From Students In Grades 6-12 (NAPSA)—VSAarts, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the participation of people with disabilities in the arts and society, has announced its 2005 Playwright Discovery Award. Students in grades 6 through 12 are invited to submit one-act plays that examine how disability affects a person’slife. A distinguished panel of awardwinning theater artists will select two scripts for professional production at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Winning students will receive a scholarship award and a trip to Washington, D.C. to view their plays. “The VSA arts playwright program encourages students to stand in someoneelse’s shoes for a while,” said Suzan Zeder, coauthor of the book, The Space of Creation: The Creative Process of Playwriting. “By writing a one-act play, students learn how to develop a story in real-time action and to conceptualize characters that will create an emotional bond with the audience. The essence of live theater is the connection between the ideas of the playwright, the actions of the actors and the imagesof the production.” Ms. Zeder suggests these tips for students who are interested in writing a play: Pick a favorite television program and write about what would happen in the @ next episode. Visit a local shop, write down conversations you overhear and imagine what might be going on between the lines. If you do not know someone who is living with a disability, visit your local library to read plays and novels about people with disabilities. “Let your characters teach you,” Ms. Zeder explains. “Understanding whatlife is like for a person with a disability means you must capture the essence of the individual beyondthe disability—and create a compelling character.” Entries are due by April 15, 2005. All entrants will receive written notification by July 15, 2005. To obtain an entry form and learn more about eligibility and application guidelines, visit www.vsarts.org. Founded in 1974, VSA arts pro- vides educators, parents, and artists with resources and tools they can use to support arts pro- gramming in their schools and communities; showcases the accomplishments of visual and performing artists with disabilities; and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Currently, five million people participate in VSA arts programs each year through a network of affiliates nationwide and in more than 60 countries around the world.
