Explorer West Middle School student’s prize-winning play to be performed at ACT

(Explorer West photo: From left, Camille Johnson, David Orace Kelly, Sarah Jenner)

Again this year, an Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) student has won the grand prize in a local theater competition, and will have her play performed by ACT – with the first performance tomorrow night. From EWMS:

The 14th annual festival of award-winning new work from ACT’s 2015 Young Playwrights Program (YPP) has chosen eight talented writers ages 13-18 to join with a professional team of local directors and actors to bring their new plays to life in staged readings.

For the fifth year in a row, Explorer West participated in Seattle’s ACT Theatre’s Young Playwrights Program. Middle and high school students submitted one-act plays, each with the hope that his or her play would be chosen to be produced by ACT Theatre.

There are three categories of awards: Honorable Mention; a play produced by a small theatre company; and the top prize – eight plays selected to be produced and performed by ACT Theatre. In the past four years, four Explorer West Middle School students have been selected for this top honor.

This year Explorer West Middle School placed very well again. Dillon Charles and Denisse Aguilar each received an Honorable Mention for their plays “Kidnapped” and “The Life of Erina” respectively. Camille Johnson’s play “Into the Book” will be produced by Rain City Productions.

Explorer West 7th grader Sarah Jenner’s play “Kidnapped on the SS Star Cruiser” was one of the eight grand prize winners. Her play will be produced and published in a play anthology by ACT, during this year’s ACT Young Playwrights Festival in Seattle.

Sarah Jenner’s play will be presented on Thursday, March 10, at 7:30 pm and Saturday, March 12, at 4:00 pm.

Tickets are $5/$10 and available online here.

Also, EWMS Drama Teacher David Orace Kelly was chosen as Teacher of the Year for ACT’s Young Playwrights Program, recognizing his work both in the program and with the YPP staff to help align and develop playwriting curriculum standards (for both middle and high school) with the Common Core State Standards, The National Theatre Arts Standards, and the Washington State Theatre Arts Standards.