After-School Playwriting Program 

The After-School Playwriting Program develops students’ creative expression and collaboration by exploring theater as an ensemble.  

Community-Based Young Playwrights’ Theater conducts the After-School Playwriting Program at partner schools and community centers.
Ensemble Work Participants work together as a theater company to examine the political, intellectual, economic, and social impact of literary and dramatic works, culminating in the collaborative creation of a play that confronts issues in the playwrights’ cultural history and community. YPT Teaching Artists lead the workshops, supervised by Artistic Director Nicole Jost.
Culmination The end of each semester culminates with a community sharing of student work for students, friends, and families. Outstanding student plays may be given staged readings at New Writers Now! or produced as part of YPT’s annual Express Tour.

In October, 2010, YPT’s After-School Playwriting Program won the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, which was presented by First Lady Michelle Obama at a private White House ceremony on October 20.

Recent partner sites for the After-School Playwriting Program include Kelly Miller Middle School, Lincoln Multicultural Middle School, Ferebee Hope Elementary School and MacFarland Middle School through the Project My Time Program.

For more information on how to bring the After-School Playwriting Program to you school or center, contact Nicole Jost at 202-387-9173 or njost@yptdc.org.

In the 2012-2013 school year, Harriet Tubman Elementary School received a Proving What's Possible grant from DC Public Schools. With the grant, Tubman invited YPT to bring to life a year-long after-school program to increase literacy scores. SoJam, which combines storytelling, oration, journalism, art and media arts, has led to some amazing creations by these young artists and writers.