The Young Playwrights’ Theater (YPT) will present New Writers Now! — School’s In, a community reading of outstanding plays by some of its youngest students, at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (545 7th St. SE) on Monday, October 1 at 7pm.
Kicking off YPT’s 2012-2013 season, New Writers Now! — School’s In will present five original student-written plays from the In-School Playwriting Program, celebrating the start of the new school year. The evening’s playwrights attend Watkins Elementary School, Walker-Jones Education Campus and Powell Elementary School.
The In-School Playwriting Program integrates the art of playwriting into the classroom in order to enhance student literacy, creative expression and communication, serving over 1,000 elementary, middle and high school students annually throughout Greater Washington.
“YPT really lets me use my creativity,” says young playwright Kani Green of Walker-Jones Education Campus. “When people see my play, I hope they feel like it was funny. I put a lot of work into it, and I like it.”
New Writers Now! is a staged reading series featuring professional actors performing plays fresh from the classroom, followed by a community discussion about the plays with the playwrights.
“Our youngest students surprise and delight us every year with their imaginative, wacky stories,” says Acting Executive Director Brigitte Moore. “We are thrilled to present the Capitol Hill community with a window into the creative minds of DC’s youngest residents.”
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Young Playwrights’ Theater teaches students to express themselves clearly and creatively through the art of playwriting. Through interactive in-school and after-school programs, YPT activates student learning and inspires students to understand the power of language and realize their potential as both individuals and artists. By publicly presenting and discussing student-written work, YPT promotes community dialogue and respect for young artists. More information can be found at www.yptdc.org.