Dobama Theatre's Kids' Playwriting Festival Submission Deadline is Fast Approaching

The Marilyn Bianchi Kids’ Playwriting Festival is an annual event that has become a Dobama Theatre tradition, it is entering its 38th year of producing plays written by kids this June. The deadline to submit plays is coming up on March 1, 2016.

The Festival was created to carry out Marilyn Bianchi’s values in helping Cleveland area children discover their own voice, self-worth, and creativity through theatre. Ms. Bianchi was an actress, teacher, director and co-founder of Dobama Theatre. She died of cancer in 1977 and the Festival was created in her name to continue to introduce children to the joys and creativity of live theatre.

It is the Festival’s mission to provide a platform for children to express their thoughts, hopes, dreams and creativity through the writing of original plays. Dobama’s Education Associate Melissa Crum says, “We believe the voices of our youth matter. We strive to support our playwrights by letting the heart and soul of their words shine through. We believe in the transformative power of theatre, and its ability to bring communities together through the sharing of our stories.” Playwriting helps children explore the essential narrative elements such as setting, plot, character, conflict and solution. These are elements they become familiar with in school, but will be able to actively apply through writing a play — an activity to flex students’ creative muscles.

The Festival invites students in grades 1-12 in Cuyahoga County to share their stories by submitting to the 2016 Festival. The plays must be original work, and must be submitted before or on March 1, 2016.

Only 15-20 plays are selected and some will be performed live at Dobama Theatre. Additionally, the winners are invited to rehearsals of their play, receive tickets to opening night, and will get a special gift package. All winners will be notified by April 1, 2016.

For more information about The Marilyn Bianchi Kids’ Playwriting Festival and how to make a submission, you can visit the Dobama website at www.dobama.org/, call us by phone at 216-932-6838 or send an e-mail to youngplaywrights@dobama.org. Dobama Theatre is located at 2340 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, in the Heights Library.