Linford fifth-graders showcase Playwright residency; organizers seek expansion across district

At a work session of the Albany County School District #1 Board of Trustees, fifth‑grade students from Linford Elementary demonstrated exercises and described scenes from a 22‑week Playwright residency run by the nonprofit Relative Theatrics.

Playwright sessions at Linford include warmups, tongue twisters, short scene‑writing and a final showcase and publication of each student’s work, officials said. The program currently serves Linford, Slate Elementary and Rock River School, and organizers told trustees they hope to expand to additional district schools in coming years.

Will Bowling, education director for Relative Theatrics, described Playwright as an arts‑integration literacy program that combines creative writing instruction with theater skills. “We’re teaching fundamental skills, we’re trying to deepen the understanding of those skills and generate material,” Bowling said. He added the residency’s goals include improved writing benchmarks, creativity, confidence and public‑speaking ability.

Students performed warmups and explained classroom routines for the trustees. “One thing I have learned from Playwright was yes‑and, because you don’t have to just use it in Playwright,” said a student who identified herself as Scarlet, a Linford fifth‑grader. Other students described short plays they have written — subjects ranged from a haunted house to inanimate objects — and said they value collaboration and reading plays to improve writing.

Organizers said the program culminates in a community showcase and in printing a bound volume containing every participant’s play. Relative Theatrics plans a morning showcase for students and a public evening performance Thursday, May 22, at the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts.

Bowling told the board Playwright is provided to the district at no cost but requires outside fundraising and capacity among teaching artists. “It’s also about capacity for us, as teaching artists at Relative Theatrics,” Bowling said. He and other presenters said the National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America grant has covered roughly 15–20% of the program budget in recent years; organizers said the Challenge America category has been curtailed under recent federal guidance and that the loss represents a funding gap they are trying to replace.

Trustees asked about district support and classroom integration. A board member identified as Trustee Alex Christine thanked the presenters and asked what the program would need to expand; Bowling and other Relative Theatrics staff said additional teaching artists, fundraising and interest from principals and classroom teachers would be the key factors. District staff Debbie Fisher previously allocated unused professional‑development funds to support the program for two years, presenters said.

Organizers said the district’s involvement includes classroom participation and occasional use of teachers in warmups and demonstrations; presenters emphasized they aim for the program to be joyful for classroom teachers rather than burdensome. The board received the presentation for discussion during the work session; no formal action was taken.

The trustees were invited to the May 22 showcase; organizers said the morning performance is for students and a 7 p.m. evening performance is open to the community.