THR 339 Playwriting

Introduction to the Community Review the Syllabus Appreciating short plays and films as a storyteller • Conflict: The essential ingredient of drama • Playwriting versus Screenwriting. • Theatre versus poetry and music • Collaboration between your many selves • Passion o The Importance of Endings: Personal vision and theme DUE NEXT WEEK 1. Write 3 ideas for your short play. Up to one single-spaced page total. Bring 2 copies to class. These can take the form of rough ideas, a conceptual line, a premise or a brief synopsis. Have fun --- stay loose. 2. Reading Assignment: Dunne, read the pages on character building, pgs 3-15

o View short films and plays. o Discussion of short play ideas. o Choosing which idea to pursue. Is this a short play or full length? Screenplay or a play? Or a short story o The Process of Storytelling: From idea to premise to synopsis to play. DUE NEXT WEEK 1. Playwriting Sequence: Further develop one or two of your ideas or come up with new ones. Turn in a premise for each idea, maximum 75 words. REMINDER: Always double-space the playwriting sequence assignments that you turn into us and keep them separate from any additional writing assignment(s). Please bring two copies of each writing assignment, one for yourself to take notes and one for me. 2. Reading Assignment : Dunne - pgs 15-22

Discussion of the reading and writing assignments. Looking at character, point of view Workshop Premises DUE NEXT WEEK Playwriting Sequence: Write the synopsis - one page maximum - half a page minimum. Write the conflict of your short play in two, three sentences. Please be specific. Extra Credit: Read a complete play similar in tone to your proposed project. Write a minimum of one single-spaced page describing what you learned from that read that you might apply to your own work. Be specific.

Discussion of the reading and writing assignments. Looking at Structure o On Endings: The key elements of theme. o Cultivating personal vision. Workshop synopses. DUE NEXT WEEK Reading Assignment: Handouts will be given. Playwriting Sequence: Describe your characters and locations in two pages.

Discussion of the reading and writing assignments. o Key elements of scenework and dialogue. o Key elements of play form and format: Playwriting language deciphered. Workshop characters and locations. DUE NEXT WEEK Writing Sequence: Turn in the final synopses of your play Reading will be assigned

Discussion of the reading and writing assignments. Workshop synopsis. DUE NEXT WEEK Reading Assignment : Playwriting Sequence : Submit the first five pages of your play.

Discussion of the reading. Workshop first five pages of plays. DUE NEXT WEEK Reading Assignment: Writing Assignment: Work on your plays.

Discussion of the reading. Workshop first five pages of plays. DUE NEXT WEEK No reading assignment. Writing Assignment : Submit the first draft your play.

Workshop plays. DUE NEXT WEEK Reading Assignment: Writing Assignment: Continue work on your play

Discussion of the reading • Workshop plays. DUE NEXT WEEK Reading Assignment : Write a pitch for your play.

Exercise on pitching your play. DUE NEXT WEEK Prepare questions for the Writer.

Guest Speaker Workshop with the guest speaker DUE NEXT WEEK Reading Assignment : Handouts

Workshop DUE NEXT WEEK Finish revising your short plays, the final form of your play is due next week. Work on your pitch. Submit the final form of your short play to me before the end of class.

Pitching your short play.