New Sci-Fi Readings and Award Ceremony at Vromans in Pasadena on May 20

Vroman’s Bookstore (Photo – @vromansbookstore).

On Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm celebrity guests will gather at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena to dramatically read the best in original new science fiction writing by Los Angeles County high school students for “The Tomorrow Prize” and “The Green Feather Award Celebrity Readings and Honors.”

By News Desk

Featured celebrity guests will include: Yasmine Al-Bustami (The Originals, NCIS: Hawai’i, Orbital Redux), Rico E. Anderson (The Orville, Star Trek, Truth Be Told), Jasika Nicole (Fringe, The Good Doctor, Punky Brewster), Phil Anthony Rodriguez (Star Wars: Rebels, Grimm ), Leilani Shiu (The Madalorian, The Book of Boba Fett), Amy Tolsky (Trust), and more.

Omega Sci-Fi Awards Director Rosalind Helfand says:

We are so excited to hear original sci-fi by this year’s student honorees be brought to life on stage.

The Tomorrow Prize is an opportunity for students to shine as the thinkers of the future! Teen writers are encouraged to explore scientific, social, technological, environmental, moral and philosophical themes and issues in their writing and always, at the core, to master the art of great storytelling.

The Tomorrow Prize

The show will feature dramatic readings of seven compelling short stories. These include five Finalists for The Tomorrow Prize: Rafael Chavez for “What Lies Beyond” (Port of Los Angeles High School), Barrie Komsky for “Burn the World, Build with the Ashes” (Cleveland Charter High School), Miguel Lujan for “Nights in the City” (Downtown Magnets High School), Evin Manlapaz for “The Blanket” (John Marshall High School), and Jasmine Sov for “Obsolete” (Pasadena High School).

The Green Feather Award

Celebrities will also read two eco-themed short sci-fi stories by the winners of The Green Feather Award, which is a special prize co-sponsored by the Nature Nexus Institute. The writers weave themes of social and environmental justice into their stories and envision futures where the world looks very different than it does today. The Green Feather Award Winners are: Diana Pena for “Painting the Way Through the Future” (Downtown Magnets High School) and Haifa Maung and Fia Layne for “Connections with Sage the Fungi” (Culver City High School).

Following the readings, the students will be honored and the three top prize winners announced. This year’s special guest presenters include American playwright and director Elizabeth Wong.

The Tomorrow Prize and The Green Feather Award are programs of the Omega Sci-Fi Awards, which were founded in 2014 by Sci-Fest L.A. The Omega Sci-Fi Awards are now a program of the nonprofit Light Bringer Project of Pasadena. Major sponsors include The Roddenberry Foundation. L.A. Parent Magazine publishes the first place winning story, and Nature Nexus Institute co-presents The Green Feather Award.

> This event is free to attend with registration. Register on Eventbrite,