Coachella Valley Repertory (CVRep) honored entrants and the winners of its third annual writing competition on Sunday, October 16 in CVRep’s theater. The competition was sponsored by Peggy Jacobs, produced by CVRep’s Kudra Wagner and hosted by Director of Conservatory Douglas Sorenson. Winning entries and notable submissions were read by the author or professional actors, Leslie Tinnaro and Craig Wells. Awards and cash prizes were presented in three categories: middle school, high school freshmen and sophomores, and high school juniors and seniors. First, second and third place winners received $500, $250 and $100 respectively. The submissions were judged by award-winning authors and theatre critics Eric Cunningham, Bruce Fessier, and Jim Spalding. The competition was produced by Kudra Wagner.
MIDDLE SCHOOL HONOREES
First Place: Ashley Torres-Reyes, Toro Canyon Middle School
“Is This The Real Me?,” poetry
Second Place: Gianni Liverani, Palm Desert Charter Middle School
“The Loch in Endless Swirl,” poetry
Third Place: Israel Angulo, Toro Canyon Middle School
“False Hope,” poetry
Honorable Mentions: Kyra Bufanda, Painted Hills Middle School
No title, short story
Melody Ocampo, Painted Hills Middle school
The Origins of Mexico and Its Culture, informative essay
HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN & SOPHOMORE HONOREES
First Place: Ifra Iyoob, Palm Desert High School
Genocides Are Not Just of the Past, informative essay
Second Place: Kyra Entzminger, Shadow Hills High School
“Hunter, Hunted,” short story
Third Place: Kaela Martin, Palm Desert High School
“August,” prose
Honorable Mentions: Lauren Cruz de Armas, La Quinta High School
“I see,” poem
Emily Feffer, Xavier College Preparatory School
“Fairy-Tale Fusion,” short story
HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR & SENIOR HONOREES
First Place: Jason Hendricks, Shadow Hills High School
“Escapaing Tethoris,” short story
Second Place: Maximus Rubalcava, Shadow Hills High School
“The Forest,” short story
Third Place: Joshua Alapizco, Shadow Hills High School
Song lyrics, no title
Cynthia Ruiz, La Quinta High School
“Dinner Time,” poem
Ivana Rodriguez, Palm Desert High School
“Growing Pains,” poem
CVRep Executive Board Member Peggy Jacobs was the competition sponsor. Ms. Jacobs said, “I feel privileged to support Coachella Valley Repertory and this important competition. It is imperative that we encourage our young people to explore and develop their passion for spoken and written words. They are honing the skill of clear, effective, and compelling communication. We must never forget that authors and playwrights provide access to the past, hold a mirror to ourselves, and will represent us in history. It’s an honor to encourage and support these talented young writers who will tell our stories.”
“We were so impressed by the quality of the works we received,” said CVRep Executive Artistic Director Adam Karsten. “It was especially impactful to hear many of the works read out loud. The insights, passion and conviction of these young artists was inspiring. We appreciate their willingness to share many very personal feelings and views. The public, families and educators in the Coachella Valley should be proud of these accomplishments and the talent that is emerging here. We’re eager to hear more from each of our writers.”
COACHELLA VALLEY REPERTORY is a non-profit, professional regional theater. It is the only theater in California’s Coachella Valley that has Small Professional Theatre (SPT) status with Actor’s Equity.
CVRep presents thought provoking theatre of substance. It produces a broad range of classic, popular contemporary and new works. Its programming embraces stylistic diversity, embracing tradition and encouraging experimentation. Additionally, CVRep provides meaningful education programs that include professional level theatre training for young people and adults in its Conservatory, an annual writing competition for students in middle school and high school, and internships. CVRep’s Education Department visits schools in cities throughout the Coachella Valley with programs and performances that help young audiences to develop their creativity, explore new concepts and ideas, and inspire an appreciation for theatre. As a member of the Coachella Valley community, CVRep is committed to enriching the quality of life for all residents and to providing memorable experiences for the Valley’s many visitors.
