MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL PLAYWRITING COMPETITION
Our one-act playwriting competition and workshops are designed to nurture young writers, develop new plays, and inspire Colorado middle and high school students to challenge themselves.
Students, submit your one-act play for consideration. The three winning high school playwrights will have a professionally staged reading of their play. Teachers, give your students a free 60-minute playwriting workshop with our industry professionals to introduce them to the fundamentals of writing a one-act play or exploring character through dialogue.
How it works
Free In Person or Virtual Playwriting Workshops
High School Playwriting Workshops
High School drama and language arts teachers can take advantage of these FREE in person or virtual 60-minute facilitated workshops for classrooms or community learning spaces. Workshops introduce students to the fundamentals of writing a one-act play and exploring character through dialogue. All workshops are taught by DCPA faculty and industry professionals. Workshops are an excellent way to engage students’ interest and support them in the context of playwriting and the theatre simultaneously. Your students don’t need to attend a workshop to submit a play but it can help them produce their best work for the competition.
Middle School Playwriting Workshops
Middle School language arts, creative writing, theatre and any interested classrooms or community learning spaces can partake in a FREE in person or virtual 60-minute, facilitated workshop. Workshop is designed specifically for middle school students to activate their unique voices…for the stage with active and engaging student-centered writing prompts.
Is playwriting a part of your full curriculum?
We would love to join your classroom for a multi workshop residency! Contact us today.
Submit a play
Write and submit a play
All Colorado high school and middle school students are eligible to submit a one-act play for consideration. Submissions are judged blindly by DCPA artistic, literary and education and community engagement professionals. No submission fee; limit one entry per year
Judges choose finalists and winners
High School
Judges blindly select ten finalists and three winners. All three winning playwrights will be part of the 2023 Colorado New Play Summit in late February, which will feature a staged reading of their play. Winning playwrights will receive two complimentary passes to the DCPA Colorado New Play Summit and will be an active part of the rehearsal process for the reading. Each winner received $250 and their teacher is given $250 to purchase classroom resources.
Middle School
From the submissions, three titles will be chosen as ‘spotlights’ within the High School competition featuring an online posting of the final scripts and inclusion within our printed anthology of winning titles. Each winner receives $250 and their teacher is given $250 to purchase books or other teaching tools for their classrooms.
Presenting Sponsor
Spotlight Sponsor
Supporting Sponsors
Tomblin Family Foundation
FINALISTS
Discover the talent
Semifinalists, finalists and winners from this season and go back in time to see past playwrights who took home the honors.
2022/23 Playwriting Competition
HIGH SCHOOL WINNERS (Alphabetically by play title)
A Curious Couple by Elliet Johnson – The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High School
From the Beginning to the Edge by Hayden Ferrandino – South High School
Players, Staged by Penelope Letter – Peak to Peak Charter School
HIGH SCHOOL FINALISTS (Alphabetically by play title)
The Accident by Dysnomia Kelley – Girls Athletic Leadership School
The Amazing Maximilian by Isabella Gernazio – The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High School
Face Your Fears by Elliot Sikes – The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High School
The Garden in Heaven by Isabella Garamova – Cherry Creek High School
My First Crush Is Out of This World, Literally by Emma McDonald – The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High School
A New Entry to the Self by Sydney Roberts – Montezuma-Cortez High School
Whisper of the Wolves by Shawn McAllister – Montezuma-Cortez High
MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNERS (Alphabetically by play title)
Day of the Dead Sisters by Izabella Ferrell – Carmody Middle School
The Project by Liesel Walker – North Routt Community Charter School
Wedding March by Kaylee Madrid – Carmody Middle School
2021/22 Playwriting Competition
HIGH SCHOOL WINNERS (Alphabetically by play title)
Insectivore by Jocelyn McMullen – Pueblo County High School
They Stole the Moon by Riccardo D’Urso – Cherry Creek High School
Whispers Through the Kitchen Door by Aaditya Bahl – ThunderRidge High School
HIGH SCHOOL FINALISTS (Alphabetically by play title)
Boys on the Bus by Conrad Branch – East Denver High School
Forgotten Gold by Rosemaree (Patton) Coughlin – Pueblo County High School
Growing With the Stars by Jesse Sigler– Pueblo County High School
How You’re Hardwired by Amelia Fiore– Chatfield High School
Leftovers are in the Fridge by Juniette Rose Miller – Valor Christian High School
Of Yarn and Stars by Kavery Kallichanda – Cherry Creek High School
Taking Candy by Jacob Wood and Juan Alvarado- Kennedy High School
MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNERS (Alphabetically by play title)
A Like, How Far Would You Go? by Raegan Avery – Denver School of the
Aluminum’s Identity Crisis by Wilson Walker – North Routt Community Charter School
Hope is a Thing with Feathers by Abby Heider – Merrill Middle School
2020/21 Playwriting Competition
High School Winners (alphabetical by Play title)
The Bathroom Love Potion by Ruthie McBride, Salida High School
Link to recording of live reading
Password: lovepotion#9
Bird of Paradise by Marina Leo, Denver School of the Arts
Link to recording of live reading
Password: foxglove
One Last Present by Conrad Branch, East High School
Link to recording of live reading
Password: jinglebells
Middle School Winners (alphabetical by Play title)
The New Kids by Elyse Prestopnik, Flagstaff Academy & Sarah Zhou, Summit Middle School
Silver Storm by Sam Routzon, STEM School Highlands Ranch
Will You Come to My Wedding by Gretta Bellamy, Girls Athletic Leadership Schools (GALS)
High School Finalists (alphabetical by Play title)
Ardor & Angst by Windrem R. Smith, Fossil Ridge High School
The Body by Nichole Estevez Tosi, STEM Highlands Ranch
Chelsea in the Sky with Janet by Loriana Cassidy, Ellie Rodak, and Hannah Fros, Salida High School
Crust and Sugar Over by Vander Ritchie, Salida High School
Discovered by Korben Davis, Estes Park High School
May 17th by Piper Ruth, Valor Christian High School
Of Life and Death by Elliot Hales, Salida High School
2019/20 Playwriting Competition
Finalists (alphabetical by Play title)
God’s Not Dead, He’s Just an Admissions Officer by Brandon Guo, Peak to Peak Charter School
Gone Forever by Eliana Howes, Renaissance Seconday
Human by Angela Weddig, Peak to Peak Charter School
Imminent And Disastrous by Connor Yokley, Highlands Ranch High School
Jolly Land by Conrad Branch, East High School
Lil Jesus by Ruby Brown, Salida High School
The Milkshake Bar by Ellie Olsen, Arapahoe High School
Plastic Tiara by Omar Arevalo, John F. Kennedy High School
Romeo and Julien by Meghan Frey, Estes Park High School
The Stories We Tell by Arianna Josue, Lakewood High School
2018/19 Playwriting Competition
Finalists (alphabetical by play title)
The 12:30 Train by Sophie Greenway, Estes Park High School
Better Life by Emily Hahn, Crested Butte Community School
Changes We Face by Simone Jenkins, Niwot High School
Delta Courtship by Bowie Tran, The Academy of Charter Schools
Después de la lluvia (After the Rain) by Katanu Mwendwa, DSST: Conservatory Green High School
Fake Profiles by Moudji Alassani, Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy
Flannel by Erin Fuller, Broomfield High School
The Hurricane by Ania Miecznik, Peak to Peak Charter School
Jazzercise Surprise! by Eden Farr, Heritage High School
Swiped Off Your Feet by Molly Karst (M. Rae K.), Colorado Academy
2017/18 Playwriting Competition
Finalists (alphabetical by play title)
Technical Difficulties by Julianna Luce and Trinell Samuel, Vista Peak Preparatory
The Warrior by Emmaleth Ryan, Grandview High School
Wine Colored Lip Gloss by Noah Jackson, Girls Athletic Leadership School
Semi-Finalists
A World Out There by Micah Wilborn, Air Academy High School
An Unforeseen Stop by Joshua Martelon, Cherry Creek High School
Don’t be Fooled by Murphy Manor by Katanu Mwendwa, DSST: Conservatory Green High School
Forces of the Universe Anonymous by Ashley Wright, Valor Christian High School and Amelia Middlebrooks, Homeschooled
The Girl in the Yellow Dress by Gemma Vincent, Gunnison High School
Invisible Scars by Callista Zaronias, Peak to Peak Charter School
Technical Difficulties by Julianna Luce and Trinell Samuel, Vista Peak Preparatory
Trauma Bay Five by Arianna Josue, Lakewood High School
The Warrior by Emmaleth Ryan, Grandview High School
Wine Colored Lip Gloss by Noah Jackson, Girls Athletic Leadership School
2016/17 Playwriting Competition
Winner(s)
Dear Boy on the Tree by Jasmin Hernandez, Vista Peak Preparatory
Spilt Lava by Ryan McCormick, Fort Collins High School
Finalists (alphabetical by play title)
Dear Boy on the Tree by Jasmin Hernandez, Vista Peak Preparatory
Chill Winds by Jessica Wood, Denver Christian School
Counting In Clay by Parker Bennett, Fossil Ridge High School
Spilt Lava by Ryan McCormick, Fort Collins High School
Semi-Finalists
As We Know It by Corinna Donovan and Walker Carroll, Crested Butte Community School
Dear Boy on the Tree by Jasmin Hernandez, Vista Peak Preparatory
Chill Winds by Jessica Wood, Denver Christian School
Counting in Clay by Parker Bennett, Fossil Ridge High School
Dr. Grumpy Pants by Daniela Villalobos Payan, York International
Imaginary Friends by Abby Meyer and Nic Rhodes, Fossil Ridge High School
The Mistress of Stories by Amelia Middlebrooks, Valor Christian High School
The Sincerest Form of Flattery by Samantha Shapard, Overland High School
Spilt Lava by Ryan McCormick, Fort Collins High School
Waiting by Sarah Shapard, Overland High School
2015/16 Playwriting Competition
Winner:
Sonder by Kendra Knapp, Valor Christian High School
Finalists (alphabetical by play title)
Dark River by Jessica Wood, Denver Christian School
Divinity of Hell by Gabrielle Moore, D’Evelyn Senior High School
Sonder by Kendra Knapp, Valor Christian High School
Semi-Finalists
Black and Blue by by Ashley Wright and Amelia Middlebrooks, Valor Christian High School
Daffodil by Kristine Guo, Peak to Peak Charter School
Dark River by Jessica Wood, Denver Christian High School
Divinity of Hell by Gabrielle Moore, D’Evelyn Senior High School
Don’t; Quixotic by Kalina Gallardo, Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy
Empty Space by Kiera Eriksen-McAuliffe, Denver School of the Arts
Home in the Garden by Stephanie Kiel and Mady McGraw, Chatfield Senior High School
Mahdi by Jacob Kendrick, Peak to Peak Charter School
Moonlight by Jafei Pollitt, Denver School of the Arts
Sonder by Kendra Knapp, Valor Christian High School
2014/15 Playwriting Competition
Winner
The Tale of the Almighty Sword by Jack Hansen
Finalists (alphabetical by play title)
Election by Catherine Novotny, Grandview High School
Lark’s Mechanics by Kaytlin Camp, Gunnison High School
The Tale of the Almighty Sword by Jack Hansen, Arapahoe High School
Semi-Finalists (alphabetical by play title)
Divide by Kiana Trippler, ThunderRidge High School
Election by Catherine Novotny, Grandview High School
Lark’s Mechanics by Kaytlin Camp, Gunnison High School
Life According to Mauve by Keely Kritz, Denver School of the Arts
Open Mic by Joshua Contreras, Gunnison High School
Paper Clips by Christina Arias, Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy
The Suburbs by Kendra Knapp, Valor Christian High School
The Tale of the Almighty Sword by Jack Hansen, Arapahoe High School
The Window on the Fourth Wall by Ryan McCormick, Fort Collins High School
Unspoken by Nathan Mast, Thomas B. Doherty High School
2013/14 Playwriting Competition
Winner:
One-Sided Fish by Laurain Park, Alexander Dawson High School
Finalists:
Into the Stars by Jack Fletcher, East High School
One-Sided Fish by Laurain Park, Alexander Dawson High School
Sailor’s Knot: A Play in Six Movements by Victoria Capraro, Denver School of the Arts
Semi-Finalists:
A Case of the Mondays by Tristan Cunningham, Sand Creek High School, Colorado Springs
Into the Stars by Jack Fletcher, East High School, Denver
Lost by Thomas J Norton, Discovery Canyon High School, Colorado Springs
Never EvEn Tried by Nicholas Sugarman, Cherry Creek High School, Denver
One-Sided Fish by Laurain Park, Alexander Dawson High School, Lafayette
Sailor’s Knot: A Play in Six Movements by Victoria Capraro, Denver School of the Arts, Denver
The Adventures of Sammie the Heartless and Cory the Firebreather by Meg Flinders, Heritage High School, Littleton
The Coffee Shop by Kendall Horan, Cheyenne Mountain High School, Colorado Springs
The Story of You by Mateo Correa, Denver School of the Arts, Denver
Yesterdays by Gabriela Gonzales, Denver School of the Arts, Denver
Sponsored by the Newman Family Fund and June Travis with additional support from FirstBank and Spencer Ross
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