NYC Premieres of Works By Young Playwrights (and a Former Young Playwright) This Month

Keith Glover, whose play Thunder Knocking On the Door opens Off-Broadway on June 20, will talk to the winners–all under the age of 19–of Young Playwrights Inc.’s National Playwriting Competition following a preview performance tonight. This will bring things full circle for Glover, who, 20 years ago, was in YPI’s Advanced Playwriting Workshop (along with fellow playwright Kenneth Lonergan) when he was a budding writer.

The talkback with Glover, whose other plays include Coming of the Hurricane and In Walks Ed, is one of the many professional opportunities that the eight winners of the competition are enjoying during the Young Playwrights Writers Conference. They have already had a post-show discussion with Craig Lucas (This Thing of Darkness), a meeting with Dramatists Guild president Chris Wilson, and a dinner with Carol Hall and Alfred Uhry. Other activities include daily workshops and seminars in which the youthful scribes work with one another, hone their skills further, and meet theater professionals.

The conference will culminate in staged readings of the eight winning plays at the Lucille Lortel Theater (121 Christopher Street), June 13-15. All of the readings are taking place with the guidance and participation of professional dramaturgs, directors, and actors. Beginning at 4pm each day, the free readings are open to the public, but reservations are required; call Dean-James Deason at 212-594-5440 to RSVP or for further information, and visit www.youngplaywrights.org to learn more about the organization.