Young Playwrights Festival Showcases Teen Perspectives on Life's Big Questions
When Chicago high school student Clark Tavas sat down to write a play about the corporate world, he had no idea it would be an absurdist comedy poking fun at office culture. His production, titled "Offices Etc.," is part of Pegasus Theatre Chicago's 39th Young Playwriters Festival, which brings together four one-act plays written by teens and directed by professionals.
Tavas' story follows a group of office workers struggling with the basics of their job, including Excel spreadsheets. The play premiered at the Chicago Dramatists theater in West Town, where an audience discovered that Tavas' take on corporate life was refreshingly lighthearted.
"We just laughed and laughed," said one audience member. "It felt like everyone in the office was talking about this stuff."
Tavas' play is not alone; other festival productions tackle heavy topics such as grief, family relationships, and workplace dynamics. One play, "A Question," by Senn High School junior Lola Zimmerman, explores themes of loss and human connection after an asteroid hits Earth.
Zimmerman's story is deeply personal, inspired by the death of her grandfather and her own anxious nature. Her production also follows two characters who meet on a park bench and reflect on their lives before disaster strikes.
"I'm not sure if I'd ever sit down with someone like that," said Zimmerman in an interview. "But when we actually have conversations with people who are different from us, you realize why being alive is so special and important."
Young Playwrights Festival aims to provide young writers with a platform to express themselves through theater and encourage them to pursue careers in the arts.
"Not something many people get to do," said Zimmerman. "We aren't pushing it out for people to see how there's so much good theater for young audiences. I'm so lucky to go to a school where we go on field trips to see stuff like that."
Pegasus Theatre Chicago partners with local schools to teach students playwriting techniques and expose them to the world of theater. The festival also provides a valuable learning experience for playwrights, who get to work with industry professionals.
"Our goal here at Pegasus is that they continue to write," said Ilesa Duncan, executive and producing director at Pegasus Theatre Chicago.
By giving young writers a platform to express themselves, the Young Playwrights Festival helps bridge the gap between arts education and real-world careers. It's a valuable opportunity for teens like Tavas and Zimmerman to take their writing skills to new heights.
When Chicago high school student Clark Tavas sat down to write a play about the corporate world, he had no idea it would be an absurdist comedy poking fun at office culture. His production, titled "Offices Etc.," is part of Pegasus Theatre Chicago's 39th Young Playwriters Festival, which brings together four one-act plays written by teens and directed by professionals.
Tavas' story follows a group of office workers struggling with the basics of their job, including Excel spreadsheets. The play premiered at the Chicago Dramatists theater in West Town, where an audience discovered that Tavas' take on corporate life was refreshingly lighthearted.
"We just laughed and laughed," said one audience member. "It felt like everyone in the office was talking about this stuff."
Tavas' play is not alone; other festival productions tackle heavy topics such as grief, family relationships, and workplace dynamics. One play, "A Question," by Senn High School junior Lola Zimmerman, explores themes of loss and human connection after an asteroid hits Earth.
Zimmerman's story is deeply personal, inspired by the death of her grandfather and her own anxious nature. Her production also follows two characters who meet on a park bench and reflect on their lives before disaster strikes.
"I'm not sure if I'd ever sit down with someone like that," said Zimmerman in an interview. "But when we actually have conversations with people who are different from us, you realize why being alive is so special and important."
Young Playwrights Festival aims to provide young writers with a platform to express themselves through theater and encourage them to pursue careers in the arts.
"Not something many people get to do," said Zimmerman. "We aren't pushing it out for people to see how there's so much good theater for young audiences. I'm so lucky to go to a school where we go on field trips to see stuff like that."
Pegasus Theatre Chicago partners with local schools to teach students playwriting techniques and expose them to the world of theater. The festival also provides a valuable learning experience for playwrights, who get to work with industry professionals.
"Our goal here at Pegasus is that they continue to write," said Ilesa Duncan, executive and producing director at Pegasus Theatre Chicago.
By giving young writers a platform to express themselves, the Young Playwrights Festival helps bridge the gap between arts education and real-world careers. It's a valuable opportunity for teens like Tavas and Zimmerman to take their writing skills to new heights.
I love that some of these teen playwrights are tackling big life questions in a way that's relatable but not too heavy-handed. Clark Tavas' "Offices Etc." is hilarious because it pokes fun at the absurdities of office culture - who hasn't felt like they're just going through the motions sometimes? 
But what I think is really cool is how Lola Zimmerman's play, "A Question," shows that even in the face of tragedy and loss, human connection can be a powerful thing. It's amazing to me that these young writers are getting to work with industry pros and learning from them - it's the perfect way to bridge the gap between arts education and real-world careers. 
so yeah, i gotta ask, how do we know these plays are really being written by teens? like, is there some kind of verification process or something? it sounds super cool that they're getting to work with industry pros, but i wanna make sure the artists behind the plays are actually the ones who wrote 'em. and also, what's the real impact of this festival? is it just a bunch of free theater shows or is it really changing lives or whatever? need some more info on this before i can fully get on board 
its so cool that these teens are tackling life's big questions like, what's the deal with office culture lol 
anyway idk about u but i think its awesome that pegasus theatre chicago is supporting young writers & giving them a platform to express themselves 
! it's amazing that these young writers are getting to share their perspectives on life's big questions and having a platform to express themselves is exactly what they need 
... or in this case, a play 
. this festival is giving me all the feels 
and I'm totally here for it 
!
, but what really resonated with me was how he tackled those super serious corporate issues in a lighthearted way. I mean, who hasn't been stuck staring at an Excel spreadsheet for hours on end? 
. I mean, they're tackling some heavy stuff but still managing to bring the laughs with Clark's office comedy 
these teens are tackling some heavy topics like grief, family relationships, and whatnot but they're doing it in a super relatable way that makes you laugh or feel something. Clark Tavas' play "Offices Etc." is hilarious about office culture and it's amazing how his story was born from writing about the corporate world without knowing where he'd take it. 
, but at the same time, I'm really confident that it's exactly what they need to succeed in the arts 
. The fact that Pegasus Theatre Chicago is providing these young writers with the opportunity to hone their craft and work with industry pros is amazing 
. I mean, it takes guts to write about stuff that's personal and emotional. I love how the festival is giving them a platform to express themselves and work with industry pros - its like a dream come true for any aspiring writer!