Playwriting I

The word playwright like boatwright or cartwright means maker of plays, not simply writer of plays. Playwrights are craftspeople, as reliant on structure as a carpenter or mason is on their tools and materials.

In this class, we begin with an idea that resonates and build from there. Drawing on principles that date back to Aristotle, students will explore the fundamentals of dramatic structure as they begin putting pencil to paper. Once the framework is in place, we are free to venture into discovery seeking the same qualities we value in great acting: truth, spontaneity, surprise, and originality.

Through a combination of in-class exercises and writing assignments completed at home, students will generate and share new work in a supportive environment designed for exploration and creative risk-taking.

Together, we will focus on crafting stories that are structurally sound, emotionally engaging, entertaining, and surprising.

Level I embraces the process of starting with an idea, building a strong foundation, and then allowing the writing to take on a life of its own.