Warwick student wins "First in State" for playwriting

WARWICK-Christopher Sullivan, the son of Steve and Barbara Sullivan of Warwick, just won another playwriting award. At the annual New York State Theater Association Conference held Jan. 7-9, Sullivan, a student at Warwick's MCC Actor Training School, was awarded the prestigious First Place prize in scene writing. During the conference more than 600 students from New York State participated in more than 40 workshops offered for high school students by theater professionals. Sullivan, a Warwick Valley High School senior, has also been a student of MCC Actor Training School for the past several years. And he's no stranger to honors and awards. In recent times his plays have been chosen for professional production at the Summer Play Write Festivals at the Colleen Dewhurst Theater in Westchester and the Helen Hayes Theater in Nyack. In addition, the Muddy Water Players in Monroe, and Page-to-Stage Play Write Festival in Westchester have produced Sullivan's plays. His play, "Ghost Life," will be read at Warwick's Albert Wisner Library this February. And look for Sullivan's next play at MCC Actor Training School's Youth playwright Festival on May 28. "Chris has shown amazingly consistent talent as a playwright," said Donna Haley, director of the MCC Actor Training School. "As part of the regular school year we always include playwriting as one of the challenges. And our ‘mother' company, MCC Theater in New York, produces only new plays and fosters the growth of new playwrights." Each play that Sullivan has written for the MCC Annual Playwright Festival in the spring has also been awarded professional production during the summer. "His work is unique, incisive, humorous, and thought provoking," said Haley. "And we are proud that he has received this First Place prize." Sullivan also is an actor and a member of the local improvisation troupe, Jabberwalk.