Finalists Kaytlin Camp of Gunnison High School, Jack Hansen of Arapahoe High School and Catherine Novotny of Grandview High School will receive a professional staged reading of their one-act plays at the 2015 Colorado New Play Summit. The finalists also will receive a $250 cash scholarship and complimentary pass to any reading or production at the Summit. In addition, each finalist’s Theatre or Language Arts teacher will receive a $250 gift certificate for books, supplies or other teaching tools for their classrooms. After the Summit, one play will be chosen to be performed by students participating in DCPA Education’s summer classes.

“We were blown away by the number of submissions we received this year,” said Allison Watrous, DCPA Director of Education. “It was a privilege for our team to read all 158 submissions and take on the nearly impossible task of narrowing them down to these three finalists. It is thrilling to see that the passion for theatre is alive and well in Colorado high schools.”

Public readings of the three plays will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb 21, in Conservatory Theatre, located in the Newman Center at 13th and Arapahoe streets. The readings will be free with an RSVP. Click here.  

Last year’s inaugural program included 83 workshops in 33 schools, serving 1,764 students and 42 teachers across 11 counties. This time, the program nearly doubled in size and reach. DCPA education staff conducted 143 workshops in 45 schools, serving 2,899 students and 67 teachers over 14 different counties (including Chaffee, Larimer, and Las Animas).

Meet the three Finalists:
Name: Kaytlin Camp
School: Gunnison High School
Teacher: Mr. White
Play title: Lark’s Mechanics
What is your play about? A girl who owns a mechanic shop, and the interactions she has with her customers.
Excerpt:
TACITA: Cato, may I ask you a bit of a… um, sensitive question?
CATO: Sure, go ahead.
TACITA: Are you a part of the ….uh… protests taking place in the cog district? CATO: …Yes. I don’t see why you would consider that a sensitive question.
TACITA: Well depending on who you mention it to they could react badly.
CATO: Yes, I’m aware. Does this change things in your eyes?
TACITA: Not really, I’m actually not that surprised.
CATO: Oh you’re not surprised? I thought you said I was mysterious.
TACITA: Well you are, but like I said before I don’t know you that well, So I’m not that surprised. I’d be more surprised if I found out you were a mermaid.
CATO: I think it’d be impractical for a mermaid to have a mechanical arm.
TACITA: Oh you never know, they could have some type of underwater mechanics. CATO: You say that like mermaids actually exist.
TACITA: Can you prove they don’t?
CATO: Touche.

Read more about Kaytlin here

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Name: Jack Hansen
School: Arapahoe High School
Teacher: Ian Ahern
Play title: The Tale of the Almighty Sword
What is your play about? A sword crafted by the gods. The story is told through the different people who possess the sword, as the sword brings them closer to God.
Excerpt:

Read more about Jack here

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Name: Catherine Novotny
School: Grandview High School
Teacher: Briana Lindahl
Play title: Election
What is your play about? Fallon and Adam are racing to win a student presidential election. Their principal sends them on a mission to uncover a cheating scandal to prove their worth.
Excerpt:
HARRY: Did you come to seek answers?
KELLY: My math teacher is giving an exam tomorrow. Her name is Mrs. Trescott. Third period pre-calculus. It’s encompassing everything we’ve learned since coming back from summer break.
HARRY: Already have the answers. I will have my superior put these answers subtly on a poster in her room. She will not notice it, but you will. Now, give me $100 and this all happens.
KELLY: Isn’t your price a little steep?
HARRY: That’s the price of cheating. Feel the guilt. At least you’ll be getting a good grade. Now, pay up.
FALLON: I can’t believe Kelly is cheating.
ADAM: You’re right, Harry is just the money transaction. He’s not in charge of anything. We have to tell Mr. T.
KELLY: Fine, here’s the money. (She hands over the cash and then runs out. Fallon and Adam are about to leave when another door opens. The other person stands in the shadows.)
Read more about Catherine here

Meet our 10 Talented Semifinalists:

In the DCPA NewsCenter, we presented daily profiles introducing readers to all 10 of our finalists. Get to know them here (listed alphabetically by play title):