On March 25, the drama department hosted its first-ever Playwright Festival, a unique opportunity for students to write, direct, and act in their own plays. Producers Silver De Leon, sophomore, and Gabriela Sanchez, senior, created the event to give students complete creative freedom, allowing them to explore drama beyond just acting while fostering a stronger community within the arts.
Students have been preparing for this event for months—starting with writing and editing their scripts, organizing directors and actors, and rehearsing and performing their plays.
This year’s festival features four original productions: “The Kids at Lily Gardens” by Emi Naito, “P.I. Parker” by Zoe Nimpono, “The Acceptance of Guilt” by Brandon Torres-Thai, and “A ‘Cool’ Drink,” created by the sixth-period drama class. The plays explore a range of themes, from peer pressure to the struggles of overworked teachers.
The festival opened with “The Acceptance of Guilt” by Brandon Torres-Thai. The play follows the Mute’s journey as they meet many new characters, helping them come to terms with past hardships. Junior Amy Diep, who played one of the lead roles, has been preparing since February, working closely with directors, producers, and other actors to plan out creatively blocked out scenes including choreographed fight sequences, and compelling characters. One of the play’s most distinctive elements was its use of Old English—a rare choice for a high school production, especially one written by a student.
In contrast, the second play, “P.I. Parker,” a comedy starring Sophia Sanchez, follows Parker, who, after an accident, is hospitalized while still trying to pursue her dream of becoming a private investigator, brought laughter to the audience. The play balances comedy with emotion as Parker navigates her new reality.
On March 27, the festival will continue with “The Kids at Lily Gardens” and “A ‘Cool’ Drink.”
The Kids at Lily Gardens is a comedy-horror play following a class of elementary students as their classmates mysteriously disappear—until only their teacher, Miss Daphne, remains. Director and producer Silver De Leon describes the play as not only entertaining but also as a social commentary on overworked and underpaid teachers.
“There’s this underlying message about how overworked teachers are. It’s not their fault—it’s that society doesn’t support them, and they become overstressed,” De Leon explained.
The director of The Kids at Lily Gardens, junior Catherine Abrishami, is eager to showcase everyone’s dedication.
“I’m excited to share my hard work and the work of everyone involved. We’ve all put in so much time and effort, and we want these plays to get the attention they deserve.”
Closing the festival, “A ‘Cool’ Drink,” written by the sixth-period drama class, tells the story of two friends striving to be “cool” while tackling the issue of peer pressure.
From peer pressure to private investigators, the plays cover a range of themes, allowing students to explore different facets of their creativity. Through the many rehearsals and writing workshops, the drama department has successfully created a community for students to cultivate their creativity.
