One of the small things in my life that really brings a spark of joy or contentment is reading the free Daily Express (of the Washington Post) papers that are issued in front of the DC Metro Stations and can be found around town in bright yellow news paper boxes. I don’t know why I enjoy reading it so much, particularly after a friend informed me that the news in the Express is always/generally a day or so late.
I guess it’s because I always find useful information and great events that I would have otherwise missed. (It’s sometimes hard to stay in the KNOW in DC with so much going on.) While running an errand Monday morning and picking up someone’s left over Express on the H8, I saw an advertisement for a Young Playwright’s Theatre event at the GALA Hispanic Theatre and that magic word “free“. After a little bit of debate I convinced myself to check out the event.
The event was sponsored by YPT or Young Playwright’s Theater a non-profit organization that teaches students to express themselves clearly and creatively through the art of playwriting. According to their website, they do this via a combination of in-school, after-school, and special event’s programs. Monday’s event was a part of a workshop series called New Writer’s Now! where students in grades 8th-12th have professional actors stage readings of their plays. The theme was GREEN, GROWING and ORIGINAL and featured 7 short plays and poetry written by 8 very talented young superstars. The students’ pieces ranged from serious, to dramatic, to funny and explored issues that ranged from Environmental vs. Human Stability, Immigration, and public figures (like Al Gore) and their influence on how environmental issues are viewed. Afterward, the Executive Director of YPT lead a talk-back session with the young Artists, actors and the audience.
This event was very refreshing and I was pleased to see the diversity of voice & style that manifested from the student’s pieces and, likewise, the diversity of personality and expression as they each shared a bit about themselves and their motivation for writing their particularly piece. Unsuspectingly, I left very motivated and encouraged armed with great advise from some of the world’s brightest and most imaginative….
If you’re in the DC area please check out YPT’s other events in the New Writers Now! series in 2009 (Feb 2, April 20, & June 
all at the GALA at 7pm and check out the other great special programs they have happening for young people & the young at heart!
