(New Jersey) – The Theater Project, an award-winning, professional theater in Maplewood, NJ, honored ten high school aged playwrights for outstanding work during a ceremony and script in hand reading at the Cranford Community Center on March 14th.   The event celebrated the winners of The Theater Project’s Young Playwrights Competition, a prestigious award which has been encouraging the work of talented New Jersey student authors for the past thirteen years.    

First prize of $300 went to Cathryn Mesce of Linden for her play Love Bites.  Cathryn Mesce is a ninth grade student at the Academy of Performing Arts where she is studying theatre. She has performed in several professional shows. Love Bites is the first play that she has written.

Two young authors tied for Second prize; Rachel Sobel of Montclair a student at Montclair Kimberly Academy was recognized for her play Addiction and Brianna Torres of Elizabeth who also attends Union County Academy of Performing Arts was honored for her piece Barely Dead.  Third prize went to Tweezers by Jordan Goldberg of Franklin Lakes a student at Bergen County Academies in Hackensack.  

Honorable Mentions were given to the following plays:  Stiches by Natalie Lifson of Watchung a student at The Pingry School; Volcanic Love by Jolé Perkins who attends Union County Academy for Performing Arts; Beyond Everything by Jillian Rezen of Hillsdale from Bergen County Academies; Empty Chair by Maddie Grubbs of Hightstown and Hightstown High School; Disconnected by Camille Tejeda of Montvale a student of Bergen County Academies; and On the Ledge by Stella Ferra from Union County Academy for Performing Arts.

Overall, there were student authors representing over fifteen towns and nine schools entered in the competition.   Mark Spina, Artistic Director of The Theater Project says “We’re very proud of these young people who represent the future of theater with such outstanding work.  Every year the number of entries increases and every year the quality of the plays that we see gets better every year. It’s always a thrill for the winners to see their work come to life with the help of the volunteer members of the Actor’s Equity.”

About The Theater Project (TTP):

Founded in 1994, The Theater Project under the leadership of Mark Spina, Artistic Director has stimulated New Jersey audiences with award-winning thought provoking theater.  The Theater Project offers venues for actors, writers and directors of all ages.  In addition TTP awards scholarships and incentives for young playwrights, young filmmakers, and young actors engaged in the tasks of organizing and telling a story.  

Providing a forum to express ideas that spark the imagination, The Theater Project presents its main stage season and children’s classes at the Burgdorff Cultural Center in Maplewood, New Jersey.  TTP also maintains a strong presence in Cranford, New Jersey through a monthly staged reading and discussion series showcasing the work of TTP’s Playwrights Workshop. For more information visit www.thetheaterproject.org

PHOTO: Jordan Goldberg (Franklin Lakes),  Brianna Torres (Elizabeth), Cathryn Mesce (Linden), Rachel Sobol (Montclair).