Day Five, Friday, July 1

Ambiguous Dialogue
Writing Day
goal for end of class--
1. Strong character descriptions
2. At least three pages of dialogue complete

ASSIGNMENT: Feel free to continue working on your plays -- you will eventually have to type them, so it's worth getting these first few pages into the computer now, as well, if you have time. IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER!!! If you want to have your piece read out loud you must come to class with enough copies for all characters + stage directions. (You can also e-mail to me at lpatient@purnell.org and I'll bring in copies OR if you know how to use google docs-- you can "share" with me. HOWEVER-- this must be done by 8pm the night before you want your piece read.) By Wednesday-- everyone should have at least one of their pieces read so you will have revision time.

Day 4, Thursday, June 30

Finish "This Property's Condemned"
-discuss subtext, character development
debrief on character, setting, dialogue

Objective
Action
Tactics
Obstacles
Stakes
Playwriting format (Ch. 9 in book, Look at links to right for other format discussions)

Mantra #3 Keep It Simple, Silly (KISS)

ASSIGNMENT: Start on own plays Maximum Five Characters/Actors

DAY THREE, Wednesday, June 29

Scenarios (guess theme) (5 minutes to finish)
"This Property's Condemned" by Tennesee Williams (20 minutes)
Assignment: Start thinking about a possible monologue and 5-minute play.

DAY TWO, Tuesday, June 28

Catron Definition of a Play (p 18 in text)
A play is a structured and unified story, comic or dramatic, complete in itself, with a beginning, middle and end, that expresses the playwright's passion and vision of life, shows unfolding conflict that builds to a climax and deals with dimensional life-like humans who have strong emotions, needs and objectives that motivate them to take action. It is constructed with a plausible and probable series of events, written to be performed and therefore told with speeches and actions, plus silences and inactions, projected by actors from a stage to an audience that is made to believe the events are happening as they watch.

Subheadings "What Makes A Play?"
#1 Writer's Mantra SHOW DON'T TELL -- "actions speak louder than words"
#2 Drama is Conflict

Credo: I BELIEVE (free writing 10 minutes)
ASSIGNMENT: Choose Two of Your Strong beliefs and write a 5-7 sentence scenario of a play that could possibly embody that theme. DO NOT STATE THE THEME!!!! Think ACTION only.

Day One, Monday June 27

info index cards
Always Sometimes Never Chart: What is a Play? What isn't a Play?
TYPES of Stages: Arena, Amphitheatre, Black Box, Thrust, Proscenium
FOR MORE INFO LOOK AT THIS presentation on Types of Theatre Spaces


ASSIGNMENT: If you want to take a look at pages 1-17 in Catron Text. Come with 3-Ring Binder!!