Name: Young Playwrights Festival 2025
Start: 2025-10-25 13:00:00 -0400
Location: The Lillie Theatre

CURRENT SHOWS

Young Playwrights Festival 2025

Sat, Oct 25 - Sun, Oct 26, 2025

Run Time: Approximately 1 hour; there is no intermission.

The Lillie Theatre

Box office phone: 412-431-2489

The Donald & Sylvia Robinson Family Foundation presents the 2025 YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
For 26 years, City Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival stages professional productions of five winning, one-act plays chosen from nearly 400 Young Playwrights Contest submissions.

Saturday, October 25
1:00 PM High School Performance
6:00 PM Middle School Performance

Sunday, October 26
1:00 PM Middle School Performance
6:00 PM High School Performance

MIDDLE SCHOOL

ECHOES OF BIRTHDAY LAUGHTER
by Mary Joyce,
8th grade, Belle Vernon Middle School

BOLTS AND APOLOGIES
by Hayden Carr, AJ Montenaro, and Oliver Rent
7th grade, Keystone Oaks Middle School

HIGH SCHOOL

CHAOS AND REASON
by Tiana Ellis
12th grade, Washington High School

REST THEIR SOULS
by Basil Lee
12th grade, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12

THE TRAIN OF MEMORY
by Isabella Blick
12th grade, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12

Accessibility

Accessibility:

Note: All services may not be available at all performances. Click the link above for accessible performance schedule or contact customer service for further assistance.

Content Note

No content warnings for this production.

Sensory Warning

The High School plays will utilize theatrical haze. No sensory warnings for the Middle School productions.

Detailed Plot Summary (Spoilers)

ECHOES OF BIRTHDAY LAUGHTER
Mary Joyce, 8th grade, Belle Vernon Middle School
ECHOES OF BIRTHDAY LAUGHTER follows Alex’s quest for birthday perfection in New York City. The big day spirals into a whirlwind of miscommunications, over-the-top expectations, and one unforgettable cupcake showdown. This heartwarming play is a celebration of friendship, self-discovery, and the beautiful chaos of growing up.

BOLTS AND APOLOGIES
Hayden Carr, 7th grade, Keystone Oaks Middle School
AJ Montenaro, 7th grade, Keystone Oaks Middle School
Oliver Rent, 7th grade, Keystone Oaks Middle School
Meet Trigger 3.0, a grumpy AI from Cy-York City who thinks humans are obsolete—until a mysterious portal sends him spiraling 100 years into the past. Lost in 2025 New York, Trigger stumbles through fast food joints, war memorials, and shocking truths about the people he once mocked. With the help of a surfer dude, a factory tour, and a few humbling revelations, Trigger begins to question everything he thought he knew about humanity—and himself.

CHAOS AND REASON
Tiana Ellis, 12th grade, Washington High School
When a charming library encounter with the radiant Ester sparks something new, Parker must navigate anxiety, self-doubt, and the tug-of-war between impulse and logic to find connection in the mess. Equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and deeply relatable, CHAOS AND REASON is a love letter to overthinkers, awkward moments, and the beautiful struggle of being human.

REST THEIR SOULS
Basil Lee, 11th grade, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12
What if the past could be trimmed away with a pair of scissors? As Chantal and Jobina snip away the faces of their classmates from an old group photo, what begins as petty revenge unfolds into a poignant excavation of memory, identity, and the lives they might have lived. With every cut, a story is revealed—of lost crockpots, buried betrayals, and the quiet ache of choices never made. But beneath the banter and bitterness lies a deeper question: what does it mean to be “done” with a life?

THE TRAIN OF MEMORY
Isabella Blick, 12th grade, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12
When anxious dad Jack fails to help his son, Nathan, tie a notoriously tricky scout knot, he’s launched on a surreal, high-speed journey through the foggy tunnels of his own memory—guided by a sharp-tongued, ageless train engineer. As Jack dives into childhood embarrassments, forgotten triumphs, and the chaos of scout camp past, he must rediscover a skill he thought he’d never need again—all to prove he’s still got what it takes to be a hero in his son’s eyes.

Child Policy

City Theatre Company is pleased that you are encouraging your children to attend live theatre and the bold new work that we produce. To ensure that everyone enjoys the show, below is our policy for children attending City Theatre performances. Please note that not every production is suitable for children and we encourage you to seek additional information on each show you consider attending in order to make an informed decision on whether a show is appropriate for your child.

Tickets may NOT be purchased for children under the age of 3.
Children under the age of 3 will NOT be admitted to the theater.
No child will be admitted into the theater without a ticket.
Any ticket for a child must be for a seat next to the seat occupied by the adult accompanying the child.
Children must sit in their purchased seat and NOT on the lap of an adult.
Children disturbing the enjoyment of other theater patrons may be removed from the theater at the discretion of the House Manager. NO ticket refund will be given.
Children 12 and younger MUST be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets are $10.00.

Louisa May Alcott's Little Women - Introduce the next generation to a classic in this new retelling!

MAIN STAGE

Check out our main stage season.

Learn More

PROMOTIONS

We provide multiple ways to keep ticket prices accessible.

Learn More

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Let us help you find parking and nearby food and beverage.

Learn More

Time Out

CURRENT SHOWS

Young Playwrights Festival 2025

Seating Chart

Accessibility

Accessibility:

Content Note

Sensory Warning

Detailed Plot Summary (Spoilers)

Louisa May Alcott's Little Women - Introduce the next generation to a classic in this new retelling!

MAIN STAGE

PROMOTIONS

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Looking for more?

Join CityM@il and stay up to date on the latest news, discounts, and special events at City Theatre.