Local Teens Bring Top-of-Mind Concerns to Stage in Young Playwrights Festival
A group of Chicago high school students are taking center stage this month as part of the 39th Young Playwrights Festival, a program that showcases one-act plays penned by teens but directed, designed, and performed by professionals.
The festival features four one-act productions that tackle topics on the minds of young people, including workplace culture, family, friendship, and grief. One play, "Offices Etc." written by Clark Tavas, a 19-year-old recent graduate of Lane Tech College Prep High School, pokes fun at corporate culture.
Tavas' story is inspired by his observations while playing golf in the summer at Chicago's public courses, where he met people from all walks of life. His play sends a message that it's okay to lighten up and not be so rigid. Watching industry professionals develop his play was an invaluable experience for Tavas.
Another selected playwright, Lola Zimmerman, 17, of Mayfair High School, followed her own characters on a park bench where they reflect on their lives before an asteroid collides with Earth. Inspired by the film "Submarine," she wanted to highlight meaningful dialogue and tackle themes of grief and loss following the death of her grandfather.
Zimmerman hopes her play communicates the importance of human connection in a world where people often feel like strangers. She believes that theater can bring people together and show them why being alive is so special.
The Young Playwrights Festival aims to fill the gap of lack of exposure to arts programs in some schools, with many students not having access to creative writing classes or drama departments. The festival has had participants go on to have careers as television writers, directors, and designers, but ultimately wants young playwrights to continue writing in any field.
The selected plays will be performed during matinee and evening performances from January 23-24 at the Chicago Dramatists theater in West Town.
A group of Chicago high school students are taking center stage this month as part of the 39th Young Playwrights Festival, a program that showcases one-act plays penned by teens but directed, designed, and performed by professionals.
The festival features four one-act productions that tackle topics on the minds of young people, including workplace culture, family, friendship, and grief. One play, "Offices Etc." written by Clark Tavas, a 19-year-old recent graduate of Lane Tech College Prep High School, pokes fun at corporate culture.
Tavas' story is inspired by his observations while playing golf in the summer at Chicago's public courses, where he met people from all walks of life. His play sends a message that it's okay to lighten up and not be so rigid. Watching industry professionals develop his play was an invaluable experience for Tavas.
Another selected playwright, Lola Zimmerman, 17, of Mayfair High School, followed her own characters on a park bench where they reflect on their lives before an asteroid collides with Earth. Inspired by the film "Submarine," she wanted to highlight meaningful dialogue and tackle themes of grief and loss following the death of her grandfather.
Zimmerman hopes her play communicates the importance of human connection in a world where people often feel like strangers. She believes that theater can bring people together and show them why being alive is so special.
The Young Playwrights Festival aims to fill the gap of lack of exposure to arts programs in some schools, with many students not having access to creative writing classes or drama departments. The festival has had participants go on to have careers as television writers, directors, and designers, but ultimately wants young playwrights to continue writing in any field.
The selected plays will be performed during matinee and evening performances from January 23-24 at the Chicago Dramatists theater in West Town.
. I mean, who better to tackle modern issues than those who actually live through them? The way Tavas and Zimmerman approached their stories is so relatable, you can already imagine the conversations you'd have with friends about these plays 
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. I think this festival is doing an amazing job of giving young creatives a platform to shine, and we should all be supporting it 
. Who knows, maybe one day we'll see these talented teens running their own shows or creating hit TV shows! 
I'm telling ya, this whole festival thing seems legit, but what's really going on here? 
These teens are being mentored by industry pros, but who's actually pulling the strings behind the scenes? 
And what's up with all these plays about "workplace culture" and "human connection"? It sounds like some sorta subtle brainwashing to me... 
I mean, I'm not saying it's a conspiracy or anything (okay, maybe I am 
), but have you noticed how this festival is always held in these fancy-schmancy theaters? 
. I love how they're not afraid to poke fun at corporate life and show us that it's okay to lighten up 
. Lola Zimmerman's play about human connection is SO relatable, I mean who hasn't felt like a stranger in the world sometimes? 
And can we talk about Clark Tavas' golf course epiphany - genius! 
. The fact that this festival is giving young playwrights a platform is everything, let's support them & their art 
I mean, who doesn't love a good satire of corporate culture? Clark Tavas' play "Offices Etc." is like the teenage equivalent of a coffee-fueled rant against the soul-sucking world of offices. But for real though, it's dope that he was inspired by his golf game – who knew playing golf could be so literary? 
Did you know that in the UK alone, theater attendance has seen a decline of like 15% since 2010? 
Time for change, maybe?!
. Like, what's next? A play about grief and loss? How original, Lola 
. Can't they come up with something fresh for once? And don't even get me started on "Offices Etc." - who plays golf on a summer day and gets inspiration for a play about corporate culture? Sounds like just another dude trying to make it big 
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. i think what i love most about this festival is how it highlights the importance of human connection in our lives 
. these plays are a reminder to slow down and appreciate the little things... or not take ourselves too seriously 
the festival is all about giving them a platform to share their voices, which is super important for our community. We need more of this kind of creativity & empathy 
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. Who knows, maybe we'll see their names on some TV shows or movies soon 
? The future of theater is looking bright, and I'm stoked to see what they come up with next!