By 1812Blockhouse
Imagination will take center stage this spring as the Renaissance Theatre’s Education Department presents the 14th Annual MindSprouts Creative Writing Showcase on Thursday, May 1 at 7:00 PM. Held at Theatre 166 (166 Park Avenue West), the event transforms original student writings into powerful stage performances — all free and open to the public.
Audiences can expect an evening of inspiring short stories, poems, and plays penned by students from across Richland County and surrounding areas. A donation box will be available at the door to support the Renaissance’s robust education programs.
What is MindSprouts?
MindSprouts is more than a contest — it’s a celebration of student creativity and self-expression. Open to students in grades K–12, the program invites young authors to submit original work that explores thought-provoking themes. Each year, finalists have their pieces adapted for live performance by a team of educators and artists.
This year’s submissions were carefully juried by Renaissance Teaching Artist Dauphne Maloney, along with a panel of local artists and educators who selected the most compelling entries for the stage.
New Themes, New Voices
For the first time in its history, MindSprouts introduced two distinct themes to encourage age-appropriate storytelling:
- Grades K–8: “A Voice to Be Heard” – Stories told from unexpected or overlooked perspectives.
- Grades 9–12: “Voices Unheard” – Narratives centered on amplifying underrepresented voices and experiences.
Meet the 2025 Finalists
From whimsical tales of cheese factories and fairies to poignant explorations of identity and resilience, this year’s lineup is bursting with imagination and heart.
Kindergarten–2nd Grade Finalists:
- Naomi Bexley – Kitty’s Voice
- Keleb Fennell – The Evil Apple
- Laiken LeVeck – A Dream with Voice
- Penny Majesky – The Lost Friends
- Timothy Sprague – The Lost Voice
- Norah Sprowl – Lilly, The Girl
- Sam Watersson – Voice of Adventure
- Camden Williams – Cookie and the Cheese Factory
Grades 3–5 Finalists:
- Abe Benjamin – Big Voices
- Farrah Coolidge – The Epic Voice
- Isabelle Eshleman & Cora Cook – Keeping Fairies Alive
- Jacob Gangi – Moonlight Mystery
- Margot Hobson – Snowball and Many Voices
- Winifred Knowlton – The Haunted Castle
- Abby Pouvell – Dreaming Voices
- Michael Stevens – My Voice
Grades 6–8 Finalists:
- Emma Hunter – Voices
- Mandy Leach – Stilled, Heroic Voices
- Samantha Lucas – Awesome Voice
- Eva Smith – Unheard Voices
Grades 9–12 Finalists:
- Morrigan Broadwater – Unheard Voices
- Berlyn Fleming – Can You Hear Me Now?
- Natalie Lehnhart – I Am Not Broken, I Am Autistic
- Anna McBride – GB
- Pat McDowell – Silence
Reserve Your Seat
Admission to the showcase is free, but seats are limited. Reserve tickets online at www.RenTickets.org, by calling 419-522-2726, or visiting the box office Tuesday through Friday, 12:00 to 5:00 PM.
Celebrating Community Support
MindSprouts is proudly presented as part of the Mechanics Bank Education Series and is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Milton R. and Beulah M. Young Foundation and the Altrusa Club of Mansfield.
Those interested in supporting MindSprouts or other Renaissance education programs can contact Maddie Penwell, Director of Development, at [email protected] to learn more about sponsorship and giving opportunities.
Come celebrate the next generation of storytellers — their words will move, entertain, and inspire.
Source, Photo: Renaissance Performing Arts Association
Be sure to turn on the sound!
