"Playwriting taught me not only how to be a good writer but how to share my idea and turn it into something great. "
-Jaff, Murry Bergtraum HS for Business Careers
Primary Stages is dedicated to supporting writers at every stage of their careers. As part of this commitment, TEENWRIGHTS channels students’ dynamic voices into the creation of original plays. Run by professional theater artists and a collaborating teacher chosen by the school, this free playwriting program creates an engaging and supportive environment for high school students to learn about the craft of playwriting.
In a traditional in-person school year, during an 8-session, semester-long module, students create individual short plays. Each session, supported by a series of structured improvisational activities and theater games, introduces a fundamental concept of playwriting with the students on their feet, viscerally experiencing the crucial building blocks of drama. At the start of the residency, students work on “flash play” exercises that flex their playwriting muscles. These fledgling ideas are then developed into longer scripts, with a focus on character development, structure, and the necessity of rewrites. TEENWRIGHTS culminates in a reading of the students’ work by professional actors, on-site at their school.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Primary Stages has gone virtual. In order to keep this vital program alive despite the social distance, we have reimagined our program to create Virtual Teenwrights, and because it is online, we're able to offer this program to more students than ever before. CLICK HERE for more information on our Virtual Teenwrights program.
To learn more about TEENWRIGHTS, please contact Kelly Letourneau, Student Services Associate, at kelly@primarystages.org or 212.840.9705 ext. 215.
Primary Stages is deeply grateful to The Winston Foundation and The Michael Tuch Foundation, whose support allows TEENWRIGHTS to be offered free of charge to our partner New York City public schools.
If you would like to make a gift to help expand this program, call Erica Raven-Scorza, Director of Development, at 212.840.9705 x214.
CLICK HERE for more information about our New York City Blueprint for the Arts benchmarks.