Sierra Blanco

Sierra Blanco received the Kennedy Center’s 2024 National Ken Ludwig Portfolio Award for Playwriting- in recognition of an emerging artists body of work. Sierra was also a 2024 Kennedy Center KCACTF Region 1 Finalist and National Semi-Finalist for the Gary Garrison 10 minute play award with her play Getting Rid of Ferdinand (the mouse play.) Sierra subsequently received a Kennedy Center playwriting placement at the Wildwind Performance Lab in Texas, 2024.

Previously Sierra was a winner of the 2020 National Endowment for the Arts / American Theatre Wing's Musical Songwriting Challenge. She also won the Stephen Sondheim National Young Playwrights Competition, Writopia's Worldwide Plays Competition, NYC Write A Play! Competition, and the 2022 O'Neill Young Playwrights Festival at the...

Sierra Blanco received the Kennedy Center’s 2024 National Ken Ludwig Portfolio Award for Playwriting- in recognition of an emerging artists body of work. Sierra was also a 2024 Kennedy Center KCACTF Region 1 Finalist and National Semi-Finalist for the Gary Garrison 10 minute play award with her play Getting Rid of Ferdinand (the mouse play.) Sierra subsequently received a Kennedy Center playwriting placement at the Wildwind Performance Lab in Texas, 2024.

Previously Sierra was a winner of the 2020 National Endowment for the Arts / American Theatre Wing's Musical Songwriting Challenge. She also won the Stephen Sondheim National Young Playwrights Competition, Writopia's Worldwide Plays Competition, NYC Write A Play! Competition, and the 2022 O'Neill Young Playwrights Festival at the National Theater Institute. Her poetry was published in the New York Times and her play Bang! in A Decade of Shared Stories an anthology of the decade’s best teen writing across genres. Her play The Smallest Heroes is licensed and published by YouthPlays. Sierra was acknowledged by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards with Gold and Silver medals for multiple years in playwriting, poetry and fiction. She received the Perelstein Discover Your Passion Scholarship for Musical-Theater Composition, the 2020 National Music Publishers Scholarship, 2022 Davenport Theatricals Dr Kenny Encouragement Scholarship, a MENSA Scholarship, was a finalist for the Andrew Lloyd Webber Scholarship for Musical Theatre Composition, received the Fine Arts Award in Playwriting from Interlochen in 2019, SUNY’s M & J Bendheim Scholarship for 2022, 2023 and 2024, and the Kennedy Center Ken Ludwig Scholarship in 2024.

Sierra enjoyed four professionally staged productions of her work (at the O’Neill Young Playwrights Festival, The Actors Temple, Theater Lab NYC, Harold Clurman Theater), staged readings at the Cherry Lane Theater, Hunter College and Bryant Park, as well as several independently staged readings of her musicals in NYC and zoom productions of her plays. During the pandemic lockdown in May of 2020 Manhattan Theatre Club selected and featured her piece The Cat Monologue in their Student Monologue Challenge. New Musicals Inc produced her 15-minute musical The Cootie Conspiracy in July of 2022 in Los Angeles at the Broadwater Mainstage (book Sierra Blanco, lyrics Sara Rose Horton, music Xander Ambrose). Sierra maintains membership with the Dramatists Guild, Actors Equity Association, BMI, NPX, and MENSA. She is a volunteer Composer/Vocalist with Hear Your Song, a non-profit that empowers children with serious illnesses to make their voices heard through collaborative songwriting. As a performer, Sierra particularly enjoyed performing with Theatre de la Ville at BAM as well as with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, and as the lead in the independent film Biff & Me. Sierra hails from New York, NY where she attended the Professional Children’s School and Hunter College High School. She received writing training from Writopia, Girls Write Now, SheNYC/CreateHer and Interlochen. Sierra attends SUNY Purchase in the Playwriting/Screenwriting major, and her recent screenplay Avalon Farms (Academy) has received multiple awards at independent film festivals nationally and internationally.

Scripts

Art Poem

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

A Poet going by Lily and a Performer going by Frame meet in an art museum. As the museum closes they discuss their own creative processes, the merit of making art in general, and the disappointment of metaphors.

A Poet going by Lily and a Performer going by Frame meet in an art museum. As the museum closes they discuss their own creative processes, the merit of making art in general, and the disappointment of metaphors.

& Stories

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

In a world where patron gods and saints are markedly, obviously, provably real, an unconventional young woman decides to summon the god of rot and stories for an unlikely cause.

In a world where patron gods and saints are markedly, obviously, provably real, an unconventional young woman decides to summon the god of rot and stories for an unlikely cause.

Study Buddy

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

Ossie and Lola have been assigned a group project together for their Lit 101 class. Unfortunately, their differences are many and their outlooks on life get in the way of any work getting done. Can Ossie befriend Lola? Can Lola look beyond Ossie's missteps? And, of course, will they ever manage to start working on the project?

Ossie and Lola have been assigned a group project together for their Lit 101 class. Unfortunately, their differences are many and their outlooks on life get in the way of any work getting done. Can Ossie befriend Lola? Can Lola look beyond Ossie's missteps? And, of course, will they ever manage to start working on the project?

Getting Rid of Ferdinand (the mouse play)

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

Bebe’s father has found out about her newly acquired rat Ferdinand and is making Bebe get rid of her “filthy pest” of a pet. Fearing for Ferdinand’s safety, and her mental sanity, she calls her childhood friend Livy into their old hangout spot in the woods to ask her to take care of her baby rat. But Livy isn’t as close to Bebe as she once was. She doesn’t know the importance of Ferdinand, and she certainly...

Bebe’s father has found out about her newly acquired rat Ferdinand and is making Bebe get rid of her “filthy pest” of a pet. Fearing for Ferdinand’s safety, and her mental sanity, she calls her childhood friend Livy into their old hangout spot in the woods to ask her to take care of her baby rat. But Livy isn’t as close to Bebe as she once was. She doesn’t know the importance of Ferdinand, and she certainly doesn’t have time to take care of some random rodent just because her friend asks. As old arguments come to light, and immediate issues make themselves known, can the two friends reconcile enough to find a home for Ferdinand, a safe harbor for Bebe’s heart, and revive the strength of bffs?

The Crab Hat Monologue

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

Lucas's coworkers have decided to summon a demon to solve the climate crisis. The materials for said summoning rituals are coming out of Lucas's paycheck. So for better or worse, Lucas is going to make sure that everyone puts on their dang crab hats to summon that demon!

Lucas's coworkers have decided to summon a demon to solve the climate crisis. The materials for said summoning rituals are coming out of Lucas's paycheck. So for better or worse, Lucas is going to make sure that everyone puts on their dang crab hats to summon that demon!

The Modern American Dragonslayer On The 4th Of July

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

July 4th, 2021, an alternate world in which there are dragons and dragon slayers.
Two such dragon slayers await the rest of their team to celebrate their "victory over the dragons."
Except the dragons aren't all gone, and one of the slayers is looking for a fight...

July 4th, 2021, an alternate world in which there are dragons and dragon slayers.
Two such dragon slayers await the rest of their team to celebrate their "victory over the dragons."
Except the dragons aren't all gone, and one of the slayers is looking for a fight...

Cheek By Jowl

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

Gabby catches her boyfriend cheating on her with her classmate. The math teacher, Mr. Peterson, tries to comfort her. Unfortunately, all is not what it seems, especially between teacher and student.

Gabby catches her boyfriend cheating on her with her classmate. The math teacher, Mr. Peterson, tries to comfort her. Unfortunately, all is not what it seems, especially between teacher and student.

Avalon Farms (Academy)

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

The world-renowned, prestigious summer music camp Avalon Farms Conservatory is - as seven talented young musicians discover - a far cry from where they end up.

Avalon Farms Academy, a ramshackle, backwoods Vermont farm newly-minted, reinvented, and marketed as a summer camp by its aging owner Genevieve bears absolutely no resemblance to the famous established school of ultra-elite training: Avalon Farms...

The world-renowned, prestigious summer music camp Avalon Farms Conservatory is - as seven talented young musicians discover - a far cry from where they end up.

Avalon Farms Academy, a ramshackle, backwoods Vermont farm newly-minted, reinvented, and marketed as a summer camp by its aging owner Genevieve bears absolutely no resemblance to the famous established school of ultra-elite training: Avalon Farms Conservatory. Apparently strapped for cash and company, Genevieve has successfully lured a group of aspiring, naïve musicians to her nascent program in a last-ditch effort to reinvigorate the facility, and herself in the process. Thrilled to receive acceptance, and failing to realize in their giddy euphoria that it’s not acceptance to the coveted Conservatory of the same moniker, the seven young artists are set on a path for an uneasy summer of surprises.

Bussed in, miles from the nearest working wi-fi, the seven soloist prodigies must learn to work together to issue a cry for help to the world to release them from the eccentricities of Genevieve, her grandsons, and her mis-marketed farm. Along the way, they discover that Genevieve’s madness has a method and has transformed them in unique ways into more mature musicians and complex human beings, courtesy of Avalon Farms (Academy).

Apartment 3B

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

Lover A and Lover B are set to get married in September. Then, tragedy strikes when B disappears into the night on the advice of the Psychic, while the Priest and Landlord contemplate what has come of young love.

Lover A and Lover B are set to get married in September. Then, tragedy strikes when B disappears into the night on the advice of the Psychic, while the Priest and Landlord contemplate what has come of young love.

Soybeef (a monologue)

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

Veronica is a well-meaning woman who just wants the best for everyone. She is determined to remain optimistic and maintain her sense of normalcy during the pandemic, despite the many obstacles. She is on a quest for human companionship, one badly-timed apartment welcoming and mistaken delivery of vegan meat at a time.

Veronica is a well-meaning woman who just wants the best for everyone. She is determined to remain optimistic and maintain her sense of normalcy during the pandemic, despite the many obstacles. She is on a quest for human companionship, one badly-timed apartment welcoming and mistaken delivery of vegan meat at a time.

Playtime

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

A small-town babysitter is pitted against a big-town girl. They both must figure out how to win games that may be more serious than they first appear, and master new roles to survive in their fight to the finish.

A small-town babysitter is pitted against a big-town girl. They both must figure out how to win games that may be more serious than they first appear, and master new roles to survive in their fight to the finish.

Bang!

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

A middle-school talent show is hijacked by a young competitor who wants to talk about freedom.

A middle-school talent show is hijacked by a young competitor who wants to talk about freedom.

The Drill

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

An elementary-school class is interrupted by a lockdown drill. Except, no one remembers an announcement saying there would be a drill today, one of the students is horribly claustrophobic, and who are those two men talking outside the art closet's door?

An elementary-school class is interrupted by a lockdown drill. Except, no one remembers an announcement saying there would be a drill today, one of the students is horribly claustrophobic, and who are those two men talking outside the art closet's door?

One Audience In Search Of An Ending

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

An Ode to Pirandello's "Six Characters In Search Of An Author," this is a large ensemble play that deconstructs what exactly makes a good piece of theater, a good show, and a good life.

An Ode to Pirandello's "Six Characters In Search Of An Author," this is a large ensemble play that deconstructs what exactly makes a good piece of theater, a good show, and a good life.

Near Enough To Jump The Divide

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

A rooftop encounter between spirit and teen leads to a battle of wits on whether to jump off.

A rooftop encounter between spirit and teen leads to a battle of wits on whether to jump off.

An Early Education

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

A Parent-Teacher-Conference is called between one Mrs. Smith - the strict and college obsessed teacher- and one Mrs. Brent - the lax 'cool mom' - about the education of one athletically inclined Charlie Brent.

A Parent-Teacher-Conference is called between one Mrs. Smith - the strict and college obsessed teacher- and one Mrs. Brent - the lax 'cool mom' - about the education of one athletically inclined Charlie Brent.

The Cat Monologue - Sam's Guide to Breaking Up With Style

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

Taylor just broke up with Sam after a very (quite possibly purposefully) bad anniversary gift.

Taylor just broke up with Sam after a very (quite possibly purposefully) bad anniversary gift.

Minutes to Launch

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

An AI named Becks and a spaceship captain named Seiga get ready to launch off into the stars. As they prepare to leave Earth forever, they discuss what they are leaving behind- the loneliness of being the last few people on the planet, the acquaintances that have preceded them to space, the mess made of the planet below them, the mess of emotions brought up by leaving the only planet they’ve known while heading...

An AI named Becks and a spaceship captain named Seiga get ready to launch off into the stars. As they prepare to leave Earth forever, they discuss what they are leaving behind- the loneliness of being the last few people on the planet, the acquaintances that have preceded them to space, the mess made of the planet below them, the mess of emotions brought up by leaving the only planet they’ve known while heading towards the friends that have left them behind. Mostly, though, Seiga just wants to know how long it will be until the ship is ready to launch.

The Smallest Heroes

by Sierra Blanco

Synopsis

What starts as a science experiment of Ellen’s strange “power” soon turns to less speculative topics. Topics like how Alice loves Ellen. Topics like how Alice hasn’t told her parents. Topics like Prom and fitting in and irrational fears, and most of all - Topics like how sometimes it’s the smallest heroes that save the world.

What starts as a science experiment of Ellen’s strange “power” soon turns to less speculative topics. Topics like how Alice loves Ellen. Topics like how Alice hasn’t told her parents. Topics like Prom and fitting in and irrational fears, and most of all - Topics like how sometimes it’s the smallest heroes that save the world.