Experience powerful readings of new plays by Philadelphia-area middle and high school students, brought to life in collaboration with professional and collegiate theater artists. This ONE-DAY only reading will feature four pieces by student playwrights.

Grow, Wither and Return
by Amelia Terry, Greene Street Friends School, 8th Grade

Shadows of Blood
by Sheron Bundy, West Philadelphia High School, 9th Grade

Sanctuary
by Theo Lee, Science Leadership Academy, 11th Grade

The Disconnect
by Liv Weinberg, Independence Charter School, 8th Grade

Showtimes: Saturday, February 21st at 2pm

Venue: Drexel University URBN Center Annex, Black Box Theater, 3401 Filbert St Philadelphia, PA 19104

Tickets are pay what you decide with a suggested donation of $15.

About the Play Selection Process

Each year, Philadelphia Young Playwrights invites students to submit their plays and monologues to the Annual Playwriting Festival. Plays are considered by the Literary Committee—a collection of nearly 70 program alumni, artists, staff, teachers, and others—who read and write individualized responses to every play. Literary Committee members recommend a number of outstanding plays to be considered for further consideration by two additional groups of readers, Pre-Final Committee and Final Committee. At Final Committee, the panel selects plays and monologues for opportunities such as public productions, one-on-one mentorship, and one-day playwriting retreats. Students whose pieces are selected for production are invited to continue to revise and develop their plays in partnership with theater professionals as part of the rehearsal and performance process.

These plays were selected from over 630 submissions from 30 different schools to be a part of our Play Development Series! Student playwrights have the opportunity to be present in the rehearsal process, and work with local professional directors and actors to bring their writing from page to stage.

Play Development Series at Drexel University 2026

Fresh New Plays from the Next Generation of Writers