The Writeopia Lab festival includes plays written in workshops at Writopia’s labs across the country and plays submitted to the competition from playwrights around the world! Comedies, musicals, monologues, historical dramas, tear-jerkers, and thought pieces — all written by the talented young playwrights of tomorrow.

Wednesday, May 1 at 6 PM
Magic! Mayhem! Machines!
A magical machine is spitting out animals into the neighborhood while a burglar is stealing a dog from the bodega--and will those teachers ever stop chattering away during a service at the synagogue? This night of hilarious and poignant theater was written by elementary schoolers!

The Mixed-Up Friends, Written by Sofia Rusconi, age 8
The Dognapper in the Deli, Written by Emiliano Dietrich-Jiménez, age 9
The Temple of Talk, Written by Jaden Jacoby-Cooper, age 12

Wednesday, May 1 at 8 PM
Teens speaking truth to power, teens learning the truth from their elders, and one teen finally getting the truth from her father in this night of poignant, political, and powerful theater written by teens!

Summer Come Fall, Written by Elizabeth Prishchepova, age 17
Questions, Written by Ryen Jones, age 14
Our Voice, Written by Macy Li, age 13

Thursday, May 2 at 6 PM
Little kids explore their gender roles, Bat Mitzvah students argue with their Rabbi, and a bodega owner grieves the loss of a customer and his neighborhood in this evening of insightful theater written by teens,challenging the status quo around every corner of the neighborhood.

Saving Boxlandia, Written by Sophie Nadel, age 18
Abby, Written by Yainie Gallego, age 16
Kol Nidre, Written by Sarah Senese, age 17

Thursday, May 2 at 8 PM
A young woman prays in a church to sail away while a newly wed couple argues about waiting in line for the best pizza ever, and an altercation in a bodega with racist undertones is replayed over and over with variations, all in a night of theater written by teens that showcases the cycles we can get trapped in and what it takes to break free.

Two Hours, Written by Lola Simon, age 16
Racism in a World, Written by Nasser
Chasing after her internal desire, Written by Amen Dilawar, age 13

Friday, May 3 at 6 PM
Have you ever had a neighbor down the hall who you didn't like? Or have you wanted to be hired at the bodega but do it in a disguise? Or, was there ever a dark secret from your family's past unlocked by a fairy during your synagogue's Purim carnival? This hysterical night of theater was written by elementary schoolers and directed, stage managed, and performed by BFA conservatory students of The New School for the Performing Arts!

The Neighbors Who Could Never Get Along, Written by Manas Chan, age 11
Costume Change, Written by Julia Barney, age 10
Flowers & Murders Written by Maxanne Wallace-Segall, age 10

Friday, May 3 at 8 PM
An impatient customer learns to slow down, some elevator- trapped teens from different backgrounds work out their parents' disputes, another family comes to terms with a mother's addiction, and a playwright struggles to keep his play to the 8-minute guideline. This powerful and poignant night of theater focuses on teens solving the problems the previous generations left for them, with possible special guest star Idris Elba!

8 Minutes on the Stoop, Written by Scotty, age 18
Mercy, Written by Ramon, age 18
The Tale of Noah Miller, Written by Amelia Calo, age 17
Under Better Circumstances, Written by Foster Schrader, age 15

Saturday, May 4 at 2 PM
A teenage dude doesn't know which girl to go with while the gossip from the local church knitting club spins out of control--and did you see that parent grade grub Mr. Parker in the aisles of the local deli?

All Girls Have Eyes, Written by Timia McCoade, age 15
Parent-Teacher Conference, Written by Gabi Sussman, age 16
Drinkin's a Sin, Written by Isabella Ferrajina, age 14

Saturday, May 4 at 6 PM
Will two estranged neighbors connect on a stoop at sunrise? Will two estranged friends reconnect though time has certainly taken a toll on their dreams? Or will the strange Trash Ghost of Smithersville finally reveal itself?

Iced Coffee for Carl with a C, Written by Zoe Donovan, age 18
Behind the Counter, Written by Annelie Hyatt, age 16
The Trash Ghost of Smithers Valley, Written by Tyler Medina-Minerva, age 17

Saturday, May 4 at 8 PM
A pre- and post- apocalyptic Korean American struggles with her identity, a robbery in a convenient store goes down, and a friend and brother try to keep everyone in his life in their own little corner as all of the characters in this neighborhood seek to find peace in the most chaotic of worlds.

Phish Food, Written by Logan Silbert, age 14
Robbery and Disagreements, Written by Tiffany , age 18
Make it One, Written by Isabelle Orr, age 14

Sunday, May 5 at 11 AM
Why are Elanor and Naomi trapped in their synagogue? And why are Margeet and Marissa being so awkward? And why can't Addison just take a 'harmless' joke? These questions and more are answered in this provocative and powerful series of plays showing how much hard work it is growing up and proving that it is worth it.

Awkward, Written by Sadie Walsh, age 10
It Was Just a Joke, Written by Maggie Strattner, age 12
From the Vent, Written by Dalia Mullens, age 11

Sunday, May 5 at 1 PM
A prodigal daughter questions her faith in her grief while a prodigal son struggles with forgiveness of his father and of himself. Meanwhile, a father hides his pain, awaiting the return of his little girl, in this deeply affecting series of plays written by teens, which show the humanity and pain in the separation of children from their parents but the defiant human spirit which can reunite all.

Eternal Return, Written by Leya Ivanov, age 15
A Blank Place, Written by Emily Tian, age 17
A Heart-to-Heart With God, Written by Ella Chakarian, age 17

Sunday, May 5 at 3 PM
A Magician is upending everything in Norseville while two orphans make a new friend at the bodega, and the pranks never seem to end in the vicious war between Mia and Becky in this hilarious yet poignant series of plays written by 4th-6th graders, showcasing the ability of young people to grow as their world is spinning wildly around them.

The Playground Prank War, Written by Naz Karalar, age 10
Erase Marks, Written by Kyle Hahn, age 11
Nothing in Norseville, Written by Sarah Rubinstein, age 11