Thirteenth Annual Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival

Channel Surfing
by Aaron Gordon
Braden River High School, Bradenton

Jim tries to find something good to watch on TV during his lunch break.

Aaron Gordon is a junior at Braden River High School and has been obsessed with theatre and comedy from a young age. He recently was one of the winners of FST’s Write-A-Play contest for his short play Insert Play Name Here, and his thespian troupe recently competed with his original one act play Remember the Darlings! at a district competition. After high school, Aaron wants to study creative writing and theatre.

Filing Errors
by Liam Adeney
 Harrison School for the Arts, Lakeland

A pair of proficient artists want to stop their daughter from following her rebellious dream — becoming an accountant. Her determination forces them to recognize the error of their ways, and they let her submit her application to business college.

Liam Adeney is a junior attending Harrison School for the Arts’ Creative Writing department. He enjoys poetry, scripts—plays, comics, and otherwise—and creating interesting characters in fun, original worlds, which are usually composed of last-minute shower thoughts and internal debate. He also aspires to participate in game design, as a writer and/or concept artist. Filing Errors is his first play to be produced by Theatre Odyssey, and he can’t wait to see how it turns out.

The Gift
by Norah Courtwright
East River High School, Orlando

Genevieve visits a shady psychic for her weekly session, stressed about her boyfriend, but Madam Katrina cares more about holding on to a loyal client. How far will she go to keep her oldest customer?

Norah Courtright is a 15-year-old playwright and theatre student at East River High School. As a junior, she channels her passion for storytelling into creating meaningful works that inspire and bring joy to others. She has written a full-length fiction novel and several other plays as well. A dedicated leader both onstage and off, Norah values collaboration and community, striving to connect with others through her art and leave a lasting impact on those around her.

The Matriarch of 2034
by Rafael Faraci
St. Petersburg High School, St Petersburg

A grandmother with dementia, fully dependent on an intelligent robot, finds herself in conflict with her daughter-in-law because of her alienation with the struggles of the rest of her family. The story explores patriotism, loyalty, family, and the growing influence of technology.

Rafael Faraci is a junior in the St. Petersburg High School IB Program and a proud thespian. As an actor, director, and playwright with over four years of experience, he has authored Revelation, The King’s Play, The Gunpowder Plot, Paloma y Pedro, and other works, many of which have been produced. To him, art is a medium through which we can examine the systems that act around us and reflect on the complex human experience.

A Memory Away
by Patricia Brady
Lake Gibson High School, Lakeland

Months after a school shooting, a mother and daughter grow farther apart as they struggle to find their own peace. When grief holds them back, can they come to terms with the truth and move away from the past?

Patricia Brady — “I’m a senior at Lake Gibson High School. I’ve has taken a playwriting class for two years with my teacher Greg Burdick, who has taught me all I’ve needed to know to get where I am now. I made it to county and superlatives for my play A Memory Away, the first play I’ve ever written. I thrive to be a writer who impacts others with my work.”

Stay Wild, Moon Child
by Delaney Lockwood
Venice High School

As they read together, a young woman finds herself challenged by a child’s vivid and outside-the-box interpretation of fairy tales. Through storytelling, they discover more about each other and how to stay true to yourself amid the pressures and expectations of society.

Delaney Lockwood is a sophomore at Venice High School and honored to have a play selected again. She was the recipient of last year’s Verna Safran Prize. Delaney also performs in community and school theatre. Favorite Roles: Beth in Little Women: The Broadway Musical (Sarasota Players), Dainty June in Gypsy: A Musical Fable (Venice Theatre) and Emily Webb in Our Town (VHS). She especially thanks Theatre Odyssey for providing opportunities for young playwrights. 

Three P’s in a Pod
by Seamus Kehoe
Homeschooled, Venice

There is a mystery in the palace and the distinguished Wilbert Holmes is determined to get to the bottom of it. A Princess, a Pirate, and a Pastry Chef have fallen under suspicion for committing an egregious act against the King. What do these Three P’s in a Pod have to say for themselves?

Seamus Kehoe is a Junior home-schooled playwright with a passion for humor and storytelling. This marks his third consecutive selection for Theatre Odyssey, where he placed as Runner-Up once before. He is grateful to Preston Boyd for encouraging him to write plays, to Venice Theatre for a decade of fun classes, to his family and friends for their support, to his mom for helping him stay on track with deadlines and goals, and everyone at Theatre Odyssey for their enthusiasm and for making all of this possible. He is honored to see Three P’s in a Pod performed and can’t wait to see what the clever actors, wise director, and resourceful backstage helpers do to bring it to life.

Two Lines Later
by Ashley Black
Saint Stephen’s Episcopal High School, Bradenton

Struggling because her husband left her after multiple failed IVF treatments, Clara is consoled by her best friend, realizing that a better future without him does not mean that she is alone.

Ashley Black is a senior in high school who loves theater, storytelling, and performing. Along with her love for the arts, she’s the captain of her school’s Olympic weightlifting team. She also loves spending time with her family and her amazing friend group, the Cabin Crew. Whether on stage, in the gym, or with loved ones, Ashley enjoys every moment.

Season Presenter

Season Presenter

Season Presenter

Season Presenter