A scene being performed by Alex
Manalo as Young Jessie and Julia
De Avilez Rocha as Esperanza.
PHOTO CREDIT: MICHAEL CANNON
some great feedback.
This year, I reworked
one of those plays
and also submitted
a new one.”
Poplavska’s
submission is
titled “Christmas,
Somewhere” and it’s
a dialogue piece—all
one scene—of two
nondescript people
A reception after a performance. From L to R: Kristen Link, Director of
Education and Accessibility, Maeren Quirke, Monteze Freeland, Director
talking on a nondescript street corner. “It’s Christmas Eve and
one of them is looking for someone they saw on that street years
ago,” she explains. “I wrote no description for the characters—no
age, no look, not even established genders. Just two generic,
unisex names. I left it all up to the director and actors.”
The young playwright is so thankful for the ways
this competition has prepared her for future playwriting
opportunities. “Seeing my work put together was indescribable—
simply incredible,” says Poplavska. “I just wanted to make people
laugh with something a little absurd and, at the same time,
explore themes about how we connect with other people—about
the love we share with strangers and with all people. I like to
think it made an impact. At the very least, I know it made people
laugh, and we could all use more of that!”
Maeren Quirke, 14, is the daughter of Jeff Quirke and Cindy
Bryce and is in 9th grade at North Allegheny Intermediate High
School. Her hobbies include playing the violin and ukulele,
participating in speech and debate at school, Girl Scouts, playing
and watching basketball, and theater.
“I have always enjoyed reading, writing and the creative arts
in general, but my appreciation for theater truly began after
watching my brother in a performance of ‘Disney’s Peter Pan JR.’
with the company Jeter Backyard Theater,” says Quirke. “Soon
after, when I was 12, I signed up for their next performance of
‘Disney’s Alice in Wonderland JR.’ It was a great experience and I
continue to perform with Jeter to this day.”
“When my teacher, Mr. Gamache, told my class about the
City Theatre Young Playwrights Contest in February of my 8th
grade year, I hadn’t written a play before, but I knew I wanted to
enter and try something different,” she continues. “On Feb. 14,
I was looking through the news and every article was about the
same thing—a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School. As the world was falling apart, all the pieces of my play
started falling together, and more ideas than ever were rushing
through my head.”
Quirke researched what people were saying about the
shooting, and especially what the victims’ families had to say.
“It quickly became something I was passionate about,” she says.
“At the same time, I didn’t want my play to be a political one. I
just wanted to tell a story of friendship and of loss, of watching
your world crumble before your eyes and of finding your
individual path.”
Quirke’s play is titled “Esperanza Means Hope,” and the young
playwright never expected to be one of the winners of the City
Theatre Young Playwrights Contest. “This experience has been
such an important one, as it helped me develop my writing,
explore a new style of writing, learn the process of turning a
written piece into a live performance, meet so many incredible
people and grow as a person,” she says. “The play I wrote is
important to me because it reflects parts of my life and what I
care about most. I want to enter it nationally to hopefully impact
a larger audience and share a story that I feel should be shared.
“I strongly encourage anyone interested to enter the City
Theatre Young Playwrights Contest—especially if they
are passionate about a topic,” continues Quirke. “The best
results come from taking a step outside your comfort zone and
trying something new.”
The EQT Young Playwrights Festival included two
weeks of student matinees, public performances and a
reading of honorable mentions. For more information, visit
citytheatrecompany.org/. ■
From L to R: Anya Martin, Sam O’Byrne, Will Harrison, Ellen Poplavska
NORTH ALLEGHENY
❘
WINTER 2018
47