Marilyn Bianchi Kids Playwriting Festival

04/14/2026

Announcing the winners of the 48th ANNUAL MARILYN BIANCHI KIDS’ PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL
Dobama Theatre is thrilled to share that the following plays and playwrights will be honored during this year's Festival:

** Denotes plays that will be presented in the 48th Annual Marilyn Bianchi Kids’ Playwriting Festival performances at Dobama Theatre June 4, 5, 6, and 7th, 2026.

Abdourahmane Traore, **THE LEGEND OF THE MONARCH SWORD (5th grade, Columbus Intermediate)

Arav Pandya, **THE CLOCK STRIKES MURDER (7th grade, North Royalton Middle School)

Autumn Mariner, FULL MOON (7th grade, Eastern Heights Middle School)

Braelyn Warren, Reagan Walker, Savannah Magic, THE STUDENT COUNCIL WAR (4th grade, Greenview Upper Elementary)

Bridget Cook, DEALING IN THE DOG HOUSE (4th grade, North Ridgeville Academic Center)

Claire Knirsch (4th), Lena Wilson (3rd), **PENGUIN IN THE BOWTIE OF ADVENTURE (Onaway Elementary)

Daniel Carroll, **FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY (12th grade, Shaker Heights High School)

Eve Kulbanska, THE UNEXPECTED JOURNEY (5th grade, North Royalton Middle School)

Evelyn Savage, Jessie Thurmon-Reed, Santana Lawson, **FORKS INVADE SPOONLAND (4th grade, Mound Elementary)

Harlan Sadowsky, **EVE (12th grade, Shaker Heights High School)

Isabel Siegel, **A PLAY ON WORDS (12th grade, Shaker Heights High School)

Jacob Stepien, MIRROR (8th grade, North Royalton Middle School)

Kati Scheff, **THE REPUBLIC OF BINARY CODE (8th grade, North Royalton Middle School)

Lara Mansfield, **IN FLIGHT (7th grade, North Ridgeville Academic Center)

Lillyanne Barber, A NORMAL DAY WITH NOAH (8th grade, North Royalton Middle School)

Makenzie Mcleod, JUST FIVE MINUTES (12th grade, Shaker Heights High School)

Sebastian Denys, ARON’S FIRST (AND LAST) ADVENTURE (4th grade, Columbus Intermediate)

Zinnia Byrne, **THE BAD MAD COW (3rd grade, Noble Elementary)

02/24/2026

26/27 SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT!!

02/18/2026

There’s still time for your kids to submit their short, original plays to Dobama Theatre for the 48th Annual MBKPF! Plays can be submitted here: https://www.dobama.org/mbkpf.
Deadline Sunday March 1st!

Every play will be read and considered by multiple judges. Up to 10 of the winning plays will be performed on our stage the first weekend in June. Any Northeast Ohio student in grades 1 to 12 is eligible to submit!

Questions? Email Carrie at [email protected]

12/13/2025

December 20th!

12/10/2025

Come and see us this Saturday afternoon!

This weekend, meet Tolkien's beloved characters, straight off the stage from Dobama Theatre's production of The Hobbit! Enjoy crafts and activities while you hear about their adventures first-hand. Plus, no Hobbit celebration is complete without snacks. 🍞🧀🍗

📅 All ages are welcome! Learn more and add to your calendar here: https://events.heightslibrary.org/event/15399053

12/03/2025

Come join us!

Known as Cleveland's Off-Broadway theater, Dobama presents a technically bold staging of Tolkien’s fantastical adventure Dec. 4–Jan. 4.

10/12/2025

The Young Playwrights Program is coming to a school near you!

09/09/2025

⏳🥘 Submissions are closing soon!

Don’t miss your chance to be part of Lake Erie Ink’s 4th Community Cookbook:
Kitchen Fables: writing and recipes shared around the table
https://lakeerieink.org/events/

We’d love to feature your art, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, comics, photography, or favorite family recipe in this year’s book.

📅 Submit by September 15
👩🏽‍🍳 Open to all ages (under 18? Parent/guardian permission needed)
✍️ Up to 2 submissions per person

Add your voice to the table—share your story, your flavor, your creativity!

06/08/2025

06/07/2025

Free shows tonight at 7pm and tomorrow at 2pm!
🪾🇺🇸🧀🗝️🕵🏻🐇🦫🐵💭⚫️

Opening Night for the 47th Annual Marilyn Bianchi Kids Playwriting Festival was a huge success and a fantastic celebration of these young writers. Check out their incredible work FREE tonight at 7pm and tomorrow (Sunday) at 2pm!