Super scriptwriters

Four students from Immaculate Conception School in Jamaica Estates were finalists in the 2008 “Write a Play NYC” contest, sponsored by Young Playwrights, Inc. (YPI) for elementary, middle and high school students in all five boroughs.
Shown here are the award-winning playwrights (from left) Tracy Cineus, Amarachi Abakporo, Chikpe Nkenke and Sydney Gordon. The four received Certificates of Excellence and the school was given an award.
Sixth-graders Cineus, Nkenke and Gordon co-wrote “Journey to the Heavens Light” one of 25 finalist submissions from over 200 entries. Judges were so impressed with their work that they awarded each an Honorable Mention, according to an YPI spokesperson.
Abakporo, a fifth grade student, was also a finalist for her work, “Pasha’s Wonderful Adventure.”
Mayor Michael Bloomberg could not attend the ceremony, at Hunter College in Manhattan on Thursday, June 11. Rather than merely sending a letter, he wrote a two-character play, which was performed at the event by the YPI acting troupe.
In the play, Mayor Michael Bloomberg gives a young playwright an award for winning the YPI contest. Bloomberg’s post-script declares. “This playwright gig really isn’t as easy as it looks!”
Founded in New York City by Stephen Sondheim in 1981, the group is devoted entirely to introducing young people to writing for the theater and for themselves. Today, they interact with over 10,000 students nationwide.