Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival
Announces 2025 Winners
“Never be afraid to sit a while and think.” The words of playwright Lorraine Hansberry remind us of the quiet power of reflection and storytelling. This spirit of thoughtful, bold creativity comes to life again as the Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival (PSYPF) announces the two winning playwrights for its 2025 season. The winning plays will be performed on June 8, 2025 at Palm Springs Cultural Center. The casts, to be announced, will include actors from stage, cinema, and TV
Seven—written by 18-year-old Kayla McCarty of Ramona High School, Riverside—explores the haunting stillness of purgatory, where seven souls must confront the weight of their sins. Only one can rise toward grace; the others descend into darkness. McCarty is an incoming Acting BFA student at Carnegie Mellon University.
The Kellogg Murders—by seventeen-year-old Peyton Taylor of Valley View High School, Moreno Valley—is a dark comedy in which jealous cereal mascots Corn Flakes and Wheaties embark on a revenge-fueled spree against their sugary competitors—until a determined investigator begins connecting the crumbs. Packed with outrageous characters and whip-smart satire, the play skewers brand culture and nostalgia with tongue firmly in cheek. Taylor is heading to UCR to major in psychology.
Each winner receives a $500 scholarship to support their artistic education, as well as professional mentorship from acclaimed writer and director Jack Kenny. Palm Springs resident and Hollywood veteran, Kenny brings a wealth of experience from Hollywood and Broadway to guide the young playwrights. “Theatre demands truth—immediate and unfiltered,” said Kenny. “Mentoring these young playwrights isn’t just about shaping their scripts; it’s about helping them find and trust their voice.”
“These two young writers embody the fearless creativity and insight that define PSYPF,” said David Youse, Founder and Executive Director of the Festival. “Both Seven and The Kellogg Murders are wildly different yet equally compelling. One offers profound psychological and spiritual introspection. The other, a biting and hilarious satire. It’s thrilling to provide Kayla and Peyton with a platform—and a community—that will nurture their artistic growth.”
The 7th Annual Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival
Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 East Baristo Road
co-hosted by PSYPF’s 2024 winners Abigail Alldredge, Anthony Banuelos and Erik Evans
Seven and The Kellogg Murders
Sunday, June 8, at 12:00 PM
for tickets ($10; free for students), visit Brown Paper Tickets
for more info, visit PSYPF
