Local students win Playwriting contest
This past year has been difficult in different ways for everyone, including for children. Art, while always essential, has proven to be crucial and necessary during these difficult times. Children need an outlet to express their frustrations, fears, concerns, successes, and opinions. And what better way for children to utilize art to express themselves than through combining the power of writing and theatre.
Central Texas Theatre Academy (CTTA) visited over 20 classrooms throughout Wimberley, San Marcos, South Austin, Dripping Springs, and New Braunfels, teaching an interactive, engaging and fun 20-minute workshop on writing a play. With their teachers' continued guidance and enthusiasm, the students then wrote their own original plays, some by themselves, some with a group of friends.
The teachers collected the plays and turned them back into the CTTA team, who then got to work on the difficult task of choosing just nine of the most creative out of the hundreds of plays submitted. Those winning plays will be performed by professional actors, on stage in costumes with lights and music. The winning playwrights, their teachers, and families are all invited to a free performance to see their work performed live.
Kevin T. Gates, professor of Theatre History at Texas State University, is on the PLAYwrights team and says, "For those of us on this team, the most rewarding part, by far, is seeing the looks on the young playwrights faces when they see their imagination brought to life on stage."
Congratulations to the following 2021 PLAYwrights winners:
-Hard Work Always Pays Off By: Anabella Guerra
Santa Cruz Catholic School, Mrs. Silva’s 4th Grade Class
-Just A Basic Storytale... Or Is It? By: Macy McElroy
Mendez Elementary School, Ms. Gonzalez’ 4th Grade Class
-Journey of the Magic Necklace
By: Piper Kleinhenz, Connealy Kahlsruher, Ella McFarland, and Sophia Brigman
Dripping Springs Christian Academy, Mrs. Hammons’ 5th Grade Class
-The Girl Who Can Not Stop Talking By: Sofia Luna and Namie Walfenstein
Santa Cruz Catholic School, Mrs. Zavala’s 3rd Grade Class
-Don’t Pollute By: Evie Cardinal
Dripping Springs Christian Academy, Mrs. Hammons' 5th Grade Class
-Micezart By: Aryiana Reyes
Mendez Elementary School, Ms. Gonzalez’ 4th Grade Class
-Mira and Nico The Blue Dragon (Hero Addition)
By: Julia Tidmore and Caroline Niedzwecki
Santa Cruz Catholic School, Mrs. Zavala’s 3rd Grade Class
-Walking on Water By: Serena Coffman and Alexiah Smith
Mendez Elementary School, Ms. Gonzalez’ 5th Grade Class
-Aaron and the Castaway Witch
By: Aurelia Sierra, Ava Johnson, Cooper Kovach, and Adelyn Paluch
Jacobs Well Elementary School, Mrs. Boles 4th Grade Class