About the Plays:

Some great pieces for performance or scene work.

The annual Keen Teens Festival of New Work (commonly referred to as Keen Teens) is a unique and free educational theatre program, run by the Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company. Keen Teens was formed in 2007 to improve the quality of plays written for high school students by commissioning scripts from highly regarded professional writers. Playwrights write material specifically for teenagers, in plays that must be 30 minutes long, have a cast size of 10 or more, and have an ensemble structure. Keen Teens then casts high school students from across the New York metropolitan area to perform in the World Premiere productions of these plays at an Off-Broadway setting.

The Keen Collection: Volume 6 contains three short plays written by Leah Nanako Winkler, James Anthony Tyler, and Jamie Cowperthwait, and Salomon Lerner, which premiered at Off-Broadway's Theatre Row as part of 2018 Keen Teens Festival of New Work. Another highlight of Keen Teens is that the plays are published, with the student's names listed, which helps build the canon of work for high school students. To date, more than 200 performances of Keen Teen plays have been produced all over the world, from Australia to Singapore.

Winifred and Myrtle Go to High School by Leah Nanako Winkler
Winifred and Myrtle are old. Super old. Like a hundred. And so is their dog. But when a birthday wish magically transforms them in a way they never expected, things are going to get lit at the local high school. (Cast: 13 female or male, flexible ensemble).

Around 2 by James Anthony Tyler
On the night of the 2016 presidential election, a high school government club gathers to watch the results come in. Evelyn, the club president, must make a difficult choice. As the night wears on and the winner becomes clear, the students struggle to understand what is happening between them and across the country. (Cast: 6 female, 4 male).

The Caribbean Queen book and lyrics by Jamie Cowperthwait, and music Salomon Lerner
Parents are lame. Vacations are lame. Vacations with parents…I can't even. But everything is not what it appears to be on this cruise ship. Sam is about to go on a fantastic journey much farther from home than she could have imagined. (Cast: 13 female or male, flexible ensemble).