The Young Playwrights Project: Inspiring Creativity and Building Connections in Chautauqua County
As winter settles over Chautauqua County this January, the Young Playwrights Project (YPP) is once again breathing life into classrooms across the region, marking its eleventh year of empowering young minds through the art of storytelling. For 2025, the program has expanded its reach, now serving eight schools and bringing the magic of playwriting to 33 third and fourth grade classrooms. The participating schools include Bush, Fletcher, Lincoln, Love, and Ring Elementary Schools in Jamestown; Chautauqua Lake Elementary School in Mayville; Clymer Central School in Clymer; and Hewes BOCES Educational Center in Ashville.
At its core,YPP is all about inspiring creativity, honing writing skills, and fostering a love for the arts. It’s a program designed to ignite the imaginations of young students by helping them transform their ideas into full-fledged plays. Over the course of three phases, these students are guided by a team of experienced teaching artists, including Alexandra Nader, who leads the project and brings her expertise from the renowned Story Pirates program in New York City.
Phase 1: Crafting the Play
The journey begins with Phase 1, where students dive into the world of playwriting. They learn the basics of constructing a story, developing characters, and weaving their ideas into a script. The teaching artists guide them every step of the way, encouraging students to embrace their unique voices and creative visions. It’s a process that invites young minds to explore the power of storytelling, all while refining their writing abilities in a fun, supportive environment.
Phase 2: Bringing the Plays to Life
After the students have written their plays, Phase 2 brings them one step closer to seeing their work come to life. Returning teaching artists, Chautauqua Institution staff, and community volunteers come together to form play reading groups. Each student’s play is read aloud, with actors bringing the stories to life in front of the student’s eyes. This is where the magic happens — young playwrights hear their words performed and, in the process, experience the joy of seeing their ideas transformed into action. The energy in the room is palpable as the students witness the power of their own creativity.
As Kendall Crolius, president of Friends of Chautauqua Theater, puts it, “The Young Playwrights Project is the essence of what Chautauqua is all about. Our community of residents and staff — working side by side as we celebrate the Chautauqua pillars of education and the arts.’
Phase 3: Spending a Day at Chautauqua Institution
The excitement doesn’t end with the reading groups. In Phase 3, the program culminates in a day at Chautauqua Institution, where the students experience the thrill of seeing their plays performed by professional actors. Of the hundreds of plays submitted by the students, approximately 10 are selected for this special performance. For the young playwrights, it’s the ultimate moment of validation: Their words, ideas and creativity are brought to life on stage, providing an unforgettable experience.
A Community Effort
One of the most powerful aspects of YPP is the sense of community it fosters. Volunteers from across Chautauqua County and outside the area play an essential role in the program by participating in the play reading groups. These volunteers give their time and energy to read the students’ plays aloud, offering a listening ear and a generous spirit. Kendall Crolius emphasizes the importance of this collaboration, saying, “The reactions of the young playwrights and their classmates are amazing. We simply give them the plays they have created, but it’s so empowering for them. The experience is just as inspiring for the volunteers — it’s a wonderful example of how Chautauqua’s gates turn into gateways, connecting the best of Chautauqua to our broader community.”
Get Involved
This year, Phase 2 of the Young Playwrights Project will need 92 play-reading volunteers to ensure every student can hear their play performed. If you’re interested in joining this vibrant and fun team of play readers, you can sign up by filling out a form or by emailing Director of Arts Education Suzanne Fassett-Wright at sfassettwright@chq.org. Whether you’re a seasoned theater enthusiast or simply looking for a way to give back to the community, this is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of young creators.
YPP continues to be a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and the power of the arts. It’s a program that not only nurtures the next generation of playwrights but strengthens the bonds that tie the Chautauqua County community together. Through this shared journey of storytelling, students, teachers, volunteers and families alike are reminded of the transformative power of the arts and the importance of supporting young voices as they discover their place in the world of creativity.