Experience the original works of six 2025 Young Playwrights Festival finalists.
Written by Michigan high school students, these one-act performances are a collaborative effort by professional mentors and collegiate and high school students.
- Malayna Brink: Defiance in Name Only
- Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
- Cozmo Neubauer: Wired in Parallel
- Malia Reitz: The Chicanerous Murder of a Sunscreen Saleswoman
- Richard Shelton: Count to 10
- Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
- Madison Snawder: Double Life
- Charlie Valas: SUPER FUN SPACE ADVENTURE!!!
The Young Playwrights Festival is a showcase of six original works, written by high school students, produced by MSU Department of Theatre undergraduate and graduate students, and performed at Wharton Center on the campus of Michigan State University. These performances are free to attend and open to the public.
Michigan high school students are invited to submit a one-act play to a juried competition, and the jury selected the six finalists whose plays will be produced. Each finalist has been assigned a professional theatre mentor to help the playwright revise their play over two months’ time: this year’s mentors included Bella Boynton, Shawntai Brown, Joe Giardina, Julie Daniels, Eric Marlin, and Emilio Rodriguez. Each finalist will receive a $200 cash award and a staged production of their play performed at the Pasant Theatre. The other six semifinalists will receive a $100 cash award.
