Playwriting Contests
The TYE Center currently sponsors two playwriting contests. The Utah Young Playwrights for Change contest is for middle school playwrights. The Old Miner Children’s Playwriting Contest is for adults writing plays to be performed for or by elementary school students.
Young Playwrights for Change
The TYE Center sponsors the Utah regional contest for Young Playwrights for Change. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students submit ten-minute plays that explore issues including family, bullying, and promoting positive change. The winning play in the Utah contest is published in an anthology with the other regional winners and is advanced to the national contest. The winner of the national contest has his or her play featured at a national children’s theatre conference and receives an all-expense-paid trip for three to see it presented. In 2015, the national winner was Utah winner Alexia McCarty from DaVinci Academy for her family drama, Life Goes On. It was performed for an audience of 500 theatre professionals in Chicago.
2019 Utah Contest:
WINNER: Jail Paint by Ky Hartley
FINALISTS: Red Umbrella by Lauren Au
Pulmenti by AJ Slee
2018 Utah Contest:
WINNER: The Park Benchby Melissa Heil
FINALISTS: Hearts of Improvement by Lauren Au
Judgment Day by Ky Hartley
Shining Through by Elizabeth Birkner
2017 Utah Contest:
WINNER: Vampire Wants a Friend by Kaityn Robison
FINALISTS: Through the Years by Kate C. Potter
Dragons vs. Kittens by Joseph Pachev
Nicole and the Bully by Kate Hill
2016 Utah Contest:
WINNER: Vets Need Help by M. Anthony Medellin
FINALISTS: I Promise by Kaitlyn Kinsella
Blind to the World by Hallie Gee
The Life of Puffles by Vivian Malan
2015 Utah Contest:
WINNER: Life Goes On by Alexia McCarty
FINALISTS: A Gremlin’s Heart by Kaisha N. Gray
Outer Demons by Darci Ramirez
The Gift by Leslie Davis
Our World is Broken by Jessica Jelsma
2014 Utah Contest:
WINNER:Combo Pizza by Darci Ramirez
FINALISTS:The Bully Investigator by Matthew Wilcox
The Goody-Goodies by Sephora Giraud-Carrier
Garcon by Elizabeth Ann Liggera
I Am Not Afraid by JaLynn Nicole Beaumont
Old Miner’s Children’s Playwriting Contest
The Old Miner’s Children’s Playwriting Contest is funded through the generous support of the Tom and Mary Norris Foundation, and is named after Tom Norris, born January 2, 1920 in Caliente, Nevada. Growing up during the Depression as the oldest of seven children, Tom was well acquainted with poverty. He had one life’s ambition: to make a million dollars. He did so, many times over, in the mines of Battle Mountain, Nevada. Once he accomplished his goal, he realized that working hard to make the money was more fun than having it. Tom never spent much money on himself, but was generous to the community around him, especially the children. He never received a college education, but was a voracious reader and passionate learner. He wanted to make sure the children in his community got the best education, were knowledgeable about world events, and learned to think for themselves. Tom was an avid debater and prolific writer of letters to the editor which he always signed as “The Old Miner.”
The contest has two divisions (a) the “National Division” for a playwright currently living in the United States and (b) the “Utah College Division” for a playwright currently enrolled at a Utah college or university.
The National Division winner will receive:
- A five-day residency culminating in a staged reading of the script
- The opportunity to mentor the winner of the Utah College Division
- $1000 cash prize
- Airfare from the continental United States, lodging, and meal per diem
- The option of design or verbal responses from UVU theatre students
- Mentoring and support from a director and/or dramaturg
The Utah College winner will receive:
- Up to eight hours of workshopping and rehearsal, with a staged reading
- Mentorship from a professional playwright
- $250 cash prize
- Lodging, if playwright resides outside of Utah County
- Mentoring and support from a director and/or dramaturg
(please note transportation is not included for the Utah College Winner)
Plays based on the lives of real children are eligible for a bonus $500 “Strike It Rich” prize.
2019:
National Winner: Timmon and the Magic Shoes by Jeff Jenkins
Strike it Rich Winner: My Brother’s Gift by Claudia Haas
2018:
National Winner: Box of Stories by J.S. Puller
Finalists: The Light Princess by Greg Cummings
Win or Lose Stanley by Sandra Fenichel Asher
College Winner: Paul Bunyanby Timothy Peay
2017:
National Winner: Donnie Q by Daniel A. Kelin II
Finalists: Popularity Coach by Brian Geuhring
Scout’s Honor by Jeff Jenkins
College Winner: The Rocking Boy by Spicer Carr
2016:
National Winner: Almost Mary by Claudia Haas
Finalists: Captain Superlative by JS Puller
College Winner: Cry Wolf by Brian Powell
College Finalist: Adagio by Spicer Carr
2015:
National Winner: Nice and Slow by Lojo Simon
Finalists: Stuff: A Curious Collection by Sandra Fenichel Aher
And the Universe Didn't Blink by Claudia Haas
Victory Garden by Jeff Jenkins
Strike it Rich Winner: Cold War Kids by Miranda Giles
College Winner: Arthur, Merlin, and that Stupid Sword by Spice Carr