Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival to hold free play readings June 9

Now in its seventh year, the Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival (PSYPF) promotes and encourages creative writing in the theatrical form. Open to all students in elementary, middle and high schools within Riverside County, the festival provides a scholarship to further education in the arts, mentorship and a public reading of selected plays.

Every play submitted is read by a private selection committee of industry professionals. Each year, 3 to 5 plays are selected as winning plays. The winning playwrights then work with and are mentored by an established playwright who guides them in making their play more presentable.

PSYPF's 2024 winners are Abigail Alldredge, 16, from Ramona High School in Riverside; Erik Evans, 14, from Palm Middle School in Moreno Valley; and Anthony Banuelos, 17, from Valley View High School in Moreno Valley.

Their plays, "Second Chances (A Game Show)" (Alldredge), "In My Dreams" (Evans); and "Redo" (Banuelos) will be performed as readings June 9 at noon at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.

Each winning play will receive a $500 scholarship to help the playwright continue their education in the arts.

This year's mentor is Jack Kenny, whose television writing and producing credits include "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist," "Kevin (Probably) Saves the World," "Jessica Jones," "Warehouse 13," "Falling Skies," "The Book of Daniel" and "Titus." As an actor, Kenny has appeared on and off Broadway in such shows as "Fiddler on the Roof," "Café Crown" and "The Normal Heart." He's a graduate of the Juilliard Theatre Center and a member of John Houseman's The Acting Company.

The June 9 readings will feature the talents of Yo Younger, Timothy Sean Brown, Melanie Blue, Chuck Yates, Michael Shaw, Christine Tringali Nunes, Charles Herrera, Jason Stuart, Lou DiMaggio, Daniel DiMaggio, William Salyers, Cullen McCarthy and Noah Bentley

This year's premier sponsors are Cherry Lane Alternative and the Western Wind Foundation. In-kind sponsors include Kimpton Rowan Hotel of Palm Springs and The Palm Springs Cultural Center.

"We are thrilled to name two of our scholarship awards after their generous efforts: the Western Wind Award and the CLA Award (Cherry Lane Alternative)," says PSYPF board president David Youse. "The support of these two organizations has been invaluable to our efforts to bring theatrical writing to our youth. Jeremy Hobbs of Western Wind Foundation has been with us from the very beginning, and The Cherry Lane Alternative has committed to us for the next five years."

"It has been a pleasure to work with the Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival over the past few years, from the concept through launch and wonderful growth," says Hobbs. "I know firsthand how important their work is, how much it benefits the young people in our region, and how much it opens the doors for artistic endeavors. I also know how valuable honest, constructive and positive feedback is for young people starting in the arts."

Long-time sponsor Ann Sheffer agrees. "People are becoming more and more aware of the value of the arts in schools and in the community. Kids have a lot to say, and there are not that many outlets where you can have your work read by professionals in the field. I think it's really impressive what (PSYPF has) been doing. It's really important for kids growing up here to know that writing plays can, in fact, be a career."

For 26 years, Cherry Lane Alternative's Obie Award-winning program, Mentor Project, has launched the plays of more than 65 playwrights, including Rajiv Joseph and Katori Hall, through mentorship from development to producing full productions and opening to the public.

"The work that David Youse and the Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival is doing is imperative and substantive, nurturing the youth of our beloved America and raising our awareness by sharing their truth and telling their stories," says Angelina Fiordellisi, founding artistic director of Cherry Lane Alternative.

The Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival is supported by The Riverside County Office of Education and Louisa Higgins, the county's visual and performing arts administrator.

This is a free event. To reserve your tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com/event/6279473.

The Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit psypf.org or email info@psypf.org.

As philanthropy editor at The Desert Sun, Winston Gieseke writes about nonprofits, fundraising and locals who give back, like his beloved dog Ernie Banks, who volunteers at the local cancer center. Reach him at winston.gieseke@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: PS Young Playwrights Festival to hold free play readings June 9