Young Dramatists Uplifts Young Playwrights

June 11th, 2025

Young Dramatists is a program created by the Great Plains Theatre Commons (GPTC) designed to uplift young local playwrights who are just beginning their playwriting journeys. In this program, young playwrights in the area submit their works to be considered for the GPTC conference. One local young playwright is selected each year to have their work featured at the conference. Sofia La Fata Hornillos was the Young Dramatists Featured Playwright for the 2025 GPTC conference, and she shared her experience, stating, “It’s kind of cool because you get to see what the adult playwright world is like.”

At the conference, playwrights have the opportunity to have their plays read, staged, and critiqued by local members of the theatre community. This is especially important for these Young Dramatists as it allows them to refine and polish their craft. Hornillos adds, “You get treated like one of the other adults in the conference… and it’s helpful in the playwriting process.”

The Young Dramatists program fills the gap in playwriting opportunities for high school-aged playwrights, many of whom may not have the chance to present their work in an academic setting. This program in turn has helped cultivate a rich and vibrant community of young voices in the theatre world. Hornillos concludes by saying, “Try everything… If you’re a young person in theatre—or just a young person in general—be open to new experiences because you never know what could help.”

More information about Young Dramatists and the Great Plains Theatre Commons can be found at gptcplay.com.