Playwrights Win Stage West Honors

Fiona Morris ’26 and Hannah Cady ’30 were selected as winners in the 2025 Neighborhood Play Contest hosted by Stage West. Their original pieces were brought to life on stage during the Festival of the Kid, on May 3 and 4.

Morris, a three-time Neighborhood Play Contest winner, wrote Underpaid, a sharp-witted comedy about a store clerk navigating an endless stream of eccentric customers. Featuring shoppers armed with only coupons or pennies, customers with suspicious IDs, and a “valley girl” who spits on everyone while chewing her gum, the play mines humor from the chaos of retail life from the perspective of the clerk.

“Fiona took on comedy, a huge challenge for any writer, and delivered something truly inventive and funny,” said Siouxsie Easter, Director of Upper School Theatre. “I’m so proud of her growth as a writer and artist.”

Cady’s winning piece, a monologue titled My Day with Bob, tells the story of a woman recounting a day in her life after the loss of her husband. In a charming twist, the woman’s husband is revealed to be a balloon.

“Hannah has already made a big impression with her creativity, kindness and drive,” said Cathy Gullo, Middle School Theatre Director. “She brings heart to everything she does, and I’m excited to see her journey as a writer unfold.”