ABINGDON, VA -- Barter Theatre has announced the winners of the eighth annual Young Playwrights Festival. Winners were chosen from nine area high schools, with more than 260 students participating in this year's Festival.
Reflecting the ongoing popularity of the program in the Mountain Empire, 2009 was another record-breaking year for the Young Playwrights Festival, with the submission of 176 plays surpassing last year's total of 157. In addition, 262 students participated in the Festival, up from 230 in 2008.
--- First place in the Festival and a cash prize of $500 went to The Fall of the Bard, by Caleb Stacy of Williamson High School in Williamson, WV.
--- Abingdon High School, a consistent winner for the past eight years, brought home two awards: Jessica Tyler's College. Really? earned second place and a cash prize of $300, while Chelsea Thrasher's Three Voices took third place and a cash prize of $200.
--- The five honorable-mention plays included It's a Small World, After All by Samantha Richardson of Abingdon High; Thank You for Your Kindness, Ma'am by Olivia Bailey of Chilhowie High; Consumed by Emily Long of Marion Senior High; A Clean Record by Christie Wilson of Abingdon High; and The Cat Memoirs by Morgan Morrell of Tennessee High.
Teachers and students received their trophies and plaques after Barter professionals staged readings of the plays at Barter's Stage II. A reception in honor of the students and their teachers took place immediately following the awards presentation. The Honorable Isaac Freeman gave opening remarks and presided over the awards ceremony.
Nancy Terlizzi, teacher offFestival winner Caleb Stacy, commented, "YPF excites and enriches my students for the entire year. They frequently express gratitude for being given such an educational cultural experience. This venue truly lights the fire of creativity and achievement."
The Young Playwrights Festival is open every fall to high school students in Southwest Virginia, Northeast Tennessee and southeast West Virginia. To participate in the program, students in groups of no more than three write and submit plays to Barter Theatre through their schools.
This year's participants hailed from Tennessee High, Lebanon High, Council High, Marion Senior High, Graham High, Chilhowie High, Northwood High, Abingdon High and Williamson High.
Bank of America and the Prather Foundation sponsored this annual event, which is part of Barter Theatre's Educational Outreach Program. The Educational Outreach Program includes not only the Young Playwrights Festival, but also the Barter Players' season and tour, and new and emerging e-learning opportunities for the region's youth.
For more information about Barter Theatre's educational programming, contact Tere Land at education@bartertheatre.com or (276) 619-3347, or Amber Bird at c.
