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Bennett Kirschner is state winner
(by Kathryn A. Burger - May 14, 2008)
The New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest draws entries from across the state. Elementary, middle and high school students compete in their respective categories for the opportunity to have their work performed in a staged professional reading at the annual New Jersey Young Playwrights Festival, held at
Kean
University .
All those who submit plays for the competition are provided with detailed feedback from theater professionals abut their plays. Through a series of rounds, a team of readers selects plays from each division to be named as statewide winners. Winners receive a staged reading at
Kean
University by professional actors and directors.
This year, one of only four statewide winners in the high school category is Bennett Kirshner of Montvale. He attends the
Academy of
Visual and Performing Arts at the Bergen County Academies,
Hackensack . His play, “Sorry, Allie,” is described by the festival as follows: “If you like ‘The Catcher in the
Rye ,’ you will like ‘Sorry, Allie.’ And as much as Bennett captures the angst of today’s youth, he also captures what is timeless about the human condition.”
Brianna Delfs, of Hillsdale, a classmate of Kirschner’s, earned an Honorable Mention in the same category. Her play, “Some People Never Go Crazy (What Truly Horrible Lives they Must Lead)” is described as follows: “This one-act would make Beckett and Pinter proud. As her characters ponder the meaning of quite, this play is anything but.”
The festival is held over two days – Monday and Tuesday, May 19 and 20 – at Premier Stages, the professional theater in residence at
Kean
University . Elementary and middle school winners will have staged readings on Monday; the high school winners on Tuesday, beginning at 10 a.m.
The festival is open to the public and is held during school hours; school groups are encouraged to attend. Admission is free but reservations are required. To make a reservation, call 908-737-SHOW (7469). For further information about the festival, contact Liz Coen, producing associate at Premiere Stages at 908-737-4092.
Kean
University is located at 1000 Morris Ave.,
Union.
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