YOUNG DRAMATISTS' PROJECT (YDP '10)

Now in our tenth season!

JUNE 3-13 AT THE GORILLA THEATRE

The Gorilla Theatre's Young Dramatists' Project (YDP) is now in its tenth season. YDP is the only Tampa Bay area event that offers full-scale, professional productions of teens' works. The five winning short plays will be shown June 3-13 at the Gorilla Theatre.

The Young Dramatist's project attracted more submissions than ever this year, and the winning plays and playwrights come from a variety of backgrounds and deal with a diversity of themes.

Winners receive mentoring by local dramaturge and YDP Artistic Director, James Rayfield, in preparation for their debut production. Also, each is given a royalty of $250 for each produced play, a professional production (10-show run) and paid membership into the Dramatists’ Guild (the professional association of playwrights, lyricists and composers).

A team of seasoned directors – Bridget Bean, Ami Sallee Corley, David Mann, David O'Hara, and Chris Jackson (who wrote a winning YDP play himself, as a high school student) – join accomplished designers – Tandy Ecenia, Lynne Locher, Joel Gennari, Jerid Fox and Mike Wood – to give these new plays a production to be proud of.

THIS YEAR'S WINNING PLAYS AND PLAYWRIGHTS Pugilist
Zacharia Hartman (St. Petersburg High School)

Four men, friends since childhood, come to terms with the disappointments of adulthood and the callous ways that friends can hurt each other over the course of three Saturday nights in one of the men's bar.

The Women's Ardor
Somar Lanh (Blake High School for the Arts)

Meeting the parents has never been this intense. Two women struggle to prove whose love is more ardent, meanwhile asking the age old question - Does mother really always know what's best? The String that Fell
Michael Kefeyalew (Hillsborough High School)

Things can get really weird when there's a death in the family. A man who's had an estranged relationship with his mother his whole life finds himself in charge of her funeral and undergoing a surreal psychological journey.

Fourth and Inches
Nick Nunnelly (Shorecrest Preparatory School)

A high school athlete finds himself at odds with his stubborn football coach. As tensions rise, he finds himself between a rock and a hard place. He must make hard decisions regarding his athletic career.

Backstage
Emily Guthy (Bloomingdale High School)

Sometimes actors just can’t keep the drama on the stage and out of the dressing room. This comedy about high school performers will be recognizable and hilarious for anyone who has ever taken part in a school play. Leda
Samuel French (Gibbs High School)

(Due to writer time conflicts this winning play will not be produced but is recognized for its artistic merit)

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

June 3-13, 2010
Thursdays at 7pm
Fridays at 8pm
Saturdays at 8pm
Two shows on Sundays at 3pm and 7pm

Special performances (extra value included with ticket purchase)
Thursday June 3 – 7pm - presentation for writers plus free champagne and cake reception
Thursday June 10 – 7pm – talkbacks with writers, directors, designers and cast
Friday June 11 – 8pm - talkbacks with writers, directors, designers and cast

WHERE: Gorilla Theatre, 4419 N. Hubert Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33614 "Behind Steinbrenner Field"

TICKET PRICES
Full price: $20 on Thursdays /$25 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays
Seniors (age 55+) and Adult Students (with ID):$15 on Thursdays / $20 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays
Student rush: $10 for adult students, thirty minutes before the show when available.

High School and Middle School students: $5
RESERVATIONS: (813) 879-2914 or gorillatheatre.com

Submission Guidelines