PHOTO FLASH: Elton John Congratulates Winner of Fidelity FutureStage Playwriting Contest

Tony Award winner Elton John congratulated New York City high school senior Katarzyna (Kathy) Roszczeda, the winner of Fidelity FutureStage’s Playwriting Contest, presented in association with Billy Elliot the Musical, for which John wrote the score. Roszczeda attended the opening night of the musical in Chicago.

New York City area high school students were invited to write a 10-minute, one-act play reflecting one of the themes from the story of Billy Elliot: pursuing a dream, discovering a special talent, or overcoming an obstacle.

Roszczeda, a 17-year old senior at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens, won the competition with Navy Blue Tiles, a romantic comedy about regaining lost love. Her play will be performed at the Imperial Theatre on June 14, as part of the Fidelity FutureStage Finale event. The play will also be published by Samuel French.

Roszczeda’s winning play was selected by a judging panel that included actors Michael Urie, Anthony Mackie, and Constantine Maroulis, along with General Manager of Billy Elliot the Musical Nina Lannan and Fidelity FutureStage Artistic Director Michael Bush, who will also direct the June 14 finale event.

For more information, visit www.FutureStage.com.