The Young Playwrights Program (YPP) is ACT Theatre's flagship arts residency program. Since 2002, YPP has paired professional playwrights and theater artists with classroom teachers to engage middle and high school students into a deep, creative exploration of identity, the world we live in, and artistic voice. By the end of a YPP residency, each student develops an original, one-act play.
YPP aligns with Washington State Learning Standards for the Arts, English Language Arts Learning Standards, and 21st Century Skills development. Additionally, YPP provides support to students as they develop a creative cohort in the classroom that values creative risk-taking, self-expression, and a sense of belonging.
Often school partners showcase finished YPP plays during in-school assemblies or evening presentations, performed and/or directed by peers. Other plays are selected for the Young Playwrights Festival at ACT Theatre each spring.
