Megan
Warren
"I love that I had this opportunity to express myself in such a unique way. I was able to write an opinion piece on a topic I am very passionate about, but write it in a way that I am familiar with... I highly recommend that everybody try this experience if they are able to!"
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
Caroline
Speer
"The HSPP experience for me was super fun and challenging. I’m really glad I got to participate in something that could really test my abilities as a writer."
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
Olivia
Rodriguez Smith
"I absolutely loved my HSPP experience! I had never written a play before, so I was truly starting from square one. I must have started with 10 different ideas/concepts and at a certain point, I just began writing! My first draft was revised and revised and revised until I finally felt like I had something that worked. Getting to do HSPP ignited creative energy in me that I really love, and I cannot wait to continue with and improve on. I never would have imagined that I would find so much joy, excitement, and discovery in playwriting. I certainly would never have imagined that I would be chosen as a finalist! Thank you so much to Circle Theatre for this wonderful and unique opportunity!"
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
Grant
Goodnight
“The experience of this project was very fulfilling! It made me realize that playwriting is something I love and want to do for the rest of my life!”
Southwest Christian
Watch the Finalist Reading Series Now!
Waiting for the End by Megan Warren
Our 10-minute digital play reading presented as part of our High School Playwriting Project
Featuring: Savannah Elayyach + Octavia Thomas
Boys Don't Cry by Caroline Speer
Our 10-minute digital play reading presented as part of our High School Playwriting Project
Featuring: Canali Miller + Joe Skipper
Crossroads by Olivia Rodriguez Smith
Our 10-minute digital play reading presented as part of our High School Playwriting Project
Featuring: Alli Franken + Nate Frederickson
HSPP 2020 Semi-Finalists
Controlling the Controllables by Grant Goodnight
Our 10-minute digital play reading presented as part of our High School Playwriting Project
Featuring: Lee George, Kristen Lazarchick, Nicole Renee Johnson, Jasmine Mesre, Libby Smith
2020 HSPP Finalist Reading Series || TRAILER
Weeping Well - Madisen Barrera, Boswell High School || Teacher: Melissa Wallis
A Sight to See - Mary Caruthers, All Saints’ Episcopal School || Teacher: James Venhaus
When the Cards are Stacked - Abigail McCurdy, Southwest Christian || Teacher: Cyndi Woodward
House Guest - Mati Valadez, Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts || Teacher: Lindy Davis
ABOUT HSPP
Every year, Circle Theatre hosts an annual High School Playwriting Project
to benefit local student playwrights.
The Project begins with annual invitations to area high school teachers to enter 10-minute scripts, written by their students, for evaluation by an experienced panel of theatre peers. These judges read the anonymously-submitted plays, write responses for each script, and Circle adds up the scores to determine the top 20 plays. We then send them to Connie Whitt-Lambert, theatre professor at Texas Wesleyan University. Connie and her team will then conduct their own evaluations and find the top eight plays, four being the finalists, and the other four being semi-finalists. In May, a staged reading of the four finalists' plays is presented, followed by an award ceremony where the semi-finalists and finalists will receive trophies and certificates, along with tickets donated from local professional theatres. This year, we have moved the staged reading online.
