The creative talents of North Royalton Middle School students are shining brightly on the stage of the prestigious Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival, hosted by Dobama Theatre. Under the guidance of teachers Tim Anderson and Cathy Drescher, students from grades 5-8 have been honing their playwriting skills, and this year's results are truly remarkable.
Out of the 24 winning plays selected this year, North Royalton Middle School can proudly claim eight student winners. "We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible creativity and storytelling abilities of our students," said Principal Erin Calabrese. "They put themselves and their work out there to be judged. That takes a lot of courage, and I couldn’t be more proud of our kids."
Four of the winning plays - "The Lemmings" by Katie Scheff, "Lunar Collision" by Thomas Richards, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Sachi Shah and “Pablo Palmer and the Purple Portal” by Timothy Denysyuk - have been chosen to be produced and performed on the Dobama Theatre stage during the 46th Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival Performances from June 7-9.
"This is an extraordinary achievement for these young writers," said Drescher. "Their plays stood out among a highly competitive field, showcasing their exceptional talent and imagination."
“Telling a story, even a short 10-minute play, using only dialogue is very difficult. It’s very fun to watch how this challenge can spark their creativity,” said Anderson.
“When these students and families attend the performances at Dobama Theatre, they get to see their creative masterpieces come to life. Characters take shape and the words written by the students are spoken on stage. It’s magical, and it becomes a memory that the students do not forget,” said Mrs. Drescher.
The other North Royalton Middle School student winners include Katherine Sheeran, Rithvik Prakash, Sophie Tomaszewska, and Avighn Asur. Their plays, along with the four selected for production, demonstrate the depth of creative writing at the school.
"We are incredibly proud of our students and the dedication of our teachers, Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Drescher, who have consistently encouraged and fostered their playwriting skills," said Calabrese. "This recognition is a testament to the excellent education and opportunities available at North Royalton Middle School."