FINALISTS & WINNERS

Yide Cai From Shenzhen, China, Yide Cai is a MFA in Playwriting candidate at Boston University, and a graduate of Emory University with a BA in Playwriting & German Studies. He is a poet, translator, and an award-winning playwright with plays that have been selected to festivals such as KCACTF, ITC Competition, ScreenCraft, Kanini Fest, …

THE RICE EATERS – by Yide Cai – FINALIST 2024Read More

DANA MARIE TRUPA (she/her/hers) is a poet, storyteller, and performer with an MFA in Creative Writing from Randolph College. An NYC transplant originally from Pittsburgh, her first play, Planet Joey, explores myths surrounding the working-class and the legacy of trauma. Her poetry has been performed by Emotive Fruition and featured in Playbill. She is professionally trained in …

PLANET JOEY by Dana Marie Trupa – FINALIST – 2024Read More

Daryl Mendelson With an undergraduate degree in Biology, a master’s degree in Health Science, past work as a County Health inspector, State Hazardous Waste Inspector, and a Database programmer, it is clear that Daryl is a Gemini! Daryl’s personality is made up of equal portions of humor, empathy and compassion. A natural place to funnel …

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP – by Daryl Mendelson – FINALIST – 2024Read More

Paul Atreides Paul Atreides is an author, playwright, and theatre critic. After more than 30 years in theatre as a vocation and avocation, he is a former critic and columnist with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He now writes for EatMoreArtVegas.com. His 10-minute drama, Fusion, was picked up as part of Grief Dialogues: The Experience, which …

THE LAST CONFESSION – by Paul Atreides – FINALIST – 2024Read More

Kacey Czosnowski Kacey Czosnowski grew up in South Bend, Indiana, wanting to become an actor and work as a performer. She moved to New York in 2009 and graduated from the New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts in 2011. Struggling in the starving artist lifestyle and attempting to find herself, Kacey set out to …

START FROM HERE – by Kacey Czosnowski – FINALIST -2024Read More

Jon Burr Jon Burr arrived onto the New York jazz scene in his early 20’s as an in demand bassist following a standout school career distinguished by All Star status and many awards, including Best Bassist at the Collegiate Jazz Festival and a scholarship from Berklee School of Music. Early on in his career he …

PRAY AWAY GETAWAY- by Jon Burr – FINALIST – 2024Read More

Simon Bowler After graduating with a degree in Film and TV from the University of Westminster in London, Simon produced at the BBC and BBC World Service Television, then made feature documentaries for Channel 4, The World Bank, and Friends of the Earth.  In the United States, he produced the acclaimed mockumentary feature film ‘Man …

JUDGMENT OF THE EYE – by Simon Bowler – FINALIST- 2024Read More

Lauren Novak Lauren Novak is a NYC-based playwright and performer with over 20 years of experience in the Off-Broadway scene. Known for her sharp humor and exploration of contemporary themes, she has participated in the Vineyard Theatre’s writers’ workshop. She focuses on examining complex human relationships and identity through her work. ********************************************* Kate Comforts the …

KATE COMFORTS THE BABY – by Lauren Novak – FINALIST 2024Read More

Allyson Austin Allyson (Ally) Austin is new to publishing but not new to writing; she has been writing poetry for as long as she could put pencil to paper. After self-publishing a small book of poetry, titled 3 Lovers, Ally has been developing multiple other projects for submission, publishing, or production. Most of her work …

I SEE YOU – by Allyson Austin – FINALIST 2024Read More

Di Shawn J. Gandy Di Shawn J. Gandy is a talented playwright, director, actor, and screenwriter passionate about storytelling through theatre, film, and television. His plays have earned recognition, including an NJACT Perry Award nomination, selection to the Black Theatre and Arts Festival in Washington, D.C., and finalist status in the ITC Competition 2024 for …

AN AMERICAN TREE – by Di Shawn J. Gandy – FINALIST 2024Read More

Kate Katcher Kate Katcher is a playwright, actor, director whose latest short play, Inclination, will be featured in the Chain Theatre Winter One-Act Festival, where Layover at Reagan National received a rave review at the Summer Festival in August, 2024. Her first novel, 36, will be released by Vine Leaves Press in 2026. Other published …

A FOX IN THE HENHOUSE – by Kate Katcher – FINALIST – 2024Read More

Katy Mikelle Katy Mikelle is a singer, dancer, actress, contortionist, artist, pianist, and songwriter in Los Angeles, CA. She has performed in over 35 theater productions all over the bay area including theater companies: Theatreworks, and San Jose Repertory. Her favorite roles she’s played are Hellen Keller, Val in “A Chorus Line,” and Audrey in …

THE CIRCLE OF EYES – by Katy Mikelle – THIRD PLACE WINNER – 2024Read More

David Haddad David Haddad is a late bloomer who only began writing plays ten years ago. He was finally able to escape the confines of his soul-killing day job in the bowels of the bureaucracy, and pursue something a bit more  atisfying.David studied history and literature at Michigan State University. It was there that he …

YAHWEH THE FLOORWALKER – by David Haddad – SECOND PLACE WINNER SCRIPT – 2024Read More

Marlin Thomas Born in Bronx, New York, and raised in Queensbridge Houses. Marlin Thomas was educated at Queens College (City University of New York), Johns Hopkins University, and New York University. He writes academically and creatively. His academic work spans literature, philosophy, and computer science, and it has appeared in peer- reviewed journals and presented …

REPARATIONS by Marlin Thomas *** WINNER SCRIPT OF THE 2024 COMPETITIONRead More