Monsignor Edward Pace High School senior Jamie Adelson got the opportunity to work with professional playwrights when she was awarded the CityWrights Scholars scholarship and attended City Theatre’s CityWrights Professional Weekend for Playwrights from June 26 to June 29.
Adelson received the scholarship, which was sponsored by City Theatre and granted attendance to the conference, for submitting a two-act play she originally co-wrote with Pace Class of 2014 alumnus Marissa Secades about a woman with multiple personality disorder.
During her time at the conference, Adelson learned from playwrights and directors whose works had been published and performed. In addition to learning writing techniques such as overcoming writer’s block and getting her work published, she had the opportunity to write a monologue and have it worked on by professional playwrights.
“I feel as though this conference helped me become a better playwright,” said Adelson. “Spending three days learning from playwrights and directors really benefitted me and will definitely help me in my future work.”
Her most memorable moment came when the monologue she had written was performed live by a professional actor.
“I never had any of my work performed or even read aloud by anyone other than myself, so it was an amazing experience,” said Adelson.