David Lambert, Actor/Writer
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This landmark season will bring expanded opportunities for budding playwrights, the debut of the Legacy Reading Series, and a special site-specific staging of RED SPEEDO.
What began as an idea to give young writers an opportunity has grown into something far greater than I could have imagined.”— David Youse, Executive Director
PALM SPRINGS, CA, UNITED STATES, September 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival is celebrating its historic 10th Anniversary Season, and submissions for plays are now open.
This milestone season will feature broader opportunities for young playwrights, the new Legacy Reading Series, a site-specific presentation of RED SPEEDO, and an ongoing collaboration with the Riverside County Office of Education.
The Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival (PSYPF) is thrilled to announce its historic 10th Anniversary Season, commemorating ten years of encouraging, cultivating, and honoring the voices of young playwrights across Riverside County.
As PSYPF enters this landmark year, the Festival also confirms that submissions are now being accepted for its 10th Annual Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival. Students from elementary, middle, and high schools throughout Riverside County are encouraged to submit original plays for consideration. The deadline for submissions is March 29, 2027.
Those playwrights selected will have the chance to refine their work alongside professional mentors and then see their plays performed in public staged readings featuring seasoned actors and directors. Furthermore, each winning playwright will be awarded a $500 scholarship to support their education and ongoing engagement with the arts.
“For ten years, we have watched young people discover that their ideas, their stories and their voices deserve to be heard,” said David Youse, Executive Director and Founder of the Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival. “What began as an idea to give young writers an opportunity has grown into something far greater than I could have imagined. Our 10th Anniversary is a celebration of every student who has trusted us with their work, every artist who has helped bring those words to life, and every organization and individual who has believed in our mission.”
An Expanded 10th Anniversary Season:
To mark its 10th Anniversary, PSYPF is broadening its programming beyond the annual Young Playwrights Festival with special events and initiatives aimed at uniting theater artists and audiences across generations.
Starting in January 2027, PSYPF will debut its new Legacy Reading Series, a collection of staged readings that honor established plays and playwrights while rallying the community behind the next wave of theater artists. This series will run through the first half of 2027, with further details on titles, artists, and tickets to be revealed later.
The 10th Anniversary Season will also include PSYPF’s annual site-specific theatrical production, presenting Lucas Hnath’s well-known play RED SPEEDO from April 1–4, 2027. Staged in a private residence, this limited-run show will turn an unconventional home setting into an intimate theater experience, bringing audiences close to the action and continuing PSYPF’s dedication to presenting theater in unexpected venues. RED SPEEDO will act as a special fundraiser to benefit the Festival and its initiatives for young writers. Additional announcements regarding casting, location, and tickets will be made later.
David Lambert Joins 10th Anniversary Opportunities for Winning Playwrights:
As a further special opportunity during the 10th Anniversary Season, actor and acting coach David Lambert—known for his role as Brandon Foster on the Freeform series The Fosters and recently seen in the feature film Original Sound—will provide each winning playwright with a complimentary one-on-one session.
These sessions will offer the young writers another chance to learn directly from a working professional and explore storytelling, performance, character, and the collaborative process of bringing words from the page to life.
The David Lambert sessions will be added to PSYPF’s existing program of professional mentorship, $500 scholarships, and staged readings, further enhancing the experiences available to the Festival’s winning young playwrights during this milestone season.
Riverside County Office of Education:
A key factor in PSYPF’s expansion and its capacity to connect with students across the region is its ongoing partnership with the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE).
Through this collaboration, PSYPF has widened its reach from the Coachella Valley to include elementary, middle, and high school students throughout Riverside County, helping to introduce more young people to theatrical writing and the opportunities provided by the Festival.
“We are enormously grateful to the Riverside County Office of Education for believing in what we do and helping us reach young writers across the county,” Youse added. “As we enter our second decade, that partnership is more important than ever. Somewhere in a classroom in Riverside County is a student with a story they may not yet realize anyone wants to hear. We want them to know that we do.”
Support for PSYPF:
The Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival’s programs are made possible through the generosity and commitment of organizations and individuals who share its belief in supporting young artists.
PSYPF is funded by Anderson Children’s Foundation, Western Wind Foundation, Cherry Lane Alternative, Jason Smith and Tom Valach, Tom Hartnett and Paul Reid, Steve Hamilton, Eddie Nestlebush and Scott Poland, and Kevin Stotts.
PSYPF is sponsored by the Riverside County Office of Education, Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs, with Peggy Trott, General Manager, and the Palm Springs Cultural Center, with Michael Green, Executive Director.
Their ongoing support has helped PSYPF expand from its beginnings in the Coachella Valley into a countywide program serving young writers throughout Riverside County.
Additional announcements celebrating PSYPF’s 10th Anniversary Season, including the complete Legacy Reading Series, participating artists, special events, Festival details and additional opportunities for young playwrights, will be announced throughout the season.
Students interested in submitting a play for the 10th Annual Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival must submit their work by March 29, 2027. Submission information and complete Festival details are available at www.psypf.org.
About the Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival
The Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival promotes and encourages creative writing in the theatrical form for elementary, middle and high school students throughout Riverside County, California. Through professional mentorship, $500 scholarships, staged readings featuring professional actors and directors, and opportunities to engage with working artists, PSYPF gives young writers the opportunity to develop their voices and experience their work brought to life.
The 2026–2027 season marks the 10th Anniversary of the Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival.
More information is available at psypf.org.
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David Youse
Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival
+1 310-428-3368
info@psypf.org
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