Our campaign for P.L.A.Y. (Philadelphia Local Artists for Youth) is an ongoing initiative by Plays & Players. Through P.L.A.Y., we aim to create new works to inspire young audiences, and to introduce a new generation to theatre.
But wait… What is P.L.A.Y. ?
Philadelphia Local Artists for Youth (P.L.A.Y.) is a new yearly series aimed at introducing young audiences to the power of live theater. P.L.A.Y. seeks to respect the artistic judgment and aesthetic of a young person, and invites them to participate in the magic of the theatrical experience, creating an interactive live performance.
What were the previous P.L.A.Y.’s?
We have had 2 P.L.A.Y.s before, both of which we are very proud of.
Jennifer MacMillan as Jenn in Dream House: A Rainy Day Play
2014-15 P.L.A.Y.: Dream House: A Rainy Day Play
Written by Philadelphia playwright Jeremy Gable (Core Playwright at InterAct Theatre, member of The Foundry: A Philadelphia Emerging Playwright’s Lab) and directed by Philadelphia director and Jack Tamburri (Yale MFA graduate), the story follows Jenn, who was played by Jennifer MacMillan (Director of Education at White Pines Place, winner of the first 2014 “Are Women Funny” new play competition), as she returns to the old Philadelphia house that she grew up in. With a thunderstorm coming, and the memories of the house haunting her, can she learn to use her imagination to fight her grown-up fears?
Tess Kunik as Fox in Delaware Mudtub and the Mighty Wumpum
2013-14 P.L.A.Y.: Delaware Mudtub and
the Mighty Wumpum
Written by Greg Romero (alum of WordBRIDGE Playwrights Laboratory, former resident writer of the ArtsEdge Residency) and directed by Candace Cihocki (Flashpoint Theatre Company Manager), the story explores mythic animals local to the Philadelphia region. Turtle carries the world on her back, leading us into the performance space, taken over by nature. Fox stares back at us, her smile unveiling her sharp teeth. Silent, determined, the Great Blue Heron enters, searching. Otters Earle and Pearl, brother and sister, raft together, drifting with the current of the Delaware River. The ground vibrates, the wolf’s howls grow closer, the moon’s reflection sings a lullaby, and the animals must survive the land and each other.
How much do you exactly need?
As much money as we can raise! Our hope is not only to raise enough money to fund future iterations of P.L.A.Y., but also to be able to bring in children to see the show who, because of financial hardships, cannot afford to do so on their own, nor may not have the opportunity to see theatre in their own schools. Please help us encourage our youth to love theatre, and, most importantly, to play.