ACT Theatre Honors Explorer West Playwrights – AGAIN!

Every year, Explorer West figures prominently in the annual ACT Theatre Young Playwrights Program (YPP) and this year is no different.

7th grader Connor Clemons was awarded top honors in this year’s competition. Connor’s musical “Pencil Pushers” will be performed by a professional team of local directors and actors at the Young Playwrights Festival at ACT Theatre this spring.

Every March, the Young Playwrights Festival showcases some of the best of the YPP, allowing selected students to see their playwriting work come to life with the help of a professional artistic team. Last December, a panel of professional artists read all the student plays created during the Young Playwrights Program. Ten schools and close to 250 students participated. Two of those schools were middle schools.

ACT YPP winners Paloma Hissong, Avery Berg, Cece Pyfer, Connor Clemons, Juliet Pruzan (ACT Writer In Residence), Faye Turcotte and Maddox Dawley

YPP winners Paloma Hissong, Avery Berg, Cece Pyfer, Connor Clemons, Juliet Pruzan (ACT Writer In Residence), Faye Turcotte and Maddox Dawley

After evaluating each play on its merits, ACT selected eight outstanding plays to feature in professionally staged readings.

Connor’s play will be performed at the Young Playwrights Festival on March 29-31, 2018, at Seattle ACT Theatre.

Other YPP winning plays written by our talented Explorer West playwrights will be performed by various theater groups.

• 7th grader Avery Berg’s play, “Sean and Gigi,” will have a staged reading by local theater company, Theater Schmeater.

7th grader Faye Turcott’s play, “To The Other Town,” will have a staged reading by local theater company, Live Girls!

Explorer West students Cece Pyfer, Maddox Dawley, and Paloma Hissong were recognized with Honorable Mentions.

For more information on the YPP program and performance schedule go to: ACT Theatre Young Playwrights Festival

Congratulations to all our outstanding, young playwrights!