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The Young Playwrights Festival was founded in 2006 under the directorship of then literary manager David White. The festival was offered only to Waterford High students. The following year, submissions were opened to all Connecticut middle and high schools for the 2007 Festival. During the Festival, rehearsal periods were expanded over the previous year to give each playwright more time with his or her company. Rehearsals were broken into two groups. Non-rehearsing playwrights were taken through a series of exercises focused on improving their understanding of dramatic writing.
In 2008, Sophia Chapadjiev, Director of Education and Community Outreach, helmed the project. Under her leadership, submissions increased by over 600%. With an earlier start-up date, schools were able to adequately prepare and plan for involvement. Sophia gave thirteen workshops at local schools and libraries and received buy-in from teachers on the project. In addition, a vigorous mailing went out to over three hundred Connecticut schools.
All 2008 selected playwrights participated in the three-day festival and over thirty creative people (25 being National Theater Institute alumni) were brought in to bring these six plays to life. Honorable mention scripts received full-readings on the evening of Saturday, May 10th and the four selected plays had presentations on May 11th, 2008. Short selections from the honorable mention scripts were also performed on the final evening.
2009 brought an increase in submissions once again. Five playwrights were selected to have their scripts workshopped and, again, the creative team was comprised of National Theater Institute alumni.
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