For Students
YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
The Young Playwrights Festival celebrates student voices by presenting original one‑act plays written by middle and high school students as fully produced professional performances at City Theatre. Each play is developed and staged with the same artistic care given to the theatre’s season programming, honoring young writers as serious storytellers and offering a rare opportunity to see student ideas realized on a professional stage.
The Festival includes public performances and student matinees paired with post‑show talkbacks, giving students insight into the play development process and how stories move from script to stage.
This year's plays include:
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Opening Night with a Twist by Ayla Roden, 8th grade, PPS CAPA 6-12
On the opening night of the Oak Hills high school musical, everything begins to unravel behind the scenes. When the lead actor is suddenly unable to
perform, a shy ensemble member is thrust into the spotlight with little time to prepare. As technical mishaps pile up and tensions rise, the cast and crew scramble
to pull the show together before the curtain goes up.
The Not So Epic Epic of Kyle and Thaddeus by Suprem Chauhan and Sanyog Pokhrel, 8th grade, Belle Vernon Middle School
When a self-proclaimed heroic knight is sent on a quest to retrieve a legendary treasure by a cranky king, he reluctantly teams up with an eccentric and
unpredictable wizard. As the pair journeys through a dangerous forest filled with magical obstacles, their clashing personalities lead to unexpected
challenges, unlikely teamwork, and a growing partnership. Together, they push forward toward the promise of riches, only to discover that not every
quest ends the way it’s supposed to.
The Weight of Nothing by Riley Kellar, 7th grade, Keystone Oaks Middle School
In an ordinary classroom, a group of students begin to feel something they cannot name—a pressure that lingers, shifts, and grows. As
fragmented conversations unfold and inner thoughts take shape, their shared experiences begin to surface. Moving between silence, confession,
and connection, the group explores what it means to carry something invisible, and what changes when it is no longer carried alone.
HIGH SCHOOL
The Prince and the Poet by Jack Longstreth, 11th grade, Fort Cherry High School
After the sudden death of his father, a young prince is thrust into power and struggles to meet the expectations of the crown. As he prepares
to rule, he is visited by the Poet, a reflection of the part of himself he has tried to suppress. As pressures mount and difficult decisions reshape
his kingdom, the prince must choose what kind of leader he will become, and what parts of himself he is willing to leave behind.
P1: Downtown by Justus Payne, 9th Grade, PPS CAPA 6-12
A group of strangers wait for a delayed bus on a foggy morning in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty. As time stretches and tensions rise,
conversations shift from small talk to personal history, conflict, and unexpected connections. When news of a violent incident on the bus line emerges,
the group is forced to confront difficult choices about responsibility, urgency, and whether to stay or move on.
My Own Sonnet 18 by Elroy Jung, 10th grade, North Allegheny High School
After earning a spot on her fencing team’s varsity lineup, Zoey finds herself pushed outside her comfort zone and into unfamiliar territory.
With encouragement from her friends, she sets out to confess her feelings to a classmate, relying on a well-meaning but unreliable “wingman”
to help her along the way. As messages are misdelivered, plans unravel, and expectations shift, Zoey must navigate uncertainty, friendship,
and the reality of putting her feelings into words for the first time.
NEW THIS YEAR: Join us at the Play Ground: An interactive festival space featuring youth artists, hands-on creative activities, merch, food, and theatre-kid energy between performances. Free and open to the public. October 17-18 from 3:30-5:30pm.
YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS CONTEST
The Young Playwrights Contest invites students in grades 7–12 to submit original one-act plays for consideration in City Theatre’s annual Young Playwrights Festival. Open to young writers across Southwestern Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia, the contest celebrates creativity, storytelling, and student voice. Selected plays receive dramaturgical support and are professionally produced as part of the festival, giving students the opportunity to see their work come to life on stage.
Submissions open in January, and the deadline for the contest is March 31, 2027.
F.A.Q.
Interested in submitting your one-act play to our contest but aren’t quite sure what the scoop is? Here are some frequently asked questions we get from young playwrights:
Who is eligible to submit a one-act play?
7th-12th graders that reside in western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia are eligible to submit their plays.
How long does my play need to be?
We recommend aiming for 25-30 pages or shorter in length. If your play goes over the recommended amount, that's fine, but most one-acts that we produce are around that amount.
How many characters should my play have?
No more than 8, please! And most of the plays we produce in our festival are around 2-4 characters. Think critically about how many characters you need: are they all really necessary? Can two or three characters actually be combined into one person? Are your characters superfluous or do they actually help drive the plot forward? These are important questions to think about to help determine what makes the most sense for your play.
What kind of plays are you looking for?
We are looking for plays with unique voices, point of views, and interesting stories. No subject or theme is off the table. If the story is important to you, it’s important to us!
What should I write my play about?
That’s entirely up to you! But we understand that sometimes it’s hard to come up with something out of thin air. We encourage you to observe the world around you and use it for inspiration. Is there a piece of art or a photograph that inspires you? What about a particular song that takes you on a journey? Inspiration can be found anywhere!
I’m afraid my play isn’t good enough. Should I still submit it?
We think the words “good enough” should be banned! Most of our young playwrights have never written a play before! Playwriting is a skill, and like every other skill, you have to practice it to get better. We encourage you to submit your play so that you can receive feedback on it. That feedback will help you develop your playwriting skills.
What happens to my play after I submit it?
After you submit your play, it is cataloged and distributed to our Literary Committee. The Literary Committee is made up of theatre professionals around the greater Pittsburgh area and across the nation. Your play will be read by at least two of our Literary Committee. They send their evaluations to us, and we compile it into a summary. Your summary is then emailed to you over the summer. Some playwrights take the feedback and revise their plays to resubmit the following year.
How will I know if I won the contest?
Contest winners are chosen by June and will be notified by phone.
Can I submit a play I previously turned in?
Of course! Writing a play is a long process and if you’ve revised a previously submitted play, we’d love to see the work you’ve done!
Does my play need to be formatted a certain way?
City Theatre prefers play submissions be written in the American Standard Format. We’ve created a guide to help you out!
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