Arena Stage takes a shine to young Woodbridge playwrights

The work of two student playwrights from Woodbridge will soon receive professional treatment at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.. Emmoni Matthews of Woodbridge High School and Christian Ellis of Rippon Middle School have received honors in the 12th Annual Student Playwrights Project held by Arena Stage. Their entries stood out among the pool of more than 800 entries from middle and high school students in the Washington, D.C. area, according to a news item from Prince William County Schools.

Emmoni Matthews of Woodbridge High School and Christian Ellis of Rippon Middle School have received honors in the 12th Annual Student Playwrights Project held by Arena Stage. Their entries stood out among the pool of more than 800 entries from middle and high school students in the Washington, D.C. area.

Matthews is a senior enrolled in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts specialty program at Woodbridge High School. Her submission, “A Place Called High School,” has earned her a cash prize and enrollment in playwriting master classes. Matthews will participate in further script development with a professional director from Arena Stage to prepare her winning 10-minute play for a March performance. Professional actors will perform each of the eight winning plays on Friday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 10 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Arena Stage’s Mead Center, 1101 Sixth St, S.W., Washington, D.C.

Ellis, a seventh-grader at Rippon Middle School, received Middle School Honorable Mention in the competition. His 10-minute play “Broken” is one of eight middle-school selections that will receive a staged reading with professional actors on February 28 at 7:30 p.m., at Arena Stage in the Ammerman Rehearsal Hall.

Admission to the performances is free, but reservations through the Arena Stage Sales Office are required by calling 202-488-3300.