YOUNG DRAMATISTS' PROJECT (YDP '09)
"Connections"
MAY 28 – JUNE 7

The Gorilla Theatre's Young Dramatists' Project is the only Tampa Bay area event that offers full-scale, professional productions of teens' works, utilizing the talents of noted actors, great directors, and inspired designers.

This year's YDP is subtitled "Connections". The plays, though very different from each other, each reflect the break-up of lives, actions and emotions — and the streams, ribbons and paths that bind them together in a pattern of unexpected significance.

THIS YEAR'S WINNING PLAYS AND PLAYWRIGHTS

Gavrilo by Jonathan Van Gils
Directed by Karla Hartley
Performed by Steve Garland and Chris Morales

Fluke or destiny? Gavrilo Princep has failed in an assassination attempt and takes refuge in a small café where he encounters his former history teacher. The revolutionary young punk lashes out at the tradition bound teacher just long enough to provide him with the perfect moment to change history. Based on the true events surrounding the assassination which set World War I into motion.

Jonathan Van Gils is an aspiring filmmaker and musician and hopes to spend a large part of his life working in these areas. He is currently working on an album of music entitled, "Jawalashastarasta" which will be his first. Last year his play, "Hugo" was produced at the Studio@620 in downtown St. Pete, an opportunity like no other for which he's very thankful. Jonathan also enjoys running, playing concerts, and learning. He would like to thank the Gorilla Theatre for such a wonderful project which continues every year!

Jonathan van Gils is a Junior at Shorecrest Preparatory School.

This One Night in the Warehouse by Sam French
Directed by Scott Isert
Performed by Curtis Belz and Chris Jackson

Two men and one gun in a deserted warehouse. Hanging over them is a mission that only one can accomplish – kill the guilty one. But who is the guilty one and how will they decide?

Samuel French (17) began writing at a young age, inspired by his entire family. He has been performing in plays all his life, and has lately served as an actor, writer, and director at PCCA. Recently he has been seen in Art (the studio@620) and Ragtime (PCCA). He will next be seen as the title role in Peer Gynt at PCCA. His one-act Writer's Block was the first place winner of the 2008 Baker's Plays Dramatic Debuts National High School Playwriting contest. He hopes to study directing and playwriting in college.

Samuel French is a Junior performance theater major at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School.

Sweet Nothings by Amanda Buck
Directed by David O'Hara
Performed by Adom McRae and Jamaica Reddick

With IM-ing as their lingua franca, two teens fall deeper and deeper into love. All the bumps, pot holes, and detours on the road to love are there on the monitor screen, in a modern day tribute to A.R. Gurney's, Love Letters. This will be Amanda's second year participating in this project having acted in the 2007 YDP. Gorilla Theatre credits include the mainstage production of the original play "Christmas Gremlins II" written by Aubrey Hampton and directed by Bridget Bean. Ms Buck was recently invited to complete her high school studies as a acting major at the University of South Florida. She was honored last year to be named Best Local Actress Finalist in Creative Loafing's Best of The Bay Competition. Ms Buck is a published poet. Favorite roles include Anne Frank (The Diary of Anne Frank), Roberta (Working), Louisa (The Sound of Music), One of Mona's Girls/Linda Lou understudy (Best Little Whorehouse), Romaine Paterson (Laramie Project) and of course — Vickie (Christmas Gremlins II).

Amanda Buck is a Junior acting major at Howard W. Blake High School for the Arts.

Route 64 by Sierra Almengual
Directed by Kristina Ball
Performed by Adam Corson and Destiny Ramsey

With their truck broken down on the side of the road, two teens cannot go anywhere, except deeper into each other's life and mind. A real journey of discovery begins when they can't go any further.

Sierra Almengual participated in last year's Gorilla Theatre project with her play "Order," and she is excited to be back. She has also been in Young Playwrights Inc.'s Young Playwrights Festival, Santa Cruz Actor's Theatre Young Playwrights Festival and International Thespians. Sierra has always liked writing, and started experimenting with plays last year in Mr. Leavengood's class. She would like to thank Kathryn (mom), Alan (dad) and Mallory (sister) Almengual and her friends for being her muses, whether or not they know it. This coming fall, Sierra will attend Auburn University on a full scholarship. War Eagle!

Sierra Almengual is a Senior at Shorecrest Preparatory School.

Journey's End by Courtney Hunter
Directed by Ami Sallee Corley
Performed by Nathan Caldwell, Nic Carter, Amy E Gray, and Nicole Jeannine Smith

Their wiser inner selves look on as a couple sorts through the few remains of their relationship and try to find some meaning. If they could only hear what their inner selves say, if they could only know as much as they do about life.

Courtney Hunter has no idea how she got into writing. As a child, she recalls writing a newspaper for her brother and the neighborhood kids. Responding to life through notebooks was second nature by the time she reached Bloomingdale High School. Now in her senior year, she has written two one act shows and was one of the NCTE winners thanks to the amazing guidance of her teachers Hannah Radebaugh and Shelley Hunsucker. Aside from writing she enjoys martial arts, leading her school's thespian honor society, and performing in the Ambassadors (Bloomingdale's show choir). The biggest influence on her writing, and her life in general, would have to be her incredible group of friends that help create the experiences that inspire her work. Later on in life she’d love to actually complete a full-length play and a couple books revolving around the everyday people that make life so extraordinary.

Courtney Hunter is a student at Bloomingdale High School.

PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES
Thurs May 28 – 7:00 p.m.
Fri May 29 – 8:00 p.m.
Sat May 30 - 8:00 p.m.
Sun May 31 – 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Thurs June 4 – 7:00 p.m.
Fri June 5 – 8:00 p.m.
Sat June 6 - 8:00 p.m.
Sun June 7 – 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.



LOCATION

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 Thurs / $20 on Fri, Sat, Sun
Student rush: $10 for adult students, thirty minutes before the show when available
High School and Middle School students: $5



WHAT’S YDP ALL ABOUT?

Now in its ninth year, YDP '09 is a playwriting competition open to all middle and high school-aged students in the Tampa area. The world premiere of the 5 winning scripts by 5 up-and-coming student playwrights takes place May 28-June 7, as the official close of the Gorilla Theatre's 2008-2009 season.

"I wish there had been a Young Dramatists' Project around when I was a budding playwright back home in Indiana in nineteen hundred and ...oh, oh never mind," Gorilla Theatre cofounder and producer Aubrey Hampton, states.

He created the next best thing by sponsoring and producing a program to help young student playwrights get their works produced.

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 — Karla Hartley, Ami Sallee Corley, David O'Hara, Kristina Ball and Scott Isert — join accomplished designers — Tandy Ecenia, Mike Buck, Mike Shine, and David Hershman — to give these new plays a production to be proud of.