HYPE 2010

The Houston Young Playwrights Exchange is a program which showcases scripts written by Houston teenagers.  Over 160 students submitted 10-minute plays this year.  After a process of evaluation and interviews, six scripts have been selected for HYPE 2010.  These six playwrights will continue to work on their scripts throughout the summer under the guidance of experienced mentors.  In August, we’ll present the finished product in a weekend of staged readings.

Please join us to enjoy the work of these talented teens:

Performances:
Friday, August 13, 7:30pm
Saturday, August 14, 7:30pm
Sunday, August 15, 2:30pm

Hubbard Stage, Alley Theatre
Tickets $5

Here’s this year’s line-up of plays:

First Date Trauma
by Nick Doolan, 18
A young man is going on his first date, but his overly helpful mother might create more problems than she solves for the nervous kids.

Nick Doolan recently graduated from Carnegie Vanguard High School and is on his way to Sarah Lawrence College, where he will study theatre, particularly playwriting. His inspiration for the play came from the humor in everyday experiences. He wants his audience to be able to look at life and laugh at it and to learn to take things less seriously.

The Internet Party
by Loden Cullar-Ledford, 16
A new internet user gets a first-hand encounter with the strange ways of the web.

Loden Cullar-Ledford is a rising junior at Carnegie Vanguard High School.

The Mana Flower
by Kim Blacknall, 16
In the celestial world of the Mana goddess, a young star has come of age, and he must complete a quest on Earth to take his place in the sky.

Kim Blacknall will be a junior next year at Clear Lake High School. She wants to stay in Texas for college to study Marine Biology and writing. Her play started in the style of Japanese manga, developing into something more theatrical for HYPE. Because she is so entertained by the experience of writing, she wants her audience to share her love of plays and stories.

Put the Tiger in the Freezer
by Kolean Gudalj, 16
When a young woman volunteers at a senior center, she gets more than she bargained for from a rambunctious resident.

Kolean Gudalj is a rising junior at Cypress Ranch High School. Her future pursuits are in film, in the fields of writing, directing, and acting. The play was inspired by family life, especially Kolean’s grandparents. It’s a play that should, first and foremost, make people laugh. The audience will connect to the relationship of young and old.

Shadows in the Mist
by Christian Cortes, 13
In 16th century Japan, a young Samurai’s unorthodox beliefs lead to a crisis for him and his father.

Christian Cortes is going into eighth grade at Johnston Middle School and hopes to continue his study of theatre. Writing his play, he was inspired by the Japanese tradition of seppuku; this, combined with his love for Greek mythology, spawned the play. His goal in presenting this piece is to spread acceptance and open-mindedness of different or unusual ideas.

Tide
by Barrett White, 17
In the fury of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, a dying mother attempts to settle both her grand estate and her quarreling family.

Barrett White is a recent graduate of Morton Ranch High School and will be attending Baylor University next year, where he will study Theatre, Business, and Pre-Law. His piece came from research on Houston history, inspired particularly by the 1900 hurricane memorial. The play is a piece of history seen through the lens of human drama. 

Click on these links to learn more about the plays selected in recent years.
HYPE Staged Readings 2009

HYPE Staged Readings 2008

Click here for HYPE frequently asked questions.

Check back in September for next year’s submission information!

Still have questions? Contact robk@alleytheatre.org