The newest additions to the F.A.A.M.E. Arts-in-Education Program are the Young Playwrights Unit (YPU) and the ”Young Voices, New Visions” Play Fest.  Members of the Young Playwrights Unit create theatre for and about themselves by finding their own voices and exploring their unique visions during ten exciting workshop sessions.  The 2009 Young Playwright’s Unit consisted of a group of elementary school students (Kindergarten—5th) who created 9 new short plays written by 10 playwrights.
     Four of the new short plays received a world premiere in the Young Voices, New Visions Play Fest '09 during the Woodland Ensemble Company Season. These works-in-progress are published in the Young Voices, New Visions Anthology (Vol. 1).  They are GLASSES by Charlene Brown, Grade 5 (Atlanta, GA); MY MOTHER, MY TEACHER by Aishwarya Chander, Grade 6 (India); 70s FRIENDS by Michae Jone (New Orleans, LA) Grade 5; and JAZZ AGE by Karina Norton, Grade 6 (Atlanta, GA).
     In an effort to meet the needs of both elementary and middle school students, F.A.A.M.E. ARTS Young Voices, New Visions Playfest 2010 is now accepting new short plays written by young people from around the world, grades 3rd-8th.  The play must be submitted by a teacher or parent/guardian.  5-10 playwrights will be accepted into the 2010 Young Playwrights Unit to compete for a mainstage production in the Fall. They will receive free dramaturgical support during workshops held on Woodland's campus in Sandy Springs or via e-mail. 

To help interested students get started with the writing process, F.A.A.M.E. ARTS is offering an afterschool playwriting workshop, "BE A PLAYWRIGHT." To register on-line click on "Classes" page.  Taught by a professional playwright, this 4-session 2-hour class will introduce the aspiring playwright to dramatic play structure with a focus on crafting great characters with plausible plots.  Class size is limited.

2010 YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS UNIT SCRIPT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
 
10-minute plays that have not had productions in the US are preferred, but one-acts (20 page max.) will be considered.  Use of the narrator is discouraged.  Profanity and obscenity is prohibited.  If your work was presented in YOUNG VOICES, NEW VISIONS Playfest 2009, we ask that you kindly wait until next year to submit a play. Due to the volume of plays we receive, only one script submission per author will be considered; if more than one script is sent, neither will be considered.  All scripts must be submitted in English.  In addition to the play, all submissions must include: contact information, a brief synopsis of the play, and a character breakdown.  Please note that we are unable to consider any submissions that do not include all these materials.

Submit script electronically by e-mail to youngplaywrightsfaame@gmail.com
Deadline:  February 1, 2010 (12:00 p.m.)
Notification:  Selected playwrights will be contacted by February 15th 
Due to limited resources, F.A.A.M.E. Arts CANNOT cover the cost of travel or housing for selected playwrights.*

For more info contact:  Pamela-Faith Jackson*, Dramaturg/Producing Director

* Pamela-Faith Jackson is co-founder of F.A.A.M.E. ARTS, LLC and editor of Black Comedy:  9 Plays-A Critical Anthology With Interviews and Essays.  Her training includes a B.A. Drama, Spelman College; M.F.A. Dramaturgy/Criticism, Columbia University,; M.Ed. Early Childhood Education, Georgia State University; and Talented and Gifted Certification.