DCPA EDUCATION
DEVELOPING OUR FUTURE PLAYWRIGHTS
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The Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ (DCPA) third annual Regional High School Playwriting Competition culminated June 17 with two free, fully-staged performances of playwright Kendra Knapp’s Sonder. Last fall, DCPA Education staff members conducted 145 classroom workshops for 3,100 Colorado students. That resulted in 212 one-act play submissions from young writers all over the state. DCPA artistic, literary and educational professionals then blindly judged the submissions, selecting 10 semifinalists. Of those, three were selected to have their plays read by professional actors at the 2016 Colorado New Play Summit. They were: • Gabrielle Moore, D’Evlyn High School, Divinity of Hell • Jessica Wood, Denver Christian School, Dark River • Kendra Knapp, Valor Christian High School, Sonder Knapp was a top-10 finalist last year. This year, her newest play was singled out for full production. Sonder follows a community of young people who are seeking real connection, but from the safety and distance of the internet. DCPA Director of Education Allison Watrous said the purpose of the teen writing initiative is to advance literacy, creativity, writing and communication through playwriting. “This program is all about inspiring the passion of playwriting in the next generation of writers regardless of their career aspirations,” she said. Knapp, for example, is headed to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida where she will study aerospace engineering. “But I will probably still be writing, too,” Knapp said. The three finalists each receive a cash scholarship of $250. In addition, each teacher of the three finalists receives a $250 gift certificate for books, supplies or other teaching tools. At a time when much of the national theatre dialogue is focused on the lack of female representation, it was telling that all three of the student finalists are young women. “I think that‘s great, especially because it was picked blind,” said Wood. “We know we were not being picked just because we are women — we were picked because we have
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APPLAUSE • Sep – Oct 2016 • 303.893.4100 • denvercenter.org
talent, and we have abilities, and it’s great that the DCPA is helping us realize this.” Added Moore: “I really appreciate the DCPA for not feeling the need to fill a quota, and that we’re being appreciated for our talent, no matter what age or gender or background we come from.” Knapp says she’s used to facing prejudice as a woman, a Hispanic, a person of faith and a theatre kid. “I’m used to people meeting me and then having this taste in their mouth where they go, ‘You’re from a Christian school? And you’re into theatre?’ I’m used to that attitude. But then I come here to the Denver Center and they just say, “OK, let’s get to work.” And I’m like, “Wait, you’re not going to ask me about my political views? Where’s the interrogation?” Each finalist was mentored during the Colorado New Play Summit by a commissioned playwright with the DCPA Theatre Company. “Rogelio [Martinez] had some ideas and insights for the play that hadn’t been presented to me by any other voice,” said Knapp. “It’s just a really good feeling to get feedback from someone you know is established who says to you genuinely, ‘This is good.’ ” Submissions for the 2017 High School Playwriting Competition are accepted starting Oct 1. For more information, visit denvercenter.org/playwright.
SONDER playwright Kendra Knapp, Valor Christian High School
Photos by Brian Landis Folkins and John Moore
BY JOHN MOORE