Young Playwrights Festival

Pegasus Players will kick off the New Year with its 23rd Annual Young Playwrights Festival, a professional production of three selected one-act plays written by Chicago teenagers. This year marks the program's twenty-third annual showcase at Pegasus Players, at 1145 W. Wilson Avenue in the O'Rourke Center at Truman College, Chicago, which will be performed January 8 - February 1, 2009. 

A Chicago tradition and the second oldest of its kind in the country, the Young Playwrights Festival celebrates over twenty years of giving voice to budding young playwrights within the city.  The Young Playwrights Festival is a year-long cycle of workshops, performances and special programs, all centered on teaching play writing to Chicago's young people and concluding with a citywide play writing competition.

Of the thousands of plays submitted, three winning plays were chosen to debut on the Pegasus stage.  These plays, written by Chicago high school students, provide a window into the thoughts and concerns of today's youth as they explore the ideas that matter most to them. 

The three winning students will each receive $500, a full production of their scripts, and a playwriting mentor to work with them during pre-production.  Each finalist will receive plaques and a check for $100; students who received Honorable Mentions will receive their plaques at the Opening Night Ceremony in January.  This year's winners are Vincent Del Toral, Jihad Kheperu, and Raina Sun who come from three different schools across Chicago.  This year's directors are Kimberly Senior, Alex Levy and Ilesa Duncan, and the mentors are Mia McCullough, Kent Gash and Marissa Wegrzyn.

The Young Playwrights Festival winners:
Vincent Del Toral - Dine & Hash
Northside College Prep
Teacher: John Hahm
Directed by Ilesa Duncan, mentored by Marissa Wegrzyn
Synopsis: Guess who's coming to dinner at the Prescott household? Mom introduces Kathleen's born-again boyfriend as the family gardener, Dad brings home his suspicious new boss, and son Calvin tries to cover up a hair-brained, money-making scheme.

Jihad Kheperu - The Bench
Whitney Young Magnet High School
Teacher: Sarah Dolan
Directed by Alex Levy, mentored by Kent Gash
Synopsis: Three couples grapple with issues of love, loss, and connection on a Chicago park bench where their lives eventually intersect.  

Raina Sun - Where We Have Been
Young Chicago Authors
Teacher: Toni Asante Lightfoot
Directed by Kimberly Senior, mentored by Mia McCullough
Synopsis: Perry loves Louisa. He loves her so much that he has overcome a history of violence and a tough childhood, turning his life around by trying to do the right thing.  Perry now has to tell Louisa some important, life changing news.  But, is he telling the truth?

The 23rd Annual Young Playwrights Festival will be held January 8 - February 1, 2009. Performances will be Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. at Pegasus Players, 1145 W. Wilson Avenue in the O'Rourke Center at Truman College, Chicago.  Tickets are $12, with student and senior discounts available, and may be purchased by calling 773-878-9761 or online at www.pegasusplayers.org.