Young Playwrights Ukraine
In 2021 Laura Cahill began teaching screenwriting to teen actors in Kyiv, Ukraine over Zoom. 18 days after their last class, on February 24, 2022, Russia invaded their country. Young Playwrights Ukraine formed in the weeks after when the young writers began meeting to write plays.
Their plays have been performed on Zoom with noted actors, in-person at the Vineyard Theater and the Segal Center in New York City and a living room in Brooklyn, and produced in Stockholm, Sweden. Their plays will be published by Smith and Kraus in 2024.
For over two years, distinguished guests from theater, film and TV have visited meetings to share their stories, wisdom and craft.
Professional writers and directors have mentored the young writers, working closely with them on their plays, inspiring them with their work and becoming a family.
The writers are all college students now, some in Ukraine and others scattered all over the world. They continue to work together every week. Their next project, “One Night in Kyiv” will have a reading in February in New York
Liev Schreiber rehearsing "Quality Time" directed by Peter Hedges, mentored by Will Arbery.
Kathleen Chalfant and Taya Fedorenko reading "Dnipro" by Anastsia Chala in Brooklyn
Jonny-James Kajoba, Ann Dowd and Midori Francis in rehearsal for "Candies Wedding Bones" at the VIneyard Theater
Grace Cahill, director and Julia Kim Caldwell and Misha Brooks in Too Close by Uliana Klimchuk at Segal Center
Fisher Stevens talks about making a documentary to YPU
Taya Fedorenko and Kelly AuCoin in "Quality Time" at Segal Center
Daija North, Julia Kim Caldwell, Karina Syrota, Taya Fedorenko, Kelly AuCoin and Sarah Stiles at Segal Center
Tedra Millan, Midori Francis, Mary Beth Peil and Olli Haaskivi at the Vineyard Theater
YPU, Stockholm, Sweden, 2023
Lars Rudolfsson and Taya Fedorenko at Orion Theater, Stockhom, opening night, March 20th 2023
Veselka May 2023
Ulia Klimchuk and Lin Manuel Miranda at the Writers Strike, May 2023
Ulia Klimchuk and Jacki Reingold at the Writers Strike, May 2023
Karina, Laura, and Taya at Veselka, June, 2023
Zoom reading with Paul McCrane, Isabel Renner, Kat McKrimmon and Maddie Corman
Harriet Walter, Asia Pshenychna, Tyne Raffaeli, Suzanne Heathecote, Midori Francis and Joe Tippet in rehearsal for Candies Wedding Bones, August 2023
Becky Ann Baker and Cherry Jones before the Ten-Minute Play Project on Zoom, August 20th 2023
Cathy Curtin and Karina Syrota, September 2023