Play/Write
Click on the menu below to learn more about the Play/Write program this year and in the past.
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ABOUT PLAY/WRITE
2023 - 24
PRESS
SHOWCASES of the PAST
The 2023-24 Play/Write program is made possible by the generous support of the Meraux Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New Orleans Theatre Association. It is also supported by the Ruth U. Fertel Foundation, the Pavy-Deblois Foundation, the Starseed Foundation, and the New Orleans Recreation & Culture Fund. Play/Write is also made possible by a contribution from the City of New Orleans Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy and a Community Arts Grant made possible by the City of New Orleans and administered by the Arts Council New Orleans, as well as by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency.
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ABOUT PLAY/WRITE
Check out this video made by Bruce France Media that features the 2022 - 23 Play/Write program!
Ms. Richon teaches at St. Mary’s Academy during the 2022 - 23 Play/Write program.
Play/Write began in January of 2010 and is inspired by youth playwriting programs around the country (WiseWrite in St. Louis, The 52nd Street Project in NYC, the Manton Avenue Project in Providence).
The program is the recipient of the 2017 Monte Meacham Award from the American Alliance for Theatre & Education
and the 2018 Arts Education Award from the Foundation for Entertainment, Development and Education.
Students at St. Mary's Academy in the 2017 - 18 Play/Write program.
The goals of Play/Write are three fold:
1. To create skill and passion for writing.
2. To foster creative thinking.
3. To introduce students to theatre as an art form, and create a lifelong interest in the arts.
GRP’s Play/Write program has two main components:
1. Yearlong playwriting classes during which GRP teaching artists work with fifth and sixth grade students on playwriting and performance. Each student writes many original plays, and chooses one to be edited and expanded into a full length play, which is published by GRP.
2. A performance Showcase featuring 10 - 14 student-written plays presented by professional theatre and dance companies at Dillard University's Cook Theatre. There are two performances: one in the daytime when students attend on a field trip, and an evening show that is open to the public.
Success Preparatory Academy students in the 2016 - 17 program.
Play/Write classes have been hosted by nine New Orleans schools:
- Bethune Elementary
- Homer A. Plessy Community School
- NOLA MicroSchools
- Renew Cultural Arts Academy
- St. Mary’s Academy
- Success Preparatory Academy
- The International School of Louisiana
- Young Audiences Charter School
- Warren Easton Charter High School
(schools in bold have current Play/Write programs)
In the fall of 2022, we began conducting Play/Write in St. Bernard Parish, working in these six schools:
Arabi Elementary -- Arlene Meraux Elementary -- Chalmette ElementaryJF Gauthier Elementary -- Joseph Davies Elementary -- Lacoste Elementary
Play/Write has been lucky to benefit from the artistic talent of many New Orleans-based theatre companies in the Showcase performances:
Cripple Creek Theatre
Skin Horse Theater
Dillard Players perform A Pencil and Eraser Story by Brycen Punch.
Intramural Theater performs The Government by Bryce Castine.
A student from Young Audiences dons a costume for performance time.
GRP’s Play/Write curriculum is based on the idea that students learn from doing. It combines theatre activities – games, improvised scenes, students staging short works – with lessons on writing – exploration of dramatic conflict, believable dialogue, and developing a plot map.
During the 20-week Play/Write residency, each student in the program writes a short play that demonstrates mastery of Common Core writing standards. The teaching artists lead students through the playwriting process: prewriting and drafting, individual and group conferences, revisions, and finally, publication.
In addition to attending the Showcase at the end of the program, each student receives a bound copy of his/her very own play, typed, formatted and printed in professional script format.
Please contact Mary at mary@goatintheroadproductions.org for more information about Play/Write.
The 2023-24 Play/Write program is made possible by the generous support of the Meraux Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New Orleans Theatre Association. It is also supported by the Ruth U. Fertel Foundation, the Pavy-Deblois Foundation, the Starseed Foundation, and the New Orleans Recreation & Culture Fund. Play/Write is also made possible by a contribution from the City of New Orleans Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy and a Community Arts Grant made possible by the City of New Orleans and administered by the Arts Council New Orleans, as well as by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency.BACK TO THE TOP
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PRESS
“Written by NOLA 10-year-olds: The Play/Write Showcase”, WGNO, May 11, 2023
"Kids' Words Take the Stage with Goat in the Road Productions", Mary Rickard, NolaVie, May 24, 2018
"Goat in the Road and Play/Write", Rob Florence, The Dramatist, June 4, 2017
"Goat in the Road and Dillard University introduce young playwrights", Sue Strachan, www.nola.com, May 17, 2017
"Acting Up in the Play/Write Showcase", Sue Strachan, The Times Picayune, May 16, 2015
"Students in Goat in the Road's Play/Write Showcase Speak Up", Chelsea Lee, NolaVie, May 6, 2015
"Pros Perform Student Works", Katie Walenter, The Advocate, June 5, 2013
“Students Bring Work to Life Through Theater“, Leigh Ann Stuart, Times Picayune, May 27, 2012
“GRP’s ‘Play/Write’ Puts Student Writers in Spotlight“, Francesca McKenzie, Cripple Creek Theatre Co. Blog, May 7, 2012
BACK TO THE TOP
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SHOWCASES OF THE PAST
Last year’s Orleans Showcase was presented by Goat in the Road and the Theatre UNO
New Orleans Play/Write Showcase
Monday, May 15 & Tuesday, May 16 at 7 pm
University of New Orleans’ Robert E. Nims Theatre
(2000 Lakeshore Dr.)
FREE! Family-friendly!
Reservations are suggested
At the Showcase, sixteen plays written by fifth and six-grade students from the Greater New Orleans area will be performed by local theatre companies.
These companies’ adult performers will bring the students’ words from the page to the stage, celebrating the creativity of all 150 students involved in the Play/Write program this year.
Photos by Josh Brasted.
Each night a unique program!
Monday, May 15
8 plays from St. Mary’s Academy, Success at Thurgood Marshall, and the International School of LA
Performed by
Dancing Grounds & KM Dance Project
Intramural Theater
Loyola University Department of Theatre Arts & Dance
The NOLA Project
Tuesday, May 16
8 plays from Young Audiences Charter School - Kate Middleton & Lawrence D. Crocker campuses
Performed by
Ashé Cultural Arts Center
Blue Light Underground Ensemble
Goat in the Road
Jessica Podewell from Tulane University Department of Theatre & Dance
St. Bernard Play/Write Showcase
Wednesday, April 19 at 7 pm
Nunez Community College Auditorium
(3710 Paris Rd., Chalmette, LA)
FREE! Family-friendly!
Reservations are suggested
At the Showcase, eight plays written by fifth-grade students from St. Bernard Parish Public Schools will be performed by local theatre companies.
The Play/Write performance groups are:
Goat in The Road -- Prescription Joy -- Coffee House Players
These companies’ adult performers will bring the students’ words from the page to the stage, celebrating the creativity of all 150 students involved in the Play/Write program this year.
Photos by Christy Cusimano & Andrew Alwert.
The 2021 - 22 Play/Write Showcase took place on August 29 & 30, 2022 at UNO’s Robert E. Nims Theatre.
16 STUDENT PLAYS FROM
St. Mary's Academy
The International School of Louisiana
Young Audiences Charter School -
Kate Middleton & Lawrence D. Crocker Campuses
PRESENTED BY
Beaubourg Theatre
Goat in the Road
Intramural Theater
KM Dance Project & Dancing Grounds
Maggie Tonra Presents
Prescription Joy
Photos by Josh Brasted.