On April 20, three high school students will experience the joy of live theatre in a whole new way – as playwrights. Sophia D’Erasmo (of New Rochelle, NY), Milana Melnick (of Darien, CT) and Ace Perez (of Bronxville, NY) were named winners of The Palace Theatre’s 2026 Ernie DiMattia Emerging Young Artist Awards for their writing of an original one-act play. All three will witness their voices and visions come to life with a staged reading by professional actors at The Palace in Stamford.
Sophia D’Erasmo a senior at New Rochelle High School was awarded $500 for her play, “Tape and A Timer”.” The Palace also recognized Ace Perez a junior at the Hackley School in Tarrytown for ”Running Gun” and Darien High School senior Milana Melnick for her play, “Red Camellias.” Perez and Melnick also both received $500 for their winning submissions.
The Palace has brought in award-winning international Playwright and Screenwriter Mathilde Dratwa to direct all three-play readings, which will be attended by the playwrights’ parents, teachers and friends as well as Stamford Center for the Arts board members.
“Congratulations to Sophia, Ace, and Milana for their excellent work,” said Michael Moran, President and CEO of The Palace. “Arts education is extremely important to The Palace. We are thrilled to welcome director Mathilde Dratwa and all the actors and are excited to see how they will bring the unique vision of each young playwright to life.”
The Emerging Young Artist Award was established in 2010 and is open to all high school students from Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Winners have included instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, actors and playwrights. In 2015, the award was renamed for Ernie DiMattia, former president of The Ferguson Library in Stamford and a longtime Stamford Center for the Arts board member.
The Palace’s Arts in Education programs are year-round and strive to educate, challenge and inspire area youth by offering opportunities in performing, master classes and intensives in acting, voice, writing, music and dance. Students learn skills that are important in academic and life success such as confidence, problem solving, teamwork, perseverance and focus.
The staged reading on April 20 will begin with beverages and charcuterie at 6:30pm with the reading beginning at 7:00pm. It is free and open to the public. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting Carol Bryan at cbryan@palacestamford.org.
The Palace Theatre is located at 61 Atlantic Street in Stamford, CT. For the latest news and updates, follow @ThePalaceTheatreStamford on Facebook and @PalaceStamford on Twitter and Instagram.
