Web viewDoes it dry up. like a raisin in the ... Once you pick an inspiration for your point of...
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WORD/PLAY FINAL PROMPT! You will write a 5 -7 page play using a piece of inspiration (ideas below!) Don’t change the setting (physical location of the scenes) more than twice. Limit your cast of characters to four. Follow a simple dialogue format for now. This is an example of how I want you to write dialogue and stage directions. Example Scene: 1 Lights up on Blanche and Stanley in their apartment in New Orleans. It is evening. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Blanche: (sulking) I wish I could write a ten- minute play for TheatreSquared! The phone rings. Stanley: (answering the phone) Hello? Oh. Yeah—ok, ok, calm down, I’ll tell her. He places the receiver down slowly and seriously. Stanley: (to Blanche) That was TheatreSquared. They said you too can write a play for— Blanche: (cuts him off) TheatreSquared?!?! Stanley: (reluctantly) Yes, even you. Congratulations.
Transcript of Web viewDoes it dry up. like a raisin in the ... Once you pick an inspiration for your point of...
WORD/PLAY FINAL PROMPT!
You will write a 5 -7 page play using a piece of inspiration (ideas below!)Don’t change the setting (physical location of the scenes) more than twice. Limit your cast of characters to four. Follow a simple dialogue format for now. This is an example of how I want you to write dialogue and stage directions.
Example
Scene: 1
Lights up on Blanche and Stanley in their apartment in New Orleans. It is evening. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Blanche: (sulking) I wish I could write a ten-minute play for TheatreSquared!
The phone rings.
Stanley: (answering the phone) Hello? Oh. Yeah—ok, ok, calm down, I’ll tell her.
He places the receiver down slowly and seriously.
Stanley: (to Blanche) That was TheatreSquared. They said you too can write a play for—
Blanche: (cuts him off) TheatreSquared?!?!
Stanley: (reluctantly) Yes, even you. Congratulations.
Blanche jumps for joy and throws her arms around Stanley in a joyous, grateful, hug.
WHO ARE YOU GOING TO WRITE ABOUT??? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO WRITE ABOUT ???
Plays are about people. Whether you are writing a political play or a family drama, the story is about humanity, and how we live and love. And keep in mind that plays are written about ordinary people going through extraordinary circumstances. If you don’t know what to write about yet, here are some ideas from our past lessons.
A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry uplike a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore--And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet?Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.Or does it explode?
“Beyond Belief”StoryCorps https://soundcloud.com/storycorps/storycorps-219-beyond-belief
Or choose an image:
Once you pick an inspiration for your point of entry into the writing, use this plot structure to map out the script. Do not start writing dialogue until you know where you are going. That being said, the plot can change because you will make discoveries as you go along, but start with a solid plan. Since your play is short, the rising action will be the limited to a few scenes.
After you plot out your play, begin at the stasis and GO!
HAVE FUN!
Next step….
A TheatreSquared artist will return to read your drafts and give feedback. Editing is a really crucial part of the process, so make sure you have a full draft by the next class. We want to give you the most helpful feedback as possible, but we can’t do much with ideas that aren’t on paper yet.
