WEEK 1 – July 10 - 13

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CHESS IN THE PARK

Written by Max Leventon - Age 17 – Greenwich, CT

Mentored by Dave Osmundsen  |  Directed by  Jazmine Nichelle

 

Landon sits in the cold packing up his chess pieces when he is joined by his ex wife, Mira.  While they play, she confronts him about his obsession and inability to connect with others, including their son.  A stunning story about regret, missed connection, and final chances that come too late.

 

 

REVOLUTIONARY

Written by Maya Rosen - Age 19 - Holliston, MA

Mentored by Zora Bikangaga  |  Directed by Arianna Basco

 

Podunkytunk is a town that has its own constitution including a 2nd Article about no impingement on a person’s “vessel” - which they interpret to mean no traffic signals of any kind shall be permitted to exist in Podunkytunk. What follows is a Kafka-esque comedy of public hearings and trials as the town constable tries to get a round-a-bout built in the main intersection.  Will he succeed or will Podunkytunk have to revise their constitution to keep up with the changing times?

 

 

NOOR-EH-MAN (MY LIGHT)

Written by Keya Mehta - Age 16 – Glenmont, NY

Mentored by Vichet Chum  |  Directed by Camille Chen

 

When young women rise up to oppose the morality police and their mandate on wearing hijabs, this powerful intergenerational drama set in Tehran launches into an exploration of grief, erasure, fire and resistance.

 

 

WEEK 2 – July 17 – 20

 

SPELLED OUT

Written by Mina Feldman - Age 18 – Cambridge, MA

Mentored by Kit Steinkellner  |  Directed by Victoria Hoffman

 

A hilarious, heartfelt ghost story about grief, growing up, and the chaos of trying to say goodbye. When some surprise guests show up, will these friends find comfort in new friends, or answers to questions they don’t really want to ask?

 

 

LESS IS MORE

Written by Leo Eigen - Age 17 – New York, NY

Mentored by Gary Tieche  |  Directed by Kenneth Castillo

 

Destiny is an associate at the mobile store, she helps Alex, a college math professor, upgrade his phone. A clever and hilarious back and forth ensues about the nonsense of “more for less” when Destiny gives him the scoop on the latest family plan - - where you get 3 lines for free and a new phone for free and pay $18.95 less per month … or he could just keep things as they are and pay $999.99 for a new phone - - the math doesn’t add up for Alex, and math is EVERYTHING he believes in.

 

 

A BATHROOM EULOGY

Written by Sara Alanis Morales - Age 19 – Stanford, CA

Mentored by Cris Eli Blak  |  Directed by Cate Caplin

 

Siblings Dan and Laura meet up in the bathroom of a funeral home before and during their grandfather’s funeral to debate who should have to deliver the eulogy since he wasn’t terribly well liked by seemingly anyone.  Despite being interrupted by their mom and an old guy named Frank, they learn secrets about the grandpa who raised them that may help them see him in a whole new light.  Or not.

 

 

 WEEK 3 – July 24 – 27

 

THE NEW WORLD

Written by Everett Johnson - Age 17 – Dallas, TX

Mentored by ShaWanna Renee Rivon  |  Directed by Jorge-Luis Pallo

 

A sharp, theatrical satire that reclaims Taíno voices and calls out the absurdity of colonial myths. With biting humor and a wild sense of play, it flips the Columbus narrative on its head—amplifying Indigenous Caribbean resistance often left out of the story.  Can Chris C. and Luis find unity with the “islanders” they meet by playing charades and sharing “una cerveza”?

 

 

PARTY PRINCESS

Written by Anna Parker - Age 17 – Houston, TX

Mentored by Lee Sherman  |  Directed by Marguerite Moreau

 

Feminism meets motherhood meets princess magic sparkle wonderland when Carol greets her daughter’s princess party entertainment on the doorstep. Hilarity ensues when Carol interrogates Sleeping Beauty because she’s not thrilled at having a feminist reductive character teach her impressionable 4 year old daughter stereotypical gender roles, and it’s, well…magic.

 

 

HEADLINES AND JAIL CELLS

Written by Rix Zioueche - Age 17 – Brooklyn, NY

Mentored by Stephen Kaplan  |  Directed by Michael Shepperd

 

In the Old West, American cowboy Harry Allen fights against societal presumptions and prejudices that aim to keep him bound to gender conformity and trapped in a life he despises. Through a series of interviews, headlines and arrests, Harry finds visibility and a voice, but will he ever find true acceptance?

 

 

WEEK 4 – July 31 – Aug 3

 

FOUR SIMPLE RULES FOR SURVIVING THE NIGHT IN WEST HOLLYWOOD

Written by Oliver Shane - Age 18 – Jupiter, FL

Mentored by Aliza Goldstein  |  Directed by Laura Stribling

 

A young man is rescued off the street in front of The Abbey in WeHo, by an older stranger who takes him home, but not for the reason one would think. Their chance encounter sets the young man on a new path that saves his life and changes its trajectory, demonstrating that community matters and sometimes…you just need to trust your elders.

 

 

DR. MR. SCIENCE BOY

Written by Audrey Hunter - Age 19 – Dallas, TX

Mentored by  Max Wolf Friedlich  |  Directed by Madison McLaughlin & Sarah Showich

 

Dr scientist replays and reviews his life as a very smart, very fish focused young man from childhood to adult, intertwining his only friendship, his mentor, and his very favorite sea creatures along the way. This very moving comedy asks us to examine what we sacrifice to pursue excellence and how even when we feel lonely, we are never truly alone.

 

 

RED LETTER EULOGY

Book and Lyrics by Gianni Ly - Age 18 – San Diego, CA

Music by Anh Vo - Age 18 – San Diego, CA

 Mentored by Robert L. Freedman  |  Directed by Rosalind Bevan |  Musical Direction by Adam Chambers

 

A lovely, melancholic musical piece about, Patrick, mourning the loss of his Vietnamese  mother one year after her death. He has only one slice left of her home made blueberry pie, and before it’s gone he keeps trying to replicate the recipe to little success. Once he finishes what’s left of her pie, will it, and she, be truly gone forever?