Dobama Theatre in Cleveland Heights, Ohio is known for its annual Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival, open to Northeast Ohio students in grades 1 through 12. Dating back to 1979 it is the oldest children's playwriting festival of its kind in the United States. Each year, the festival receives between three and five hundred plays, of which a small number are chosen for professional production. The winners see their plays performed at the annual festival performance in June.
Dobama Theatre offers playwriting workshops and residencies surrounding the Marilyn Bianchi Kids’ Playwriting Festival. Presented by professional teaching artists, our Playwriting Programs are fully customizable for every grade level and the unique needs of each class. Download a Workshop Guide below for more information. Contact Education Associate Carrie Williams at youngplaywrights@dobama.org to see how you can bring Playwriting Programs to your school.