Young playwrights festival

From left: Nicholas Matzoros of Ardsley, N.Y., Ardsley High School; Fleuranda Metellus, Daniel Robinson and Itchell Banegas, all of Stamford, Stamford High School; Mathilde Dratwa; Julie Smith of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., Croton-Harmon High School; Paola Roach of Fairfield, Fairfield Warde High School; Michael Busani of Old Greenwich, Greenwich High School; and Krissy Kendall of Stratford, Greenwich Academy.

“All the world”™s a stage,” Shakespeare wrote. It was especially true in Stamford on May 22 when The Palace Theatre presented its fourth annual Young Playwrights Festival, “Script to Stage,” the culmination of a seven-week arts education program for high school students covering theatrical subjects such as creative writing, acting and improvisation. 

A group of Fairfield and Westchester County students performed a one-act play they conceived and wrote under the guidance of teaching artist Mathilde Dratwa.

While working at The Palace, students learned how to collaboratively brainstorm, write and revise their work. Every word was written by the ensemble ”” from the title to the last period. The staged reading also included nonacting roles for students who wished to work behind the scenes in directing, lighting or sound.

Dratwa launched the Drama Department of the International School of Toulouse in France. She now is a teaching artist in New York for the New Victory, the Roundabout Theatre Company, the Shakespeare Society and Red Bull Theater Company. 

The Young Playwrights Festival is supported by Pitney Bowes.