Independent Arts News Reporting Reported on Monday, November 4, 2024.
Pictured Above: The winning playwrights of the 2024 Emerging Playwrights Competition at Phillips’ Mill. Photo Credit: Contributed.
Drama at Phillips’ Mill Announces Winners of 7th Annual Juried Emerging Playwright Competition
NEWSROOM POST: NEW HOPE, PA
The winning plays will be read by actors before a live audience at a staged reading at the historic Mill on Saturday, November 23 at 7 p.m
New Hope, PA – Winners of the 2024 Emerging Playwright Competition at Phillips’ Mill Community Association have been announced! They are Lisa DeAngelis of Buckingham, Pennsylvania for “Three Visits”, Alexis Telyczka of Newark, New Jersey for “Sister Wives”, Sam Affoumado of New York City for “In Pursuit of Prudence”, Barbara Blatner of New York City for “The Star Road”, Vita Morales of Oxford, New Jersey for “In Passing”, and Jennifer O’Grady of Pelham, New York for “Cupcakes”. Information about each playwright can be found on the Phillips’ Mill website at phillipsmill.org.
The competition, in its 7th year, invites playwrights –– both novice and experienced –– to submit original, unpublished, never-before-produced onstage, one-act plays for jurying to encourage the development of original new works for the stage. Playwrights must be 18 years or older and live within a 100-mile radius of the Mill to participate. The first 50 works submitted are accepted for review, with up to six winners selected for the opportunity for a public performance.
Jurors of this year’s competition were Judith Hallberg, Dr. Glenn Steinberg, and Dr. Wilbert Turner. “Most of the winners explore love relationships — whether first love, second marriages, or an old, tired marriage. Another explores a unique love relationship — between an organ recipient and the mother of the organ’s donor.” says Dr. Steinberg. “The final two hold up a light on issues that we’d often prefer to ignore — AI and poverty. What they all have in common is a fascination with how humans relate — and sometimes how they fail to relate.”
The winning plays will be read by actors before a live audience at a staged reading at the historic Mill on Saturday, November 23 at 7 p.m. Playwrights will receive feedback from the audience during a “talk back” conversation after the readings and a wine and cheese reception offers guests a chance to chat with the jurors, playwrights and actors.
Special guest speaker this year, Victoria Weinberg, will share her wisdom on taking a play to the “next level.” Weinberg is a Tony Award-winning theatre and live events producer. She is the U.S. producer of Glass Half Full Productions, an international production company on Broadway, in the West End, and in Australia. Her producing aesthetic lies in supporting new work and creators within the commercial theatre space.
This promises to be an evening of shared creation for the community to enjoy. There is no admission fee for this event, but donations are gratefully accepted. Online registration is required at phillipsmill.org. Seating is limited. Phillips’ Mill Community Association, 2619 River Road, New Hope, PA 18938. 215-862-0582. Questions: email drama@phillipsmill.org; www.phillipsmill.org.
