New stories. New voices, On stage.

City Opera House invites regional high school students to submit an original one-act play—just 9-12 pages with 4 characters or less—to the COH Young Playwrights Page 2 Stage Lab. Finalists are paired with national theater mentors, win $100 and see their play performed on the City Opera House stage.

Script entry deadline: Sunday, December 21, 2025.

Semifinalists and finalists announced: February 2026

P2S Performance: April 12, 2026 1:30pm

Picture this:

• You get picked as one of six finalists

• Your story gets told

• Your play is produced

• Your work is performed at City Opera House

• You get your own national theater mentor

• $100 in your pocket

• You get your first work performed before you graduate

Educator and Mentor Resources

Educators and mentors play a key role in the success of the program. Whether you hand pick students with a passion for writing or incorporate Page 2 Stage into the classroom curriculum or program we welcome your support.

Page 2 Stage complements the ELA Common Core Standards and offers an alternate way for students to learn and grow.

Entrants:

• Exercise creative writing in a nontraditional way (while complementing ELA standards)

• Express topics relevant to them in a safe and nurturing way

• Embrace the art of crafting and structuring language through research, construction and application

• Apply communication skills through explanation and experiences

Finalists:

• Learn alongside national theater mentors

• Collaborate with teachers, mentors, actors and peers to see their play come to life

• Experience their works produced and performed on the City Opera House stage by regional actors

• Showcase their work on stage to friends, family and classmates at no costs

Finalists are matched with professional theatre mentors who guide students through revisions via email and in person the weekend of the festival performance. P2S is a juried competition.

Questions? Email executive@cityoperahouse.org or call the Executive Director at 231.941.8082 ext. 202.

This and all educational programs at City Opera House are sponsored by MSU Federal Credit Union and Leith & Gloria Butler with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Michigan Arts & Culture Council.