By Micah Sperling

Three students were selected as finalists in the California Young Playwrights contest for their plays from last year’s Playwright’s Festival.

Leland Frankel ’12, Daniele Wieder ’12 and Elana Zeltser ’13 all qualified as finalists. Their plays were chosen to be among the 11 finalists out of 333 entries to this year’s competition. Wieder’s play “Dropped Stitches,” Frankel’s play “…Or Not to Be” and Zeltser’s play “Steps” were submitted by the playwrights to the contest.

Each year, Californians under 19 years old can submit plays to the festival, which is sponsored by the Playwrights Project. Actors and directors from major theaters serve as judges and determine what plays will be finalists in the competition.

Finalist plays receive script readings and some are selected to be fully produced in the Plays by Young Writers festival.

All playwrights who submit, even those who are not selected as finalists, can get a written critique from the judges if they ask for one.

“I’m super excited to have been one of 11 finalists out of 333 entries,” Frankel said. “I hope to attend the festival and see the two winners for myself soon.”