New Hope's Phillips' Mill Is Challenging Students To 'Play With Words'

NEW HOPE, PA — Students often have much to say about life as they learn to navigate the world in their own distinctive way.

Drama at Phillips’ Mill invites parents, grandparents, teachers and mentors to inspire these voices of tomorrow to participate in the 2nd annual juried Play With Words student playwriting challenge.

Submissions are now being accepted for short plays consisting of 12 pages with a run time of 10 minutes or less. The competition is open to all students in grades 7-12 attending school within a 25-mile radius of Phillips’ Mill. Entry is free and each play submitted receives a professional written commentary.

Authors of the winning plays receive a $100 cash prize and see their play read on the historic Phillips’ Mill stage by seasoned actors before a live audience on March 3, 2024, at 3 p.m.

Last year, three young playwrights presented their work to a packed house and wild applause.

Solebury School senior Matilda Bray was one of the young playwrights whose work, “We Took Root,” was selected for a staged reading.

“It’s a great opportunity to put your work out there, and to explore your own creativity," she said. "When you write for school, it’s very academic. This is something you can focus on outside of school. You might fear having it read, but the whole process is really rewarding. You will feel very accomplished,” said Bray in reflecting on her experience participating in Play With Words.

The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2024, so there’s still time for students to share their unique voice and hone their writing abilities with this dynamic challenge. All the details and instructions for submitting can be found at www.phillipsmill.org/drama/play-with-words.

“This is an exceptional and fun opportunity for students to learn that playwriting is a powerful vehicle to share their voice with humankind,” noted Valerie Eastburn, the chair of drama at Phillips’ Mill.

Continuing the traditions of William Lathrop and his colleagues who founded the Phillips’ Mill Community Association in 1929, Play With Words strives to foster the next generation of writers and provide opportunities for students to express their ideas through the creative process. Encourage a student to put their thoughts into words and Phillips’ Mill will give those words a chance to be heard. Inspire the voices of tomorrow!

Questions? Contact Valerie Eastburn at drama@phillipsmill.org. Phillips Mill Community Association, 2619 River Road, New Hope, PA 18938, 215-862-0582; www.phillipsmill.org