YPF is a citywide playwriting competition that gives voice to teenagers while promoting the art of writing for the stage. Currently celebrating its 36th year, this school-oriented program helps students craft one-act plays for an April submission deadline. Each year, professional artists work with up to four winning playwrights to workshop, stage and produce their scripts as part of Pegasus’ main stage season.
By offering access to theatre professionals, YPF enhances language arts, encourages independent, high-level thinking and strong personal values, and influences career development. Participation in the Festival also improves students’ social-emotional learning, all instrumental skills as identified in core curriculum standards.
“YPF changed my life!”
Jihad Kheperu (2009 Whitney Young High School)
“…I honestly see playwriting as an important part of my future.”
Marques Alexander Jackson (2003, Senn High School)
Pegasus Theatre’s Chicago Young Playwrights Festival has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, New York Times Magazine, Time, Architectural Digest, Barron’s, Travel & Leisure, Sports, and Forbes. YPF has been honored by the city of Chicago and The Joseph Jefferson Committee. Channel 20 in Chicago aired a half-hour documentary on the 1996 Young Playwrights Festival. In 2002, the Festival was featured on Channel 11’s program on the Arts across Illinois.
“Before winning, I thought I would coast through life, but now I have a goal and won’t settle for average.”
Christopher Irving (2004, Olive Harvey Middle College)
