WINNERS

16th Annual Nationwide Blank Theatre
Company Young Playwrights Festival
proudly announces the Winners...


WEEK ONE
June 5 – June 8, 2008

THREE HEADED DOG
by Patrick Howley   Age 18  Avon, CT

Heteros, step aside! In the glorious
gay world of “Barney's” sales clerks,
there is zero tolerance for breeders!
Will one employee really lose his job
when his secret life is revealed?

GUESTS
by Cayla Clark   Age 17   Santa Barbara, CA

When guests from out of town arrive, a
high schooler must preserve the
balance between his mother's neurosis,
his father's anger, and a dark charade
that the entire family must protect.
Will he be able to keep the bubble
from bursting?

THE WAR ON SAFETY
by Max Posner   Age 19   Denver, CO

A college freshman tries to cope with
his parents who left for vacation and
never came home (although they do send
postcards) and his fragile relationship with his
girlfriend. Can they prevail as the threat level
raises higher and higher?

WEEK TWO
June 12 – June 15

RIGHT TO PRIVACY
by Siena Leslie    Age 18    Los Angeles, CA

The quirky Hotel Descue is filled with
oddball guests and an owner who caters
to their every need; no matter how
strange. Satisfying the desires of the
colorful occupants leaves little time
for love and romance…or does it?

RESPECT FOR THE ELECTRIC
FIELD OF HORSES
by Lisa Meyers  Age 19   Orange, CA

A group of unusual people find
themselves falling in and out of love,
yet connected through a series of
objects. How do meaningless items
become truly important to our souls?

QUIET SPIRITS
by David Watson   Age 19    New York, NY

What would you do if your family was
killed in a freak accident? When an
estranged father faces his grieving
son, he must attempt to communicate
with him before his son goes off the
deep end.

WEEK THREE
June 19 – June 22

RED CROSS
by Alex Nunnelly   Age 16   St Petersburg, FL

A Red Cross volunteer searches an
evacuated valley before it is flooded.
He finds the lone holdout: a woman who
refuses to leave her home and family’s
history. Will he be able to save her?
Or will she end up saving him?

IZZY ICARUS FELL OFF THE WORLD
by Aliza Goldstein Age 16   Jacksonville, FL

Izzy Icarus, the autistic kid on the
block, believes he can fly. Will the
fascination and unwavering belief of a
neighborhood girl allow him to finally
fulfill his dream?

SPIN ALLEY
by Chad Baker   Age 19 Beavercreek, OH

After an assassination attempt on the
two leading presidential candidates,
hilarity ensues as they are hidden in
a safe room while things are secured.
Enter a wildcard third party
candidate, blackmail, nosey reporters,
and there is more damage control than
any press secretary could possibly
handle!

WEEK FOUR
June 26 – June 29

FAMILY PORTRAIT
by Madeline Sprung-Keyser   Age 17   Los Angeles, CA

When devastating photos are
discovered, one family must get to the
bottom of who took them…before the
police arrest the wrong person or find
out too much.

A POEM BY JOSHUA FEINBERG
by Kate Herzlin    Age 15   Rockville Centre, NY

As he prepares for his wedding, Joshua
Feinberg is haunted by a painful
relationship from his past. With the
help of Thoreau, he must come to terms
with this woman, before he can truly
give himself to his bride.

DOUBLETS AND HOSE
by Griffin Hennelly   Age 16    Dumont, NJ

Verona as we know it is upside down,
as we romp through a fast-paced, zany
and pop culture infused re-telling of
Romeo and Juliet. Hang onto your
doublets and experience Shakespeare
like you’ve never seen it!

2005 Festival Competition 
WINNERS

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
By Tessa Leigh Williams
Sherman Oaks, CA
Age: 17

SENIORS
By Rebecca Arzoian
Beverly Hills, CA
Age: 18

THE ROOM NEXT DOOR
By Kit Steinkellner
Santa Barbara, CA
Age: 18

THE RETURN OF LANCE BASS
By Shea Sullivan
Valley Village, CA
Age: 16

SHOCK THERAPY
By Rachel Leopold
Westfield, NJ
Age: 16

SPEAKS LIKE SILENCE
By David Watson
New York, NY
Age: 16
 
4 CORNERS
By Eugene Fertelmeyster
Buffalo Grove, IL
Age: 18

SORELY MISSED: ARCHER AND 
A HOPEFUL ENCOUNTER
By Daniel Gordh
Novato, CA
Age: 19

LOOK AT ME
By Charlotte Munson
Williston, VT
Age: 18

DARK HORSE
By Amanda L. Smith
Beverly Hills, CA 
Age: 19 

FOLLOW THE EIGHT-FOLD PATH 
TO AVOID THE PAIN AND SUFFERING 
OF THE BIG MISS
By Erica Richardson
Orangeburg, SC
Age: 17

ESCAPING CHINATOWN
By Lauren D. Yee
San Francisco, CA
Age: 19 

Jenna Ahrens (AMAZING GRACE) Age 17, Buffalo Grove, IL

Jenna is a senior at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, IL, where she participates in writing, directing, and acting clubs. While a previous play of hers placed first at a Midwestern writing festival and was performed for a school production this year, Amazing Grace is her first to be developed professionally. In the fall, Jenna will be attending Ohio University under creative writing, where she hopes to advance her skills as a playwright.

Philippa Ainsley (TIME IS ON MY SIDE) Age 16, Lincolnshire, IL

This play graces the LA stage straight from its production as part of Stevenson High School’s student-written play showcase. Her play was developed in Stevenson’s fall playwriting class under the guidance of the award-winning Joel Johnson. She is currently working on another short play for Stevenson’s playwrights’ club where she is a board member, and plans on attending Northwestern University’s Cherub Theatre program for the rest of the summer.

Lacy Cox (LOOKING FORWARD TO A BEAUTIFUL LIFE) Age 18, Tallahassee, FL

“My work is fueled by voyeurism. The form each piece takes varies; I write about people, act them on stage, and paint them. Learning to be a visual artist is wonderful because it trains you to see things and not succumb to the tunnel vision that is so expedient in our media-drenched world. Theater has just recently become an extension of my art, and I adore it because guess what—it’s a new opportunity to observe!”

Jeremy Gable (ALGOR MORTIS) Age 19, Anaheim, CA

Jeremy makes his West Coast debut with Algor Mortis.  He is a two-time winner of the Audience Favorite Award at the Spokane Civic Theatre’s Playwrights Forum Festival in Spokane, WA.  He has also written several sports articles for The Desert Dispatch in Barstow.  A long-time resident of Idaho, Jeremy now lives in Anaheim.  He dedicates this show to the late Billy Wilder.  "Don't dream it, be it!"

Bryce Goodman (SOME PEOPLE) Age 16, Los Angeles, CA

Bryce is a Sophomore at Harvard-Westlake High School.  His hobbies include playing with his progressive rock band The Flaming Pickles, working on various video art projects (for which he has won numerous awards), being an active member in his school's drama department, and writing.  This summer he will travel to Edinburgh to direct Fez McMasterson's RED in the Fringe Festival.   SOME PEOPLE is his first play.

Megan Hovany (DON’T FEED THE ANIMALS) Age 16, Lincolnshire, IL

Megan is excited to see her play 2,000 miles from its birthplace in Lincolnshire, IL. She will be a senior at Stevenson H.S. where she is co-president of the Playwrights Club, and where she will pursue an independent study of playwriting and directing. Megan most recently acted, directed, and wrote for If I Had my Say Part II, a series of one-act plays. She plans to study theater, French, and art in college.

Liza Kaplan (LES CHAUSSEURS ROUGES) Age 17, Los Angeles, CA

This play is Liza Kaplan's third to be produced by The Blank Theater Company Young Playwrights Festival.  She has just graduated with honors from Harvard-Westlake School and is off to the University of Southern California School of Theater in the fall.  She is grateful for the chance to see her work performed.

Stacey Lloyd (APPLY YOURSELF!) Age 18, Los Angeles, CA

Stacey is a recent graduate of the Harvard-Westlake School. Stacey was an active participant in her school's One-Act Festivals.  She appeared in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2001, and has been studying voice at the Colburn School of Performing Arts.  Her one-act entitled The Winklemans Are Coming! was performed at last year's Blank Theatre Company Young Playwrights Festival, and won one of seven honorable mentions in the Bennington College Playwriting Contest.   Stacey will attend the University of Pennsylvania this fall, and plans to continue writing.

Colin Mannex (STOPLIGHT) Age 18, Portland, OR

Colin has been extensively involved in his high school theatre department as a writer, director, actor and dramaturge.  His most notable roles have been Rick Steadman in The Nerd, Antipholus of Syracuse from The Comedy of Errors, Gus in The Dumb Waiter, Robert in St. Joan, Brindsley in Black Comedy, and Rosencrantz in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.  He will attend Kenyon College next fall, where he plans to pursue writing and acting.  His favorite playwrights include Harold Pinter, Edward Albee and Eugene Ionesco.

Lisa Rand (RESERVATIONS) Age 18, Jacksonville, FL

Lisa wrote her first play, Reservations, while perched in a giant oak tree in her hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. The play has since been workshopped at the 2001 International Thespian Festival Playworks program, and has been published by Playscripts, Inc. (playscripts.com), with productions worldwide. Lisa is a student at Barnard College in New York, where she majors in Undecided Studies. She hopes to spend more time in the oak tree this summer.

Michelle Samuels (CHAVER HATOV B’YOTER/BEST FRIEND) Age 18, San Antonio, TX

Michelle is a recent graduate of Clark High School, in San Antonio, Texas.  She will be attending The University of Texas in Austin this fall as a Judaic Studies Major.  She has been involved in theater since elementary school and has remained an active member of her International Thespian Society troop, both as an officer and as a thespian.  She plans on remaining active in theater and writing as well.

David Watson (THE WIDOWS) Age 13, New York, NY

David lives in Manhattan, where he was born. He is a 7^th grader at Hunter College High School. He loves all forms of music. He studies classical piano at the Mannes College of Music, plays guitar, and is teaching himself drums. He has acted in school productions, but has no theatrical training. This is the first play he has written; he wrote it in response to 9/11.

2001 FESTIVAL WINNERS

ODDS ARE by Keith J. Powell, Age 19 (OH)
THROUGH THE WINDOW by Amanda Smith, 17 (CA)
STORMIE WATTERS by Lindsay Rosin,16 (CA)
THE TABLE by Shane Lynch, 15 (CA)
THE WINKELMANS ARE COMING! by Stacey Lloyd, 17 (CA)
SANGUINE by Andy Hyman, 19 (CA)
REM by Lara Neece, 17 (VA)
THE IMAGINARY WOMAN by Matt Hardigree, 18 (TX)
NOTHING’S EVER GOING ON AROUND HERE by Liza Kaplan, 16 (CA)
KNIGHTS AND PAGES by Sarah Weaver, 18 (CA)
ALL OVER IT by Bridget Moloney, 17 (CA)
SUPERZEROES by Molly Lambert, 17 (CA)

2000 FESTIVAL WINNERS

No Shoes Allowed on the Fifth Floor by Brianna Tyson, Age 16 (CA)
Devil’s Advocates by JoSelle Vanderhooft, 19 (UT)
Sylvia, Mabel, Fred by Beth Bigler, 19 (MI)
The One Thousand Two Hundred and Eighty Fourth Time by Adam Chanzit, 18 (CO)
Dining With Aphrodite by Liza Kaplan, 15 (CA)
The Why by Victor Kaufold, 19 (PA)
The Next to Last Ride of  Jeremy Strohmeyer by Travis Perkins, 19 (CA)
Fat Boy by Dance Aoki, 16 (HI)
Volunteers by Erik Carabasi, 18 (PA)
Absolutely by Molly Lambert, 16 (CA)

1999 FESTIVAL WINNERS

THIRTEENTH NIGHT by Renee Hendrie, Age 17 (CA)
THE CONFESSION by Amy Iglow, 18 (CA)
PAINTINGS by Lindsey Anthony, 17 (CA)
BOY by Beth Bigler, 18 (MI)
GIRL WITH A GIFT by Beth Bigler
TWO RUNGS by Eric Carabasi, 18 (PA)
STARRY NIGHT by Joshua Levine, 19 (IL)
DESTINATION by Michael William Ramsburg, 19 (PA)
DEAL OF A LIFETIME by Brandon Micheal Elliot, 19 (CA)
LIES IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER by Stephen Karam, 19 (PA)
HUNGER PAINS by Laura Bosserman, 17 (CA)
THE HAPPINESS GUARANTEE by Erica Davis, 19 (CA)

1998 FESTIVAL WINNERS

SPANISH GOLDFISH by Christopher Wolfe, Age 18 (CA)
TO GAMBLE by Todd Miller, 18 (FL)
THE CACTUS COMPLEX by Erik Carabasi, 16 (PA)
A MATTER OF PHILOSOPHY by Zack Emery, 18 (CA)
AGNES by Stephen Karam, 18, (PA)
NIGHTINGALES by Diana Sherman, 19 (CA)
BUBBLE V. TROUBLE  by Michael Ramsburg, 18 (PA)
A BATTLE INSIDE by Carey Huntington, 17 (PA)
CONVERSATIONS by Melissa Cantrell, 19 (OK)

1997 FESTIVAL WINNERS

THE BRIDGE by Mickey Madden, Age 17 
MY NAME IS JENNA by Kimberly Ratliff, 17
COLD TURKEY by John Laun, 17
WAKE UP CALL by Diana Sherman, 18
MY FATHER THE ANTI-HERO by Robby Koch, 18
A WORK OF ART by Stephen Karam, 17
MOURNING CANTELOPE by Michal Leamer, 19 
THREE SHORT PLAYS  by Frank Teplin, 19
PISSEREXIA NERVOSA by Joe Campo, 18
THE BOOK OF DANIEL by Stephen Kaplan, 19

1996 FESTIVAL WINNERS

BA NGOAI: THE BALLERINA by Hao Hong, Age 19 
OH HAPPY WE by Stephen Kaplan, 18
THIS OLD HEART OF MINE by Greg Stone, 17
PAPER DRAGONS by Lin Ann Ching, 19
SMILING FACES by Greg Stone, 17
THE LAUNDRY BASKET by Traci Tekulve, 17
TIM ELESS: PRIVATE EYE by Stephen Kaplan, 18 
SKY'S END  by Joseph Alan Drymala, 18
PORTRAIT by Alex Lewin, 19
ADMISSIONS by Austin Winsberg, 19

1995 FESTIVAL WINNERS

THE NEW GIRL by Jasmine Gonzalez 
SMALL WORLD (AFTER ALL) by Gilanie DeCastro
BREAKING BAD HABITS by Allison Wise
AND JACK CAME TUMBLING AFTER by Stephen Kaplan
VAMPIRE CHURCHES by Dominic Mah
LIPS by Lisa Satara Ungerleider
TO WHOEVER CARES by Jennifer R. Landers
SELF-ADDRESSED by Stephen Kaplan
THE MONSTER WAS UNLEASHED by Austin Winsberg
JASON'S MASK by Frank Teplin
INTERESTING by Jonathan Janssen
BOB AND MARSHA by Austin Winsberg
A RED ROOM ON BEACON STREET by Lin Ann Ching

1994 FESTIVAL WINNERS

UNTIL MORNING BREAKS by Karen Chen 
COMING TOGETHER by Jonathan Firestone
WHAT'S UP DOC? by Austin Winsberg
THE ASSIGNMENT by Richie Rivera
THE BET by Daniel Warren
SOMETHING TO DRINK by Lin Ann Ching
SHOWTIME by Matt Hunt
CARLO by Gilanie DeCastro
ONYA by Austin Winsberg
THE UPSET by Kevin Pivnick
LATE AFTERNOONS IN WINTER by Tommy Nguyen

1993 FESTIVAL WINNERS

RIDDLES by Gilanie De Castro 
SUPREME JUSTICE by A.I. Shpall
DEAR LAUREN by Tanya Gallardo
JACOB'S JOURNEY by Andrew Jones
THE TOWER OF GREEN by Scott Rognlien
THIS IS FOR YOU MY DOLL by Lin Ann Ching
IN THE MIX...A LOVE STORY by Leigh Sarah Bardugo
WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP by Teryll Sacks
BOOBY HATCH by Michelle Lang
CONSCIOUS CALLING by Liz Kivowitz
IDA by Daniel Shaw Passman
BOX OF CHOCS: A PLAY by Miriam Elman & Sarah Han
WE'LL BOTH  HAVE WATER by David Iscove