Trinity Repertory Company’s Education Department announces the winners of their third annual Write Here, Write Now! Student Playwriting Competition. This year’s winning plays and playwrights are: “After the Horror Movie” by Mimi Heath, Lincoln School in Pawtucket, Grade 11; “The Basket Case” by Spike Sommers, Wheeler School in Warwick, Grade 12; “Welcome to Me” by Kelsey Wilson, Rockville High School in Vernon, Conn., Grade 12; “The Sacrifice” by Quinn Bornstein, St. Johnsbury Academy in Barnet, Vt., Grade 12.

In addition to receiving a staged reading of their plays, each winning playwright receives a $100 prize, a scholarship towards any Trinity Rep Young Actors Studio after-school class. Additionally, their school receives 20 free tickets to a Project Discovery student matinee performance during Trinity Rep’s 2014-2015 season. This year, the competition received nearly 100 10-minute new play submissions from high school students across New England.

“This year’s plays were outstanding,” said School Partnerships Manager Matthew Tibbs. “This year’s students submitted plays with incredible depth, poetry, comedy and compassion. We are excited to give their voices a spotlight on our stage.”

Over the past three years, the playwright competition has grown in size and scope. Tibbs reports that entire classes submitted this year, “Teachers have begun to incorporate playwriting into their creative writing curriculum, with the added bonus of their students submitting their work to the Write Here, Write Now! Competition.”

An honorable mention was awarded to the play “Genesis” by Ivan Espinal, Classical High School in Providence, Grade 12.

The State Theater of Rhode Island, Trinity Repertory Company is now celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season. Since its founding in 1963, Trinity Repertory Company has been one of the most respected regional theaters in the country. Featuring the last permanent resident acting company in America, Trinity Rep presents a balance of world premiere, contemporary, and classic works for an estimated annual audience of approximately 145,000. In its 50-year history, the theater has produced 62 world premieres, mounted national and international tours, and, through its MFA program, trained hundreds of new actors and directors. This season marks the 46th year of Project Discovery, Trinity Rep’s pioneering educational outreach program. Last season, Trinity Rep’s educational programs reached over 16,000 Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut students through matinees as well as in-school residencies and workshops. Brown University/Trinity Rep offers professional training for actors and directors in a three-year MFA program. The 50th Anniversary season concludes with the world premiere of “Veronica Meadows” by Stephen Thorne and “A Lie of the Mind” by Sam Shepard. Subscriptions are now on sale for Trinity Rep’s 2014-2015 Season, which includes the world premiere Curt Columbus’ translation of Ivanov by Anton Chekhov, “Barefoot in the Park” by Neil Simon, “Middletown” by Will Eno, “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams, “A Flea in Her Ear” by Georges Feydeau and the world premiere of “Melancholy Play,” a new chamber musical by Sarah Ruhl with music by Todd Almond.

For more information, call the box office at 351-4242 or visit Trinity Rep’s website at www.trinityrep.com.