Marcia L. Bogash Playwright Festival at the Carroll Arts Center

May 22—The Carroll County Arts Council will present the inaugural Marcia L. Bogash Playwright Festival at 7 p.m. May 27 at the Carroll Arts Center in Westminster. The evening features staged readings of plays written by five Carroll County high school students followed by a Q&A with the young playwrights.

This year's playwrights are Lorien Bradford (FSK High School), Aidan Bulgar (FSK High School), Lana Ly (FSK High School), Kade Orlin (Westminster High School) and Keagan Willis (homeschool). Featuring zany comedies, a reimagining of a classic play, a sobering relationship drama and a fourth-wall breaking love story, these young playwrights' works encompass a range of genres and styles. After a short rehearsal process with actors and playwriting mentors, each playwright's work is refined and presented as a staged reading at this inaugural festival. The event concludes with a Q&A with all five playwrights to help the audience further engage with these new plays.

The mission of The Marcia L. Bogash Playwright Festival is to provide local artists with an engaging environment for the development and promotion of new theatrical works in memory of one of Carroll County's most celebrated arts advocates. On alternating years, the festival will feature plays written by either high school students or members of the community at large.

A founding member of the Carroll Players theater group, Marcia L. Bogash was an avid supporter of the arts in Carroll County. She was also an active Carroll County Master Gardeners member and worked with the Charlotte Quest Nature Center in Manchester. This festival is dedicated in her memory to honor her impact on the Carroll County arts community.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for ages 25 and under and ages 60 and up. Tickets can be purchased at carrollcountyartscouncil.org or by calling the box office at 410-848-7272. The Carroll Arts Center is at 91 W. Main St. in Westminster.