NEW HAVEN, CT: The Dwight/Edgewood Project, a long-standing collaboration between Yale Repertory Theatre, Yale School of Drama and New Haven schools is celebrating its 10th Anniversary and the accomplishment of serving nearly 100 children. Following the model of the acclaimed 52nd Street Project’s Playmaking course in New York City, the Dwight/Edgewood Project is an after-school program in which10 local middle school students spend the month of June learning about theatre and writing original plays under the guidance of graduate student mentors from Yale School of Drama. The program includes one-on-one mentoring, theatre games, numerous playwriting exercises and an overnight retreat to Camp Wightman in Griswold, CT. Most importantly, the Project aims to foster positive self-esteem, self-awareness and self-respect.

The Project ends with two performances of the plays written by the middle school students that are directed, designed, produced and performed by Yale School of Drama students. The performance dates for this year’s Dwight/Edgewood Project are June 24 and June 25 at 7PM. Performances will take place at New Haven’s Off-Broadway Theatre located at 41 Broadway. Five different original ten-minute plays will be presented each night. Admission is free and open to the public. Reservations may be made by calling (203) 432-2174.

This year, as in the 2004 program, local students participating in the program come exclusively from Troup Magnet Academy of Sciences Middle School. In a departure from previous selection processes that have identified students interested in performance, Managing Director David Byrd and Yale Rep Education Manager Ruth Feldman have chosen to seek out students interested in writing in order to nurture their writer’s voices. Ranging in age from 10-13, this year’s students were identified by Troup Principal Richard Kaliszewski based on their demonstrated writing skills and interest.

The ten students chosen are Juan Galan (grade 8), Leonardo Chiquillo (grade 8), Jeffrey Mills (grade 8), Tanaisha Doughty (grade 5), Olugbenga Joseph (grade 5), Niajah Manley (grade 7), Ivan Soto (grade 6), Nyah Macklin (grade 5), Linda Cruz (grade 7) and Jebrell Hooks (grade 7).

The staff of the Dwight/Edgewood Project 2005 consists of Tiffany Stewart (Artistic Director), David Byrd (Managing Director), Hannah Grannemann (General Manager), Justin Sherin (Director), Tamar Klausner (Set/Props Designer), Sara Ryung Clement (Costume/Props Designer) and Thom Weaver (Lighting Designer). The mentors are Monica Achen, Nastaran Ahmadi, Susanna Gellert, Blake Hackler, Bridget Jones, Victor Kaufold, David Matranga, Brian McManamon, Alex Organ and Alena Smith.

The Dwight/Edgewood Project is supported in part by the Jane Marcher Foundation, Yale University Office of New Haven and State Affairs and Yale Repertory Theatre/Yale School of Drama.

For more information and to make ticket reservations, please call (203) 432-2174.