Young Minnesota Playwrights Festival
Young Minnesota Playwrights Festival
In partnership with Young Minnesota Playwrights and Park Square Theatre
Park Square Theatre is proud to partner with Young Minnesota Playwrights to present the Young Minnesota Playwrights Festival - a dynamic program dedicated to fostering new voices in theatre across Minnesota.
Through a multi-stage development process, emerging playwrights are supported in bringing original stories to life, from initial concept through staged performance.
The festival provides a platform for new work to be explored, refined, and shared with the community, connecting artists with professional mentors and collaborators along the way.
The program culminates in a live presentation of six selected works, each brought to life by local theatre professionals and performed at Park Square Theatre on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Meet the 2026 Finalists
-
Isaiah McKnight (Woodbury High School)
Spare Me - At a bowling alley, two teenage boys are asked to bowl with a stranger, leading to confrontation and the uncovering of deeper truths.
Mentored by playwright and director Emma Y. Lai.
-
Lily Olmstead (Crookston High School)
Dystopian Pizza Rolls - A comedy about a group of teenagers escaping an apocalyptic dystopia while also trying to find boyfriends.
Mentored by playwright Gemma Irish.
-
Hanna Osman (PIM School of the Arts, Eden Prairie)
Bless me, Dear Sinner - A young man grapples with his sexual identity and his conflict with the Catholic Church.
Mentored by playwright and director Rachel Lynett.
-
Richard Pina-Raya (Coon Rapids High School)
Under the Sun - In 1916 Mexico, a young couple reflects on their relationship during political unrest, interrupted by the presence of a mysterious rooster.
Mentored by theater artist Maje Adams.
-
Wade Pohlman (Rushford High School)
Ogygia - An adaptation inspired by The Odyssey. Odysseus is stranded on an island, longing to return home to his wife, while Calypso detains him in her desperate search for companionship.
Mentored by playwright and dramaturg Laurie Hegge.
-
McKenna Woodruff (Hopkins High School)
Blood is Thicker Than Ink - Set in Victorian London, an aging man with fading memory becomes entangled in the investigation of a newsboy’s death.
Mentored by playwright Whitney Rowland.
How it Works
-
![Bold text on a gradient blue background that reads 'Act One: Submit Your Play'.]()
Act One: Submit Your Play
The program begins with an open call for one-act plays from across Minnesota. Playwrights are invited to submit either a completed script or a synopsis with sample dialogue by February 15, 2026. There is no cost to participate, and all submissions are facilitated through the Young Minnesota Playwrights website.
-
![Text on a gradient blue background that says, 'ACT TWO: DEVELOP YOUR PLAY'.]()
Act Two: Develop Your Play
Six selected plays move into a development phase, where they are paired with Twin Cities theatre mentors. This collaborative process focuses on refining character, dialogue, and story structure, while deepening the themes each piece brings to the stage.
-
![Stage background with the text 'Act Three: See Your Play on Stage' in white capital letters on a dark blue gradient background.]()
Act Three: See Your Play on Stage
The program culminates in a live presentation of the six selected works. Each piece is brought to life by local theatre professionals and performed at Park Square Theatre on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Playwrights whose work is selected receive a $200 honorarium in recognition of their contributions.
Key Dates:
Attend at least one rehearsal at Park Square Theatre during the week of June 21, 2026
Dress Rehearsal: Friday, June 26, 2026 (4–9 PM, dinner provided)
Performance Day: Saturday, June 27, 2026 (1–10 PM, dinner provided)
Young Minnesota Playwrights 2026: Mentorship Video