Introduction to Playwriting
Mondays 1-2:30pm
Zoom #
Instructor: Delaney Kelly
Values and Personal Statement
In an increasingly disconnected world, it’s hard to imagine how theater will adapt to these changing times Whether you are a frequent theatergoer or just want to learn something new, I hope you can see the value in this art form even as its definition is evolving right now I want you to use the supportive environment in this class to respond to “these uncertain times,” whatever that means to you The ultimate goal is not to have a final product that is “award-worthy,” but something that challenges us, connects us with others in a meaningful way, and makes us proud!
Operations
Assignments can be either handwritten or typed on a computer (Microsoft Word or Google Docs). You will not be expected to print out assignments. Handouts will be distributed to your mailbox (if Independent Living) or front door (if Care Center) a day prior to class. If you require different margins or a larger font size on printed materials, please let me know so I can accommodate your needs In order to participate in our class via Zoom, you will need a device that connects to the Internet and has a working camera and microphone (If this poses an issue, let me know and we can work something out )
To allow time for printing and distribution, all assignments are due the day before (Sunday) at 5pm unless otherwise stated
Class Environment
This class will consist of writing workshops, where we read and comment on one another’s writing. This prospect can be intimidating at first, but it doesn’t have to be! Through writing, we are all exercising our vulnerability. By taking this class, you are expressing a commitment to respect one another’s bravery in sharing their ideas.
More specifically, we can accomplish this by:
★ Giving everyone equal space to share without fear of being disregarded or talked over.
★ In writing workshops, all comments and critiques should be aimed at actively encouraging one another along the writing process, not tearing down
★ Acknowledging that the writer has agency over their own work--meaning your critique won’t seek to change the story into something you would write This also means that writers don’t have to implement feedback if they don’t want to
The Final Project and Performance
This 14-week course will culminate in each participant producing a 10-minute play. The plays will be presented as a staged reading “performance,” viewable by Zoom (date TBA). While we will begin the writing of the final project in earnest halfway through the course, I encourage you to start thinking about what you’re interested in writing about from the beginning We can even workshop any ideas you have!
(If you caught December’s performance of “Three Short Plays,” you’ll know that the writers went above and beyond the initial 10-minute parameters! So let’s say that 30 minutes is the ultimate max limit your one-acts can be This amounts to approximately 10-20 typed pages of script, depending on font and margin sizes )
(Monday, January 18th) Week 1: Introductions!
Goals: Go over the syllabus and introduce ourselves.
Homework: Think of any spoken performance you like (it could be a movie, TV show, play, podcast, slam poem, YouTube video). If you have a specific scene or segment from the performance you want to share, please mention the name of the scene as well. Send performance titles to me via email by next Monday at 10am. Be prepared to explain why you like it!
(Monday, January 25th) Week 2: Talking to Myself
Goals: Discuss what makes a script different other forms of writing, share some of our favorite performances, and engage in a freewriting exercise
Homework: None
(Monday, February 1st) Week 3: Talking to Others
Goals: Discuss how a play is formatted, how it’s used in performance, and introduce a new freewrite.
Provided materials: Norman Rockwell paintings featuring two people in a distinct scene
Homework: Take a long look at the inspiration picture provided to you. Refer back to the observations and questions you posed in class based on this picture Write up to two pages of dialogue based on the two figures in the picture In terms of content, you are encouraged to interpret this assignment as loosely as you wish! The dialogue does not have to be a complete scene, but the dialogue should be fairly proportioned between the two characters speaking
(Monday, February 8th) Week 4: Conflict and Character
Goals: Workshop our dialogue experiments and discuss how to create meaningful conflict by looking at select scenes from plays.
Provided materials: The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, Scene 1; Angels in America by Tony Kushner, Scene 8
Homework: Think of a time you experienced conflict in your own life Freewrite briefly about the situation, and which two people (or ideas!) were at odds to create that conflict Then, write up to two pages of dialogue dramatizing that event It can be as true to life or as absurdly fictionalized as you wish What I’m most interested in is at least one character with interesting objectives, needs, conundrums
(Monday, February 15th) Week 5: The Idea
Goals: Briefly workshop our conflict experiments and read select scenes from a play.
Provided materials: Let Me Down Easy by Anna Deavere Smith; Smith interview
Homework: Drawing from our discussion and the handout (and perhaps any of the plays we have read!), write up to three pages of at least one scene featuring an idea you want to explore
(Monday, February 22nd) Week 6: The Idea, Revised
Goals: Workshop our writing experiments and discuss other select scenes
Provided materials: for colored girls who have considered suicide by Ntozake Shange; choreopoem handout; How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
Homework: Please revise your writing assignment based on comments received by the group. Much like last week, write up to three pages of at least one scene featuring a different idea you want to explore.
(Monday, March 1st) Week 7: Honing into the Story
Goals: Workshop the writing assignment and discuss ideas we are interested in exploring for the final project
Homework: Please revise your writing assignment based on comments received by the group You now have two brief workshopped pieces exploring different ideas Going forward, you will have to settle on an idea that interests you for your
10-minute play. Freewrite for one page about what you liked and disliked in the process of writing your two works so far, and jot down 3-4 ideas you’re interested in writing about for the final project.
(Monday, March 8th) Week 8: Preparing to Write “The Thing”
Goals: Discuss another famous scene from a play and go over our ideas for the final project
Provided materials: Sweat by Lynn Nottage, Scene 5; Nottage interview transcript
Homework: With our ideas and two writing experiments in hand, it is now time to write “the Thing ” You can expand on any writing you’ve previously done or start from scratch Before our next class, please write a draft of your play, approximately 10-15 pages It may seem intimidating to write this much in one assignment, but the first draft is always the hardest! From here, we have plenty of time to work and revise. So, please use this assignment to write without abandon. These assignments must be sent via email by Sunday at 5pm!
Optional: Tell your friends about the upcoming opportunity to perform in our plays! Promotional info will be posted.
(Monday, March 15th) Week 9: “The Thing”!
Goals: Have a conversation about the final project This is meant to be a simple check-in about where everyone is at in their writing We won’t go for the full time today
Homework: Copies of everyone’s drafts will be handed out Please take some time to read and write comments for each play
(Monday, March 22nd) Week 10: Workshop and Performance
Goals: Workshop our plays and take turns reading them aloud.
Homework: Based on what you heard during the read-through and comments received during the workshop, make revisions to your play.
(Monday, March 29th) Week 11: Workshop and Performance, Pt. 2
Goals: Actors join us on this day! Roles will be arbitrarily assigned among participants, and we will read straight through each of the plays We’ll reserve some time at the end for discussion
Homework: Based on feedback received during the read-through, continue to revise your play
(Monday, April 5th) Week 12: The Rehearsal Process
Goals: We will hold an informal audition for the actors, and the cast list will be finalized. If there’s time, actors will read through changes made to your scripts.
Homework: Revise your play as needed
(Monday, April 12th) Week 13: The Rehearsal Process, Pt. 2
Goals: Rehearsal of the playwriting showcase
Homework: Submit the final draft of your play to me by Sunday at 5pm!
(Monday, April 19th) Week 14: The Glory of Performance
Goals: Rehearsal of the playwriting showcase. Thank you for all your hard work this semester!
*Note: In addition to the last class, participants in the previous iteration of this course found it helpful to have a “dress rehearsal” the day before the show. So, I am adding it to the schedule right now.
Dress Rehearsal Date: TBA (3:30-5:00pm) Performance Date: TBA (7:15-8:45pm)