Touchstone Theatre presents the 18th year of its acclaimed Young Playwrights’ Festival, a showcase of new plays written by local elementary and middle school students at 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Zoellner Arts Center’s Baker Hall in Bethlehem.
Young Playwrights’ Lab is an eight-week arts and literacy residency developed by Touchstone and the Bethlehem Area School District using theater as a “Trojan Horse” to improve student attitudes toward writing and to provide a platform for creative self-expression. Through theater improvisation, writing exercises, and collaborative critique, each student writes an original one-act play to be considered for performance in the annual Young Playwrights’ Festival.
The plays that emerge are a rich indicator of the wide variety and depth of their imaginings. While they often include light-hearted elements like talking animals, princesses, and imaginary worlds, the plays also explore universal themes of love, resilience, importance of family, and bravery in the face of adversity.
Over 130 plays were submitted from this year’s programs with five exceptional scripts chosen for full production in the Festival.
Select scenes from five runner up plays will be performed by Touchstone Ensemble Members and Young Playwrights’ Lab teaching artists.
Festival tickets are $15. The Festival will also be livestreamed; tickets are $15 per household.
Advance tickets may be purchased at 610-867-1689 or at www.touchstone.org.
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