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WHEREAS, City Theatre Company, located on Pittsburgh’s South Side and now in its 50th season, celebrates the 25th Anniversary of its Young Playwrights program in 2024, culminating with its Young Playwrights Festival occurring October 8 - 20, and Class Reunion Event on October 18; and
WHEREAS, the Young Playwrights program annually places teaching artists into area classrooms to edify and promote the craft of playwrighting, while also enriching students with other important life skills such as critical thinking, communication, storytelling, self-expression, empathy, and curiosity; and
WHEREAS, each year the Young Playwrights Contest receives hundreds of original one-act play submissions from middle and high school students, from which six scripts are chosen for full production as part of the Young Playwrights Festival, with three honorable mentions recognized through public readings; and
WHEREAS, over the last 25 years, the Young Playwrights Festival has featured 153 youth playwrights, 458 artists, and 150 full production plays and 75 honorable mention plays (selected from over 6,000 submissions) performed before over 15,000 student audience members; and
WHEREAS, numerous funders and donors have contributed to the growth and success of the program, including current supporters The Donald & Sylvia Robinson Family Foundation, The Grable Foundation, The Anne L. and George H. Clapp Charitable and Educational Trust, Hilda M. Willis Foundation, Jack Buncher Foundation, Pennsylvania Department of Education, Judy and Michael Cheteyan Education & Charitable Foundation, Dr. Barbara Rudiak, and Laura Penrod Kronk; and
WHEREAS, the program is currently run by City Theatre Director of Education Katie Trupiano who has succeeded past directors including Kristen Link and Diane Nutting, along with artistic staff members Kellee Van Aken and Carlyn Aquiline, all of whom were instrumental in ensuring arts education is prioritized in our schools.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare October 18, 2024 to be City Theatre Company’s Young Playwrights Festival Day in the City of Pittsburgh.