Playwrights Project has announced the winners of its 15th annual California Young Playwrights Contest. For the first time, all 1999 winners are from southern California. They are: 14-year-old Lisa Asunama, False Impressions; 18-year-old Joel Maguen, Checkpoint Charlie; 17-year-old Hilary Rubin, After Angie; and 15-year-old Molly Lambert, Absolutely.

This year's winning scripts will be produced under the collective title of Plays By Young Writers '99 at the Old Globe Theatre Nov. 12-21, 1999. Playwrights will participate in the production process and will be paid a $100 royalty.

The winning scripts were selected from 110 submissions. Neither initial nor final readers had any access to information about the writer. This year's main judges were Martin Benson, artistic director South Coast Rep; Jeremy Lawrence, playwright; Patty Saraniero, director of outreach and education, La Jolla Playhouse; and Annie Weisman, literary department Mark Taper Forum (and past California Young Playwrights Contest winner).

For information about Plays by Young Writers '99 or the California Young Playwrights Contest. call (619) 239-8222.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent