YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

Young Playwrights Festival

Every year Syracuse Stage invites Central New York high school students to write original ten-minute plays and other performance pieces for entry into our annual Young Playwrights Festival contest. Our panel of theatre and literary professionals evaluates each student's play. Semifinalists are invited to attend a writing workshop with Syracuse Stage where their plays will be read and critiqued. Finalists will see their plays performed as staged readings by Syracuse University Drama Students.

Submissions for the 2025 Young Playwrights Festival will be open later this fall.

YPF 2025 Dates:

Submissions Due: Feb. 11, 2025

Semifinalist Workshop: Mar. 22, 2025

Festival: Apr. 29, 2025 at 7PM

Contact education@syracusestage.org for more information.

SUBMISSIONS

ENTRY PACKET

2024 WINNERS

Top row L to R: Paige Blair, Ray Feldstein, Matthew Patalita, Talia Solomon. Bottom row L to R: Anqi Geng, Dylan Keyes, Leah Nemi, Logan Oppedisano. PHOTO: Candice Bermudez. 2024.

2024/25 YPF QUOTABLE PLAYWRIGHT

Rajiv Joseph

Rajiv Joseph is one of American contemporary theatre’s most exciting playwrights. He was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo that starred Robin Williams on Broadway. He is known for writing work that takes on sweeping moral issues with a strong sense of humor while his characters grapple with big philosophical ideas. A keen observer of human relationships and friendships in particular, his latest play King James will be staged at Syracuse Stage this spring.

Recommended Plays: Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Gruesome Playground Injuries, Guards at the Taj, Describe the Night.