Experience fun and imaginative readings of new plays by Philadelphia-area elementary and high school students, brought to life in collaboration with professional theater artists. This ONE-DAY only event will feature four pieces by student playwrights with performances at 11AM and 1PM. A workshop will be offered at 12PM for those who want to get creative and play!

The Magic Forest: Everything in Your Head Is Imaginary, by the Philadelphia Reading Coaches after school class, Gideon Elementary, K-2

Willa’s Moment, by Amelia Tellefsen, Myers Elementary, 4th Grade

Pizza Cat’s Adventure, by Zev Blitstein and Wyatt Dunleavy, Myers Elementary, 4th Grade

A Learning Adventure, by Dawn Geiger’s Autism Support Classroom, Roxborough High School, 9th Grade

Performances: Saturday, April 18th at 11AM and 1PM

Venue: Asian Arts Initiative, Black Box Theater, 1219 Vine St Philadelphia, PA 19107

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.

SaturPLAY 2026

By Philadelphia Young Playwrights

SaturPLAY 2026

An event for the whole family, featuring selected plays by elementary and high school students