![]() This week, current Paula Vogel Mentors Project fellow Helen Everbach is working with UArts student and PYP intern Shira Berger, to stage Helen's play Better Than Abnormal. They are also using this experience to create a How-To Guide for future students interested in mounting a production of their work. Read below as Helen talks about her process, her play's characters, and the underlying activism in her writing. About the Play Better Than Abnormal is a slice of life comedy about 32 year old Dani- messy, awkward, and the 'token straight friend' of her progressive predominantly queer friend group- and the people in her life. Her recently heartbroken brother is dangerously depressed, her best friend is often busy spending time with her crossdressing boyfriend, and Dani's lawyer colleges seem to be sexist and sleazy. Then she meets Allan- clever, musically talented, Scottish, but also kind of conservative. In a show that explores such themes as gender, sexuality, political differences, and normalcy, it begs the question: can we get past our differences, even when they divide us? BY: Helen Everbach Shira and I first worked together two years ago when she helped me develop my first play, “The Mundane Life of Joe Schwartz”, which I had written for a class at the end of eighth grade. The process of working with her was very important for me. She is a kind and talented director and I was (and am) so lucky to have had the chance to work with her. So when she contacted me about this opportunity to have “Better Than Abnormal” performed, I was overjoyed.
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![]() The National Constitution Center is proud to announce the return of the Founding Freedoms Essay and Playwriting Contests, designed to increase awareness of the rights set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights and to engage students to think creatively about our nation's history, the Constitution, and protecting individual freedoms. Students in 6th, 8th, and 12th grades are encouraged to participate by submitting an essay that responds to a grade-specific prompt. Twelfth grade students also have the option of writing a play that, if chosen as the winning submission, will be performed at the Center by professional actors. Submissions DUE: February 19, 2016, at 11:59pm Playwriting Contest Prizes 12th Grade Playwriting Contest Winner • First Place: $2,500 to the student(s) and $250 to the teacher. Travel and accommodations to student(s), teacher, and parent/guardian to the June 2016 awards ceremony and the July 2016 opening performance. • Second Place: $1000 to the student. Essay Contest Prizes 12th Grade Essay Contest Winner • First Place: $2,500 to the student and $250 to the teacher. Travel and accommodations to student, teacher, and parent/guardian to the June 2016 awards ceremony. • Second Place: $1,000 to the student. 8th Grade Essay Contest Winner • First Place: $1,000 to the student and $250 to the teacher. Travel and accommodations to student, teacher, and parent/guardian to the June 2016 awards ceremony. • Second Place: $500 to the student. 6th Grade Essay Contest Winner • First Place: $500 to the student and $100 to the teacher. Travel and accommodations to student, teacher, and parent/guardian to the June 2016 awards ceremony. • Second Place: $100 to the student. Monday, October 26th was our 10th Annual Golf Outing at Spring Mill Country Club. We had wonderful weather to mark this anniversary year for the outing. Everyone had a great time golfing and raising funds for Young Playwright's programs. At the outing, we awarded our 2nd Annual Champion for Youth Award to Kurt Kennedy and Dr. Gerard Margiotti. Our Inaugural recipient of the award, Liz Jaworski, was so nice to return and to send our golfers off onto the course with a few words. Thanks to all three of these staunch supporters, as well as our Outing sponsors for your role in making the event a huge success! |
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