Ditmas Park Teenagers Accepted into Strawberry One Act Play Festival

Two local teenagers will get the chance to compete in the Strawberry One Act Play Festival, an off-broadway competition that rewards the playwright of the winning play $1,500 and the opportunity to have a full-length play developed by the Riant.

When Ditmas Park resident Rachel Wagner, 16, read an ad in Backstage magazine for a playwriting competition, she instantly knew she had to enter.

The one-act play she wrote, entitled "Kids These Days," focuses on the issues teenagers deal with today and how their problems are constantly negated by society. "In school we learned how to do arithmetic and dissect a sheep's brain, but not how deal with our problems," she said.

The play, which is her first, highlights a subject matter very close to Wagner. "I wrote for six hours straight," the teenage actress and writer said. "The play is centered around teenagers but appeals to anyone who feels they haven't been heard."  

"When I was accepted into the festival, the first person I thought of [to work with] was Ashley."

Wagner and fellow actress and Ditmas Park resident Ashley Stjuliette, 17, met a year ago at a summer camp for the arts and have have been inseparable ever since.  Stjuliette immediately agreed to come aboard as co-director and the pair got to work.

So far, five of the six roles have been cast and rehearsals are set to begin soon. Fundraising has also got off to a slow but steady start. "[Fundraising] has been slower than I would like it to be," Stjuliette said. "It's hard to get the word out."

The festival requires a $300 entrance fee, and the pair would like to raise funds to be able to rent studio space, purchase props and begin set design, as well as to provide some form of compensation for the actors.

The pair has set a goal to raise $2,700, and so far have raised $385, according to their fundraising website. Those interested can head to the website to donate.

The festival will be held on August 3 at The Theater at St. Clements on West 46 Street in Manhattan. "Kids These Days" will be hosted with two other plays and after the shows conclude, the audience and judges get to vote on who advances to the next round.

"I want to advance, and I want teenagers to see it and be inspired because it is a little unusual that we're so young," Stjuliette said. "I want teenagers to see it [and realize] they can do whatever they want to do."