Barter Theatre’s 23rd Annual Young Playwrights Festival took place in October with one performance in the morning at Gilliam Stage for 344 students, and a public evening performance at Barter’s Smith Theatre.
The 2024 festival included 260 plays written by 399 playwrights from 12 high schools in Virginia and Tennessee. Since its inception in 2002, Barter’s Young Playwrights Festival has included over 5,100 plays and over 7,700 playwrights.
2024’s first-place winner is “Alone,” written by Madeline Jennings from Marion Senior High School, whose teacher is Kristin Untiedt-Barnett. The second-place winner is “Villains Anonymous,” written by Emily Mullins from Daniel Boone High School, whose teacher is Jamie Arnold. Third place is “A New Chapter,” written by Kara Wiggins from Science Hill High School, whose teacher is Seth Grindstaff.
The Honorable Mention plays, in no particular order, are “Beaufort Anniversary” by Kiya Hudson, Tennessee High School, teacher, Amber Davis; “Go East” by Haelynn Gruell, Science Hill High School, teacher, Seth Grindstaff; “The Adventures of Nexus” by Destiny Hoover and Aubrey Tolbert, Northwood High School, teacher, David Burns; “The Death of Iris Crowe” by Blaine Adams, Science Hill High School, teacher, Seth Grindstaff; “Vast Distances” by Ava Garrett, Tennessee High School, teacher, Amber Davis.
The Young Playwrights Festival is an annual event that cultivates and celebrates the talent of high school students. The purpose of this festival is to encourage the development of students’ writing skills and creativity, with the added benefit of discovering talented playwrights in our region.
Every student’s play gets individualized comments and feedback from Barter professionals. The three winning plays are lightly staged at Barter Theatre by professional actors, and the honorable mention plays are given a reading. Writers of the top three plays receive cash prizes and a mentoring session with a Barter professional, which allows the students to have valuable one-on-one time with experts in the field of theater and playwriting.
