Marilyn Bianchi Kids Playwriting Festival This Weekend At Dobama Theatre

The Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival will celebrate its 35th year with student performances this weekend at Dobama Theatre.

Hundreds of students across Northeast Ohio, from first graders to high school seniors, submit their plays in the annual competition, the first of its kind in the nation.

The weekend festivities will kick off Friday night with an opening night benefit. Tickets to the event are $25 and can be purchased online.

Student plays will be performed on Saturday and Sunday, and admission is free.

More information about the festival can be found at the Dobama Theatre website.

The plays to be performed will be a selection of the winners listed below: 

• “The Secret Willow Tree” by Genevieve Kootsourdis, Grade 3, Richmond Heights Elementary

• “The Lucky Charm” by Ashley Holbrook, Grade 3, Richmond Heights Elementary

• “If You Dream, You Can Accomplish” by Hannah Bolender, Grade 4, Lomond Elementary

• “The Pie Thief”by David Cooney, Grade 5, North Royalton Middle School

• “Hidden” by Paige Roesch, Grade 5, North Royalton Middle School

• “The Big Brain Chess Match” by Maya Sklarin, Grade 5, Laurel School

• “Locked In” by Cassandra Lis, Grade 6, North Royalton Middle School

• “Poseidon I” by Gerald Mastellone, Grade 6, North Royalton Middle School

• “Veggie King” by Stefan Rakic, Grade 7, North Royalton Middle School

• “A Store in the Mall” by Carly Chester, Grade 8, North Royalton Middle School

• “1324 Sunshore Blvd” by Evan Neczypor, Grade 8, North Roylton Middle School

• “Deranged” by Ashley Davis, Grade 8, Lake Erie Ink

• “Anomalous” by Mary Powell, Grade 8, Forest Park Middle School

• “The Amber of This Moment” by Delaney Kelly, Grade 9, North Royalton High School

• “21 Years” by Elena Joyce, Grade 10, Berea High School

• “Broken Promises” by Katharine Zavagno, Grade 11, Gilmour Academy

• “The Art of Kleptomechanics” by Mara Schoch, Grade 12, Shaker Heights High School

• “The Dating Service” by Malik Bailey, Grade 12, Cleveland School of the Arts

• “Cat and Mouse” by Eli Millette, Grade 12, Shaker Heights High School

• “Forbidden Fruit” by William Gyurgyik, Grade 12, Shaker Heights High School