The seventh annual Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival will celebrate the recent winners of the 2025 playwrights competition with a festival at the city’s cultural center, it was announced Friday.
The celebration will be held at noon at the city’s Cultural Center, at 2300 East Baristo Road, organizers said.
Kayla McCarty, 18, of Ramona High School in Riverside and Peyton Taylor, 17, of Valley View High School in Moreno Valley were announced as this year’s winners with their works, “Seven” and “The Kellogg Murders,” respectively.
According to the Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival, “Seven” is about the “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.”
“Being recognized for my work as a playwright after years in musical theatre is incredibly meaningful,” McCarty said in a statement. “Seven came from a place of deep reflection and I’m grateful for the chance to share it.”
Festival organizers described “The Kellogg Murders” as a dark comedy that explores the satirical world of cereal mascots, Corn Flakes and Wheaties as they embark on a revenge-fueled spree against their sugary competitors.”
“I’ve loved every minute of theatre during my high school years, and experimenting with playwriting has been one of the most exciting parts,” Taylor said in a statement. “Even as I head to UCR to major in psychology, I never want to lose my connection to the stage. I’m so grateful to PSYPF for this opportunity.”
Both winners will receive a $500 scholarship and a one-on-one mentorship from writer and director Jack Kenny.
Kenny’s filmmography includes “The Book of Daniel,” “Titus,” Syfy series “Warehouse 13,” and writing credits on Marvel’s “Jessica Jones.”
“Theatre demands truth — immediate and unfiltered,” said Kenny in a statement. “Mentoring these young playwrights isn’t just about shaping their scripts, it’s about helping them find and trust their voice.”
Tickets for the event are available at brownpapertickets.com/event/6581051.
“These two young wrights embody the fearless creativity and insight that define PSYPF, ” founder and executive director of the festival David Youse said. “Both `Seven’ and `The Kellogg Murders’ are wildly different yet equally compelling. One offers prfound 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.”