This Spring, YPT is showcasing the talent and hard work of three young playwrights with a one-night performance. Tabitha Rose, Yisrael Robinson, and Jaden Michael Madgett will each perform their original plays on the Busboys and Poets (Takoma) stage. Join us in celebrating these talented individuals and be a part of their growth as writers and performers.

Doors open at 6pm, and audience members are welcome to order dinner and/or drinks at this time. The performances will begin at 7pm followed by a brief talk back with the artists.

About the Performances and Artists

Honey Island by Yisrael Robinson

Yisrael is a senior BFA Acting major at Howard University from Tucson, Arizona. A performer, choreographer, and emerging writer, Yisrael is passionate about using the arts to explore human experience and connection. Drawn to storytelling for its power to inspire reflection and spark meaningful change, he views the stage and page as spaces where voices can be amplified, and communities can be moved toward greater understanding.

Honey Island features master’s student Luke as he deals with the masks he believes he needs to be successful, before inheriting a piece of property left to him by an ancestor. The spirit of this ancestor visits him and helps him learn to be himself and love the person he is, rather than pretend to be a person he thinks others want him to be.

The Weight of Inheritance by Jaden Michael Madgett

Jaden is a native Houstonian currently studying acting at the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University. He is honored to debut his one-man show with YPT and is endlessly grateful for the opportunity. Jaden is a two-time Owen Dodson Award recipient for his performances in Word Becomes Flesh (2024) and Sonnets and Soul (2024), recognizing his commitment to disciplined craft and expressive storytelling.

The Weight of Inheritance tells the story of a young, Black actor auditioning for a stereotyped role as he struggles to find work. He internally debates whether to walk out of the audition or to follow through before he is visited by the spirits of Sidney Poitier and Melvin Van Peebles, who help guide him through his decision.

B Series Timeline by Tabitha Rose

Tabitha is a graduating Acting major at Howard University, celebrated for her versatility, magnetic stage presence, and lifelong passion for storytelling. From her first school performances to the Howard stage, she’s honed a craft that bridges theater, film, and movement arts. Her credits include The Wizard of Oz, Hairspray, Boys Don’t Cry, Daniel Beaty’s Emergency, and the films Dearly Beloved and 4Lifers.

B Series Timeline features a young choreographer on her way to an audition. She struggles with emotional conflicts that ultimately affect her performance, but through a spiritual guide, she learns that self-love and acceptance are the best road to a prosperous future.

About Young Playwrights in Progress

Young Playwrights in Progress (YPIP) is an opportunity for young, early-career playwrights aged 14 – 24 to engage in a script-development and workshop process of original, not-yet-produced one-act or full-length plays with Young Playwrights’ Theater (YPT).

With the help of a reading committee of theater practitioners, YPT selects playwrights to engage in our YPIP program.