36 Artscene · FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2009 Success is not just in his head OT student wins national playwriting contest B ographical work. "It definitely came from real life experiences," he said. "It helps a lot writing about en Gilgan could be called a drama what you know and something that comes king. The Grade 12 Oakville Trafalgar from the heart." Melisa Muzzatti, the school's drama High School student recently received the top prize in the Tarragon teacher, encouraged Gilgan to enter his Theatre's Under 20 for Under 20's work in the Tarragon Theatre playwriting competition. Playwriting Competition. "When I first read it, I thought it was The win garnered Gilgan a cash prize of $250, and more importantly, a professional very funny and very entertaining," she said. "I know Ben's come a long way and is a reading of his play. Despite winning the national competi- great writer, but I didn't know what the tion, Gilgan is very humble about the hon- competition was going to be like." Both Muzzatti and Gilgan temporarily our. "I feel lucky and thrilled," he said. "I'm forgot about the contest until the student lucky enough to have a lot of very nice peo- checked his messages on his cell phone one ple around me that always help me feel day in late May. "I was having lunch outside on the confident, but it was definitely very encourbleachers with my friends and I was excited aging to win and gave me a boost." Gilgan, 17, was bit by the dramatic bug about having a missed call from a number I in high school. He had been exposed to his don't know, because it is like a mystery," he older brothers' interest in theatre starting said. "What was even more exciting was at a young age, but realized his own passion that there was a voicemail from a person at the theatre and they said for it in Grade 10. I had won." He enrolled in drama "I'm lucky enough to have a Muzzatti said she will classes, participated in the- lot of very nice people always remember a very atrical productions and in around me that always help calm, cool and collected Grade 11 became a part of me feel confident, but it was Gilgan coming into her the school's improv team, definitely very encouraging office that day telling which made it to the her he had won. national finals for the past to win and gave me a "I thought it was so boost." two years. well deserved for Ben," But the real breakMuzzatti said. "This is through came last semes- Ben Gilgan him having the opportuAward-winning playwright ter, when Gilgan wrote and nity to have his work subsequently directed showcased again. It was Thinking Too Hard for the such a strong play and he created characschool's One Act Festival in December. "In Grade 10 and 11, I was usually on ters that are universal and that you care stage, but this year, I've been more of a about and want to connect to. I haven't had writer or director," he said. "I used to want a student ever win a contest like this. It is to be an actor, but then it shifted in late so inspirational to have a student like Ben." Gilgan and his family, friends, as well as Grade 11 and Grade 12. During the One Act Festival, the process of watching the cast Muzzatti, travelled to downtown Toronto learn the lines, grow and end up going on for the recent play reading. Gilgan spent the morning working with stage and performing my play was such a the actors and director. He and his fan club, thrill." Gilgan has written three plays in cooper- about 30 young students taking a playwritation with his good friend and classmate ing workshop and the theatre's artistic Christian Glas, but the one-act work was director watched the staged reading in the afternoon. his first solo effort. Gilgan said he felt extremely privileged Thinking Too Hard is a comedy about the various voices in one's head and the to be a part of the unique experience. "I think the coolest part was seeing how impact they have. In this case, there are five characters representing different thoughts the actors performed it," he said. "Because NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER in a teenage boy's head, as he contemplates we performed it here at the school, it was neat to see how they took it and how they THE WRITE STUFF: Ben Gilgan, a Grade 12 Oakville Trafalgar High School student, recently asking a girl out on a date. "The characters are all of his personality changed it. It was neat to see the creative won the Tarragon Theatre's Under 20 for Under 20's Playwriting Competition for his play Thinking Too things the actors and director did with it." Hard. The national title was accompanied by a cash prize of $250 and a professional reading of the traits," he said. See Student page 37 Gilgan sheepishly admits it is an autobiplay. OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF By Tina Depko