Empower Young Writers at the 2025 Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival
Media Contact: David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com
“The Play’s the Thing”
Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival Returns for 2025
www.psypf.org
Submission Deadline: March 31
Mentorship with Hollywood Veteran Jack Kenny and Scholarships Await
Festival Takes Place June 8 at Palm Springs Cultural Center
25 February 2025 – Palm Springs, CA : “The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.” Shakespeare’s immortal line from Hamlet reminds us of the power of storytelling to shape hearts, minds, and society. For the seventh year, the Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival (PSYPF) returns to celebrate that power by cultivating the next generation of playwrights. With a submission deadline of March 31, 2025, young writers across Riverside County have the chance for professional mentorship, scholarship opportunities, and the thrill of seeing their words come alive on stage.
“We believe that stories shape our world—and every year, PSYPF proves that young voices have some of the most compelling stories to tell,” said David Youse, Founder and Executive Director of the Festival. “This is about more than scripts. It’s about empowering young playwrights to believe in their potential, to hear their words spoken aloud, and to see the impact of their creative vision. The March 31 submission deadline is a golden opportunity for aspiring writers to take that first step.”
Hollywood Expertise Meets Local Talent:
Returning this year as a mentor is Jack Kenny, a name synonymous with storytelling across stage and screen. With a distinguished career that includes creating NBC’s The Book of Daniel and FOX’s Titus, running the hit Syfy series Warehouse 13, and writing for fan-favorites like Marvel’s Jessica Jones and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Kenny brings a wealth of experience from Hollywood’s frontlines.
“The theatre is where it all began for me. Plays demand the truth—raw, unfiltered, and immediate,” said Kenny, after many years in Hollywood, now a full time Palm Springs resident. “The young playwrights who submit to PSYPF aren’t just writing stories; they’re writing their future. Mentoring them is an honor, and watching their voices emerge is always inspiring. The March 31 deadline isn’t just a date—it’s a doorway. I hope many walk through it.”
Kenny’s extensive Broadway and Off-Broadway acting experience, including performances in Fiddler on the Roof and The Normal Heart, combined with his Juilliard training and decades of television writing and directing, provides festival participants with mentorship that bridges every dimension of the theatrical arts.
Festival Details & Impact:
The 2025 Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival will take place at 12pm on Sunday, June 8 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center (2300 E. Baristo Rd., Palm Springs, CA 92262). General admission is $10, with students admitted free. Tickets are available at:
brownpapertickets.com/event/6581051.
The March 31, 2025 submission deadline is critical: plays can be submitted via psypf.org, with winners announced on April 15. Each winner will receive a $500 scholarships to further their arts education and participate in a staged reading of their work, gaining invaluable professional feedback and real-world theatrical experience. The 2025 Festival will be hosted by Anthony Banuelos and Abigail Alldredge, winners of the 2024 competition, highlighting the program’s tradition of paying it forward.
Changing Lives, One Story at a Time:
The impact of PSYPF on young writers is profound. As Xuan Anh Ly Biggs, a 2023 winner now attending USC’s BFA program in screenwriting, shared:
“Because of PSYPF, I can now attend my dream school. The experience empowered me to pursue a career as a writer.”
For Brooklyn Rutledge, also a 2023 winner, the festival was transformative:
“I’m not exaggerating when I say that PSYPF genuinely changed my life. I wouldn’t have continued playwriting without it.”
And for Yamani Scoggins, a 2021 winner, PSYPF provided clarity and motivation: “As a young Black woman uncertain about her path, PSYPF showed me doors I didn’t know existed. It was a catalyst for my dedication to the arts.”
Sponsors and Community Support
The 2025 Premier Sponsor of PSYPF is The Cherry Lane Alternative. Leading sponsors include:
- Rowan Kimpton Hotel, Palm Springs – Peggy Trott, General Manager
- The Palm Springs Cultural Center
- City of Palm Springs
- The Riverside County Office of Education
- Paul Reid and Tom Hartnett
- Scott Poland and Eddie Nestlebush
- Jason Smith and Tom Valach
“These sponsors and partners recognize the importance of nurturing young voices,” added Youse. “Their support ensures these talented young writers are given a platform—and a future.”
About The Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival:
The Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival is dedicated to promoting creative writing in the theatrical form among elementary, middle, and high school students in Riverside County, CA. By offering mentorship, scholarships, and the opportunity for public staged readings, PSYPF invests in the next generation of storytellers, ensuring that diverse and fresh perspectives continue to enrich the world of theatre.
For more information, submissions, and tickets, visit: www.psypf.org.