Civic Theater Project—To: The Powers of Today, From: The Voices of the Future

Event Details

Philadelphia Young Playwrights (PYP) has been helping youth in the city get their voices heard on the stage for almost 40 years. This particular cohort, the Civic Theater Project, created pieces for What Now: 2026. Those plays will be performed by professional actors at the Wilma Theater.

Inspired by a question — “What do you want to see changed in Philadelphia in the next 25 years?" — five young playwrights met with “powermakers,” including State Senator Nikhil Saval, Vivian Chang from Asian Americans United, and Rowana Miller, a reporter who's written for The Inquirer and now works at Kensington Voice.

“The idea is that these plays are not just going to be about what they want to see changed, but also try to be a part of enacting that change,” explains Madeline Charne, PYP Director of Education.

Topics include third spaces for young people, the criminal justice system; the intersection between substance use, mental health and homelessness; and the intersection between diversity, education and hate speech.

Check out Philadelphia Young Playwrights on Instagram.

All shows are FREE; but click on the showtime above to claim your spot.

Runtime: 90 minutes

Project Description

Philadelphia Young Playwrights’ Civic Theater Project is an inspiring initiative inviting passionate young changemakers from diverse backgrounds and neighborhoods across the Philadelphia area to dive deep into the world of civic engagement and the art of playwriting. After a semester deep dive into the issues that sparked their furor and passion, and a crash course in theater for social change, these students crafted original one-act plays exploring distinct visions for transformative change in Philadelphia. The project will culminate in staged readings of all 5 plays featuring professional actors, directors, and designers, bringing these bold new plays to life and sparking dialogue around the city’s most urgent issues.

Featuring the work of: Avigail Wus, Rut Pendrygraft, Harmonee' Summers, Angel Okeke, and Maroua Benfadhla