High school student and budding playwright Anthony Anello was a winner in the New York State Theatre Education Association’s annual Student Writing Contest.

Anello’s play, “The Best Thing,” was one of more than 40 submissions for the prestigious contest. It will be performed by student actors on Jan. 10 at the Saturday Night Showcase at NYSTEA’s 2015 Student Conference, to be held at the Villa Roma Hotel in Calicoon, N.Y.

“I enjoyed reading his play and look forward to meeting Anthony and seeing the performance,” said NYSTEA President James Pecora.
 
At the three-day weekend of workshops, students from around the state – including approximately 15 from Deer Park – will audition to perform the winning plays under the direction of NYSTEA teachers. Anello and the other attending playwrights will be presented with onstage certificates, and the performers, directors and playwrights will meet for a discussion of the pieces after the performances.
 
Anello, a senior, is heavily involved in drama at Deer Park, including the one-act festival, the annual musical and the winter festival. This will be the third year in a row that he has attended the conference, but was his first time submitting a play. “The Best Thing,” which he wrote last June, is a drama about a playwright husband in conflict with his wife.
 
“I’m really excited for the performance at the conference,” said Anello. “It’s a great weekend overall, and wonderful to be around people who have a common interest.”

“Anthony is a great student and I am so glad I have had the opportunity to be his director for the last three years,” said teacher James Henry. “He is so dedicated to the theater, and our school is very fortunate to have such a driven student. He will be truly missed next year.”