For additional information on DTC's Delaware Young Playwright's Festival, please contact:
Allyson Sands, Director of Learning and Community Outreach
DELAWARE YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL 2025-2026
2025-2026 DYPF Theme:
Human decency doesn't require recognition – it simply requires action
"I don't need a medal for human decency."
— Adriana from GLORY RIDE*
*Book by Victoria and Todd Buchholz, Lyrics by Victoria Buchholz
IMPORTANT DATES for 2025-2026
Monday, Sept. 29 - Registrations due
email DYPF@delawaretheatre.org or call the box office at 302-594-1100
Wednesday, Oct. 1 - Zoom kickoff workshop for teachers and students, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (Register by 9/29 to receive the Zoom link.)
Friday, Nov. 7 - First round plays due to DTC
Friday, Dec. 5 - DTC returns Round 1 critique to playwrights
Friday, Jan. 9 - Competition round plays due to DTC
Friday, Feb. 13 - Finalist plays/playwrights announced
Saturday Workshops (finalist playwrights, directors, artists):
March 14, March 21, March 28
Thursday, May 2 - DYPF Performance, 7:00 PM
Delaware Theatre Company is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 DYPF Finalists and Honorable Mentions.
The 2024-2025 DYPF Finalists:
Home Shelf by Spencer Camlin, Sussex Central High School
Lines in the Sand by Joey-Christina Werts, Cab Calloway School of the Arts
Salem by Emily Howard, Charter School of Wilmington
The Everything Store by Ahshira Wilson, St. Elizabeth High School
Voices Unheard by Darby Ann Tisdel, MOT Charter High School
Honorable Mentions:
The Oncoming Fight by Paul White, Charter School of Wilmington
The Unraveling by Aidan Reagan, Cab Calloway School of the Arts
Unlucky Passing by Elias Olvera, Cape Henlopen High School
Hind n' Bind by Adrien Kinderman, MOT Charter School
A Retirement's Retirement by Samuel Obilie Mante, William Penn High School
Congratulations to these playwrights, and to all who participated in this year's DYPF! Thank you and your students for your participation in this year's DYPF-
we were thrilled with the level of interest and the exciting content of the plays!
2025 DYPF Winners on Performance Night
L to R: Spencer Camlin, Ahshira Wilson, Emily Howard, Joey-Christina Werts, Darby Ann Tisdel
2025 DYPF Winners
L to R: Darby Ann Tisdel, Ahshira Wilson, Spencer Camlin, Joe-Christina Werts, Emily Howard
DYPF Honorable Mentions
L to R: Paul White, Adrien Kinderman
(not pictured: Aidan Reagan, Elias Olvera, Samuel Obilie Mante)
The Delaware Young Playwrights Festival at Delaware Theatre Company helps students develop their voices through playwriting. Through workshops, mentorship, and performance opportunities, the program gives young writers real-world experience and support. DYPF strengthens writing skills, builds confidence, and encourages students to express their ideas clearly and purposefully. We support teachers and students in exploring storytelling and highlight the value of youth perspectives through the process of creating and sharing original work.
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I would absolutely suggest this program to other playwrights, as this experience has helped me to gain more insight into the process of writing, and what to keep in mind while developing characters and plots. This opportunity is a great chance to get to learn more about further analyzation of your stories. Getting to see it live in front of you, with the way that actors portray the characters, gives you, as the writer, a different take on who they can become through the actor's abilities.”
– Jordan, student playwright, Aquinas Academy
DYPF is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.