Keys ’19 & Poisson ’17 Win NJ Young Playwrights Festival

Plays by Kianni Keys ’19 and Gabrielle Poisson ’17 have won the 34th NJ Playwrights Festival annual high school contest. Gabi’s play, “Trust No One,” was drafted in Creative Writing in 2015 and since revised. Kianni’s play “Smile” was written on her own. The plays will be staged by professional actors during the Playwrights Festival at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown during the 3rd week of June. In preparation for the performance, Kianni and Gabi will be working with professional dramaturges, directors and actors from Writers Theatre of NJ. With the playwrights’ permission, the plays will be forthcoming on the Writing, Art & Music blog (WAM!). As a result of this accomplishment, Gabi and Kianni will receive Governor’s Awards in Arts Education at an award ceremony at the War Memorial Theatre in Trenton on May 24th and will receive membership in the Dramatists Guild of America. Gabi previously won this contest in 2015 for her play “Worn Thin.” Congratulations, Kianni and Gabi!