Winners Of Kids Playwriting Festival Announced By Dobama

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH - From Dobama Theatre: Dobama Theatre is pleased to announce the winners of the 40th Annual Marilyn Bianchi Kids’ Playwriting Festival, the longest-running celebration of young playwrights in the United States. Selected from over 230 entries submitted by Northeast Ohio students, the following plays will be produced in the Festival:

THE FLEAS TAKE OVER by Molly Watterson, 3rd Grade, Noble Elementary, Cleveland Heights

UNICORN LOST IN NEW YORK CITY by Juliet Novotny, 3rd Grade, Gesu Catholic School, South Euclid

BAD PRODUCTS by Sienna Bokoch, 4th Grade, Royal View Elementary, North Royalton

FAIRY GODMOTHER-ISH by Evelyn Rossman, 6th Grade, Woodbury Elementary, Shaker Heights

HIDING OUT by Ava Ratner, 8th Grade, Mandel Jewish Day School, Beachwood

THE SLIPSTREAM DRIVE by Dante Hampton, 11th Grade, St. Martin de Porres High School, Cleveland

AN OPPOSING ATTRACTION by Valerie Mischka, 12th Grade, Hathaway Brown, Mentor

GIVE ME THE GUN by Marvin Watts, 12th Grade, Cleveland School for the Digital Arts, Cleveland

In addition, the following winning entries have been deemed Plays of Meritorious Distinction:

THE COLORS by Sophia Vovos, 3rd Grade, Ruffing Montessori, Rocky River

THE CASE OF THE WALKING HOMEWORK by Roman Gambino, 4th Grade, Royal View Elementary, North Royalton

SCHOOL SHENANIGANS by Ryan Kachmarik, 8th Grade, North Royalton Middle School, North Royalton

SAILOR BOY by Ethan Baker, 8th Grade, Chagrin Falls Middle School, Chagrin Falls

DID I DO THE RIGHT THING? by Emma Blemaster, 8th Grade, Laurel School, Shaker Heights

INTERNET-ENABLED SOCKS by Anthony Koonce, 9th Grade, Homeschool, Cleveland Heights

SELF-CONSCIOUS by Calvin Brown, 10th Grade, Shaker Heights High School, Shaker Heights

WHEN THE RAIN STOPS by James Berner, 11th Grade, Gilmour Academy, Shaker Heights

REMEMBER ME? by Ruben Arteaga, 11th Grade, St. Martin de Porres High School, Cleveland

DON’T TAKE LOVE FOR GRANTED by Taylor Love, 12th Grade, St. Martin de Porres High School, Cleveland

All submitted plays received scores from at least three readers and were judged on the basis of imagination, human values, and the uniqueness of the playwright’s voice. Determining the winners was once again a uniquely difficult process.

“It takes a lot of courage to put something you create out into the world,” says Carrie Williams, Dobama Theatre’s Education Associate. “We are incredibly proud of all the young people who shared their creativity with us this year. Reading these plays is always a delight.”

The Marilyn Bianchi Kids’ Playwriting Festival is an integral part of Dobama Theatre’s mission to provide educational and outreach programming. The Festival’s mission is to provide a platform for children to express their thoughts, hopes, dreams and creativity through the writing of original plays. Through the production of these plays, the Festival strives to form a community of local artists to provide the young playwrights with a glimpse into the production process.

All winners will be honored at the Opening Night Benefit on Friday, June 1 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25, and may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 216.932.3396 or online at dobama.org

Additional Festival performances: Saturday, June 2 at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm and Sunday, June 3 at 2:30 pm. All of these performances are FREE and open to the public. General seating, no reservations required.

**Also, please join us on Saturday, June 2 from 11am-2pm for an elegant Celebration Brunch on the Nighttown patio. There will be food, drink, and recollections of 40 years of the Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival. Tickets are $40 and all proceeds go to the future of the Festival.

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