. "Aubrey and Susan have provided a unique opportunity for our community and to local artists. There is a rejuvenation of creative enthusiasm when you bring together these fresh young minds and established area artists. The infusion of ingenuity, imagination, and camaraderie that takes place truly bridges the generation gaps."
Call (813) 879-2914 or email info@gorillatheatre.com for further information.
YDP DOCUMENT BANK
Download documents here (all PDF Format except Cover Sheet is Word Format)
YDP '10 Submission Guidelines
YDP '10 Cover Sheet
YDP '10 Letter from the Producer
YDP '10 Letter to Thespian Sponsors
YDP '10 Background
How to write a play (Aubrey Hampton)
There are shortcuts to fame and fortune. The Gorilla Theatre's Young Dramatists' Project is the only Bay Area event that offers full-scale, professional productions of teens' works! Now in its tenth year, YDP '10 is a playwriting competition open to all middle and high school-aged students in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. The world premiere of the five winning scripts by five up-and-coming student playwrights will take place June 2-13, 2010, as the official close of the Gorilla Theatre's 2009-2010 season."I wish there had been a Young Dramatists' Project around when I was a budding playwright back home in Indiana in nineteen hundred and ...oh, oh never mind," Gorilla Theatre cofounder and producer Aubrey Hampton, states.
Together with his wife, Gorilla Theatre cofounder and producer Susan Hussey, he created the next best thing by sponsoring and producing a program to help young student playwrights get their works produced.
Winners attend a three-session writing workshop and receive ongoing mentoring by Dramaturge and YDP Artistic Director James Rayfield, in preparation for their debut production. Also, each is awarded a royalty of $250 for each produced play, a professional, ten-performance production, and paid membership into the Dramatists' Guild (the professional association of playwrights, composers, lyricists and librettists).Our winning playwrights have a history of launching their careers with YDP. Matt Newton, a second time YDP winner, went on to Marymount College in NY to study playwriting; Eric Kanner, Gabriel Neustadt and Alex Nunnelly have each been named winners in The Blank Theater's Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival in Hollywood, CA; and Gabriel Neustadt's work has been published by Baker's Plays.
"The themes of the winning plays, as well as the playwrights' views are sharp and incisive," Sheri Whittington (YDP Artistic Director 2000-2007), comments. "Aubrey and Susan have provided a unique opportunity for our community and to local artists. There is a rejuvenation of creative enthusiasm when you bring together these fresh young minds and established area artists. The infusion of ingenuity, imagination, and camaraderie that takes place truly bridges the generation gaps."
Call (813) 879-2914 or email info@gorillatheatre.com for further information.
YDP DOCUMENT BANK
Download documents here (all PDF Format except Cover Sheet is Word Format)
YDP '10 Submission Guidelines
YDP '10 Cover Sheet
YDP '10 Letter from the Producer
YDP '10 Letter to Thespian Sponsors
YDP '10 Background
How to write a play (Aubrey Hampton)
