Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School announced today that junior student, Bella Yaguda, is one of four finalists at the Play Works Competition at the International Play Works Festival, a celebration of student achievement in the performing arts, at the University of Nebraska.
Several dozen high school thespians submitted their work to the competition and only four were selected as finalists. Those finalists will travel to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln this June to watch their plays be produced and performed. There will be a weeklong workshop and production under the director Phil Moss and the dramaturg Judy GeBaur. Ms. GeBaur will represent the playwrights during production in a workshop scenario and provide writing development.
Bella’s play, “Talking to Your Child About Death” is a 16 minute, single act with quick, short dialogue. The entirety of the play takes place at a bus stop, where an elderly man, “Clipper”, waits. Clipper struggles with memory loss and confusion; illustrated with him having a dog on a leash that is depicted by a stuffed animal since, in reality, his dog recently died. The only other character is a very young girl, “Eve,” for whom this bus stop is the stop for her school bus. Essentially, the world has ended, and the two characters realize that they are the only two people left.
It is very much an experimental, psychological piece that explores perspectives on death and dealing with loss and intentionally leaves the audience with a lot of unanswered questions; are the characters dead? In some sort of purgatory? Is this the apocalypse? Is Clipper imagining it all? Or is Eve’s mother just late to pick her up?
The play brilliantly and artistically causes a mix of reactions from the audience including laughter, crying and moments of silence.
“Being selected as a finalist is a beautiful reminder that my writing can provoke thought,” Bella Yaguda said. “I’d like to use my tools to make effective social commentary pieces that can turn the writing I love into a platform from which I can create change and make the world a better place.”
“Talking to Your Child About Death,” was also one of two finalists and performed at The California State Thespian Festival. It was performed in front of about 1200 other high school thespians from California.
“Bella is a rare student who excels across academics and the arts while working for social justice,” said Jennifer Blomfield, Drama Teacher Mission College Prep. “She is a scholar, actor, singer, and playwright whose work displays her righteous tenacity and beautiful soul. She is among the best at MCP with her diverse ideas.”
Bella is president of Mission College Prep’s Mock Trial Team and Gay Straight Initiative Club. She researched and served as the technical writer for Moody’s Mega Math Challenge.
Bella is especially thankful for Mrs. Blomfield and Mrs. Blauvelt, MCP alumna, for helping her submit her work for consideration. Stay tuned, as MCP will be performing “Talking to Your Child About Death” May 7 following “Into The Woods” at Mission College Prep at 2:00p.m.
To learn more about ways to partner with the school and its commitment to forming women and men of scholarship, inspiration, and leadership, visit www.missionprep.org.