AN OVERVIEW

Each year since 1979, The Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival has invited students in Cuyahoga County to let their imaginations soar — to write original plays that are dramatic, comedic, honest and unique - and then to see their plays performed live, with full production values.

The Festival is dedicated to the memory of Marilyn Bianchi, educator and co-founder of Dobama Theatre in Cleveland Heights. Her commitment to and belief in the creative powers of young people has inspired thousands of children and teens to become playwrights, telling their own stories in their own ways. We hope you will join us this year — whether you're a young writer, a teacher, or simply someone interested in celebrating the amazing imaginations of tomorrow¹s great artists.

Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival is an annual playwriting contest open to Cuyahoga County students in the 1st through 12th grades. Each fall, entry materials are sent to all area schools and libraries. Dobama Theatre receives 500-700 entries each year. A panel of three preliminary judges read each play. 20 percent are directed as finalists to judges who determine the 15-24 winning plays. Dobama Theatre then fully produces 12-15 of the winning plays. Nine performances are offered free of charge to area families. One performance signed and audio described for sight and hearing-impaired audience members. Our winning playwrights receive a $100 Savings Bond. In addition, their scripts are published in a book that is printed annually.

The Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival is dedicated to Marilyn Bianchi in the belief that the power of education and communication inspires thousands of children to celebrate the fun and joy of live theatre. Marilyn also believed that theater teaches communication, social skills, and instills in young people a sense of pride and self-esteem.

Dobama Theatre is requesting support for our Annual Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival. The festival was conceived in 1979 as a living tribute to the memory of Marilyn Bianchi, educator and co-founder of Dobama Theatre. The Playwriting Festival has provided more than 10,000 students the opportunity to explore their connection to humanity and creative dimension through the world of theatre and writing. It is the first program of its kind in the country and has earned both national and regional recognition and honors. This includes the Twyla M. Conway Award, The Cleveland Critics Circle Award, a special citation from the Ohio Theatre Alliance, and a prime-time salute on the CBS ‘American Portrait Series’. The Festival has also won three Emmys for plays restaged on WVIZ-TV, Channel 25. In addition, Dobama has mentored other communities wishing to initiate their own children¹s playwriting contest.

Deadlines for the Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival are staggered according to student class level during February and March. Artistic Director Joyce Casey and Education Director Lenny Pinna determine the final 15-24 winning plays. The judges score all the plays numerically and write short, encouraging evaluations.

During June Dobama Theatre fully produces 12-15 of the winning plays. The winning playwrights receive a $100 Savings Bond and a copy of the book that is printed annually with all the winning scripts. When additional copies are available, they are distributed to Cuyahoga County Schools and libraries.

Each winning playwright is presented to the audience and receives his or her $100 Savings Bond award during the Opening Night performance. Each award winner is given three complementary tickets to the Benefit performance, and seven performances are offered free of charge so that the theatre experience can be shared by the entire family. A sign language interpreter and audio-describer are employed during one performance for sight and hearing-impaired audience members. While the Playwriting Festival awards are based upon selective criteria, each student who enters is also invited to the final dress rehearsal. Following this rehearsal, the students and their families share refreshments with Festival staff, actors, and designers.

Additional traditions presented during the run of the Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival productions include:

• Photo portraits of each of the winning playwrights are displayed in the lobby

• The unproduced winning plays are described in detail at the Benefit performance

• A cake and ice cream reception is given after the Benefit performance

Other recent additions to the Festival traditions have included:

• A reader comment form that was returned to all the participating playwrights

• An accelerated timeline that allows for more rehearsal time

• The publication of the winning plays available for the Opening Night Benefit

• A group photo of the winning playwrights on the poster and postcards

• The featuring of puppet characters in one production and the final curtain call

• A survey of the winning playwrights and their families

Dobama Theatre has offered teacher and family workshops to encourage entries from throughout Cuyahoga County. Marilyn Bianchi taught special theater classes to at-risk, inner city youth in the Cleveland Public School system. It has been part of The Festival's ongoing mission to inspire greater involvement from these schools. One four-time Festival winner, Laura Neff, is now a teacher in the Cleveland Schools. She enters students each year in support of our educational philosophy and her belief in the personal rewards it offers to young people.

Currently this programming takes place primarily at the theatre and at the Unitarian Church near the theatre. As part of Dobama's expansion of the education department, additional classes will take place at the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library and other offsite locations, especially the Cleveland City schools. This expansion coincides with a three-year effort to become ADA compliant and provide a more comfortable space for artists and audiences. A new home will be provided in a newly renovated building owned by the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, which includes separate spaces for Dobama's mainstage productions, Night Kitchen, offices, rehearsals, and educational facilities. The scope of this expansion is partly dependent upon the timing of the theatre's move to the library. The library anticipates completion of their renovation in late 2003 or early 2004.

The instructional portion of the Festival will include:

• Seven eight-week classes on playwriting and theater basics

• Three or four three-hour playwriting workshops for teachers

• Five offsite workshops for children and teachers

As part of the 24th Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival, Dobama Theatre distributed a survey to the winning playwrights and their families. This was an open-ended questionnaire in which the entire family was encouraged to participate. The results of this survey are described below:

The main issues The Theatre was interested in exploring were:

• The effectiveness of the entry form and method of initial contact

• The effectiveness of communication with the winners during the production phase

• The experience of the winners and their families during the Opening Night Benefit

The key strengths identified were:

• Almost all of the winners received their entry forms from a teacher at school

• Most students were encouraged to submit rather than required to submit

• Telephone and in-person communication was thorough and complete

• Methods of individual recognition during the Benefit were highly appreciated

• The professionalism of the productions was admired and appreciated

• The themes and artistry of the plays stimulated family dialog and communication

The key weaknesses identified were:

• Written communication about the production process needs to be improved

• Advertising and publicity needs to be increased

Survey distribution was limited to the winning playwrights because the Theatre was mainly seeking feedback about the production phase of the Festival. Future surveys are planned to explore the workshop and competition phase of the Festival.

In concurrence with the desires of our constituents, Dobama plans to increase the scope of the Kids' Festival. Additional advance promotion of the productions is necessary as well as expanded outreach into the surrounding community. The Theatre has had numerous requests from adjacent counties who wish to have their students be considered eligible for the Kids' Festival. Beginning in 2003, the Education Director's position will be expanded to full time status, as will the Marketing Director. Dobama also added a Managing Director to its administrative staff in 2001.

The Kids' Festival is at its heart a volunteer effort. As part of its educational mission, the founders made a commitment to offer one free week of mainstage theater at the end of each season. Twenty-five years ago, upon the founding of the Kids' Festival, they decided to shift that free week so that area families could experience live theater together. For many years the artists, technicians, and friends of Dobama donated all of the time they spent working on the Festival. This effort was dedicated to the spirit of Marilyn Bianchi to honor her wish that the public have access to free performances one week of the year.

Since 1995, the Theatre has employed Equity Actors and has made a continued effort to increase compensation to all of its artists and technicians. In recent years, the Theatre has begun compensating technicians for their work on the Festival, although the directors and actors have continued to donate their time. As part of the expansion of the education program, the Theatre has committed itself to extending compensation to these individuals whenever fiscally possible. However, there are many individuals who still remember Marilyn and offer their time as in-kind gifts.