The Inge House Playwrights-in-the-Schools program places Inge House professional resident playwrights in area rural schools to teach playwriting. Under guidance of the playwrights-in-residence, students write their own plays, based on their personal life experiences and the issues that concern them most. In addition to literacy skills, Playwrights-in-the-Schools activities increase students’ academic achievement, empowering the students through an increase in self-esteem, self-expression and exposure to professional experts in creative fields. Each residency culminates with a reading of the plays, allowing the young writers to hear their works performed before a live audience.
The host schools vary by year. Previous Playwrights-in-Residence programs have taken place at: Cherryvale High School, Coffeyville-Field Kindley High School, Elk Valley High School, Independence High School, Labette County High School, Neodesha High School, Sedan High School and the SEK Academy.