NJ Rep seeks high school students for playwright program

Long Branch — New Jersey Repertory Company is offering a unique opportunity for six high school students to participate in a nine week playwright program. Interested applicants may submit a brief writing sample and if selected, will meet Saturdays in February through March at the theater where they will work with a professional playwright, director, and actors to help develop their scripts inspired by the events of Hurricane Sandy.

At the end of the program, each student’s play will be presented to the public in March.

The program is free and is supported by ArtHelps of the Monmouth County Arts Council (MCAC), The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and the Community Foundation of New Jersey.

It’s been more than a year since Hurricane Sandy ravaged New Jersey’s shoreline, ripping apart communities and displacing thousands of families still struggling to rebuild their lives. The effects of this catastrophic super storm are still widespread and long-lasting, and in some towns, rebuilding is an everyday occurren
No previous experience is necessary and writing samples may be prose, poetry, a scene or monologue.

Deadline for submission is Monday, January 20, 2014. Interviews will be held, and students who are accepted must be able to attend all workshop sessions on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at New Jersey Repertory Company located at 179 Broadway in Long Branch. Lunch will be provided for students.

Performances of Young Playwright Project entries will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, March 25-26. Further details of each performance will be announced at www.njrep.org.

For more information, applicants can contact Young Playwrights Project Director Wendy Peace at 917-561-9325 or New Jersey Repertory Company at 732-229-3166.