The Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center held its inaugural Bucks County Young Playwrights Festival with a workshop presentation of two short plays written by local high school students: “The Family Dinner” by Alexandria Hutton (Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts) and “Amidst a Ferry Halt” by Edward Baniak IV (Quakertown Community High School). The staged readings were performed on April 11 at the James-Lorah Memorial Auditorium in Doylestown in front of an audience of friends and family members by eight actors: Christina Breeman, John Giordano, Logan Greineder, Isabella Kirby, Adriana Liberti, Kristin McGee, Amanda Romig, and Mathew Sudnick.
The Bucks County Young Playwrights Festival is a new initiative celebrating student voices and the power of dramatic storytelling. The program is inspired by the mentorship legacy of Oscar Hammerstein II and Stephen Sondheim at Highland Farm, and is made possible through the support of PECO, Team Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Creative Industries.
“I’m excited to support two talented local teen playwrights through this program,” said Dr. Jim DeVivo, Hammerstein Museum Board member and Director of the festival. “My own career began with a similar opportunity over 20 years ago, showing me how vital it is to amplify young voices. Bringing in college actors to read their work continues a tradition of mentorship inspired by Oscar Hammerstein and Stephen Sondheim—one we’re proud to carry forward through this program.”
At the conclusion of the performances, the Oscar Hammerstein Museum & Theatre Education Center announced that submissions for the 2026 International Youth Solo Contest will open online on May 1. Details can be found online at HammersteinMuseum.org. Last year’s winners hailed from Pennsylvania, Virginia and Thailand!
