Call for Nominations for the
Deborah Salzer Excellence in Arts Education Award

Can you name a teacher who touched your life?  For many of us that magical connection to learning was inspired by an arts educator.  Thousands of students in San Diego can credit their “Voila!” moment to Playwrights Project’s founder Deborah Salzer. 

 To celebrate the work of educators who have touched the lives of our youth, we are requesting nominations for the second annual Deborah Salzer Excellence in Arts Education Award.  We need your help in identifying the deserving people who have made an impact in arts education in our community. 

The Deborah Salzer Excellence in Arts Education Award, recognizing outstanding achievement in the field of arts education, will be presented on November 7, 2009 during Lights Up! Playwrights Take the Stage at The Neurosciences Institute in La Jolla.  The event will also include a performance of the Playwrights Project’s touring production and the announcement of the winners of our annual California Young Playwrights Contest, whose plays will be produced in the 25th season of Plays by Young Writers in February 2010.

Please complete the Nomination Form, which must be postmarked or delivered to Playwrights Project by July 1, 2009.  A jury of educators and theatre professionals selected by Playwrights Project’s Founders Circle by will determine the award winner. Thank you for your part in bringing the arts to the San Diego community.

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Playwrights Project on YouTube

In this 3 minute video you can see what Playwrights Project is about. The video gives you an opportunity to see our programs in action. We have samples of our Plays by Young Writers festival, WINS touring production, and photographs of our wonderful teaching artists in the classroom.

Click here to watch

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Telling Stories: Giving a Voice to Foster Youth

Thanks to The San Diego Foundation, foster youth in San Diego are shaping their real life experiences into theatre in
Telling Stories, a program created by Playwrights Project, in collaboration with LEAP (Leadership Empowers All Possibilities), a program of San Diego Foster Youth Initiative. Click on the title above to download a PDF and read all about it.

Contact Playwrights Project if you are interested in joining us for a performance and discussion of Files, our first Telling Stories script, dramatizing the real life stories of four amazing young women and their experiences in the foster care system.

Tuesday, June 23 at 10:00 AM

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California Young Playwrights Contest

Deadline June 1, 2009

All Californians under the age of 19 are eligible to enter our playwriting contest. For more information click here: Contest.

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Donor Corner

We appreciate the support of each and everyone of our donors. Visit our Donor Corner for a listing of the phenomenal individuals and organizations who make our programs possible. Read the latest news about our current funding successes, including The San Diego Foundation's support of our newest program initiative Telling Stories: Giving Voice to Foster Youth.

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Playwrights Project In Action

Watch a 3-minute video of our programs for at risk youth
Our thanks to CTN and Joe Solazzo for the opening images of Step by Step and interview with James Monroe.

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Playwrights Project - Other News

Playwrights Project bids a fond farewell to Maria Glanz, Artistic Director from October 2007 through January 2009. Maria and her family have returned to Seattle, their home of many years. We thank Maria for her artistic talents, dedicated work, and infectious laughter. Click here for Pam Kragen's coverage in the North County Times.

A North County Times article by Stacy Brandt features one of our playwriting programs at an elementary school in Encinitas. The program was made possible by the Community Grant Program of the City of Encinitas and a Community Projects Grant from the County of San Diego, thanks to Pam Slater Price. Click here to read the article: Ocean Knoll students watch plays come to life: Program aims to build writing skills and confidence.

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Plotline Newsletters

Download our past Plotline newsletters

Plotline January 2008

• A review of our touring production Lifted
• Info on our last Plays By Young Writers
• SEEDS playwriting program links theater arts to the humanities
• Directly Speaking from Board President Gwyn Enright

Plotline Spring 2007

• Shop Talk with Edward Albee (includes insights from Annie Weisman)
• At-risk Teens Take Risks: A snapshot of three playwriting programs
• Are We Raising Barbarians? A chat with Superintendent Carl Cohn
• Directly Speaking from Board President Karen Ladner

Playwrights Project promotes literacy, communication skills and creativity through drama-based programs
with an emphasis on inspiring youth and seniors.

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