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Playwriting II
GUIDE TO SCRIPTWRITING COURSES
Scriptwriting Pathways
Foundation
If you’re not sure what kind of script to write...
If you know what kind of script to write...
Somewhat related...
If you want a rather short course...
Screenwriting Intensive
TV Writing Intensive
Playwriting Intensive
Web Series
Documentary Films
Stand-Up Comedy Writing Intensive
Songwriting Intensive
Or...
Next Steps
After completing a Level I ten-week course...
After completing TV Writing II Pilot…
Also Helpful
These essential courses are great for writers of any level.
Playwriting II is a 10-week workshop, which includes lectures, exercises, and the critiquing of student projects. The prerequisite is Playwriting I (10-week), or the equivalent; Level II courses work best when students know the fundamentals and have experience with the workshop process. Farther down, you can view a syllabus for this course.
The lights in the theater dim, and a play begins. Nothing beats the intensity of actors sharing the same air as the audience. The laughs and gasps and tears happen live, on the spot. And a play can be staged anywhere, from an empty space surrounded by folding chairs to a plush Broadway house.
A play will not soar in performance unless it’s great on the page. Here you’ll learn how to write for the stage and how to market your work.
Whether you seek to write one-acts or full-lengths or musicals, we’ll show you how to write plays that draw the big applause.
This course brought me to an entirely new level of writing and interpreting plays
Kimberly Kenna
teacher
Upcoming Classes
NYC COVID Info
10-Week
-
Online
Anytime, week-long sessions
Tuition: $439 (returning students: $409)
-
One-on-One
Tuition: $1,795
Syllabus
This course helps you sharpen your skills at playwriting craft and work toward completion of one or two short plays or a full-length play. Writers often repeat Playwriting II to continue their projects. Course components:
Lectures
Writing exercises
Workshopping of student projects (each student presenting work two times)
New York City/Zoom classes
The syllabus varies from teacher to teacher, term to term. Many topics will be similar to those covered in the Online classes.
Online classes
Week 1
Conflict: Protagonist and antagonist. Rising conflict. Demonstrating vs. dramatizing. Making it a fair fight.
Week 2
Character Arc: Premise and character. Transitions. Seeds of change.
Week 3
Objectives: Making objectives specific and potent. Linking objectives to image. Objectives from an actor's point of view.
Week 4
Scene Structure and Beats: Progression of beats. Progression of scenes. Progression of play.
Week 5
Dialogue as Action: Uses of dialogue—objective, distortion, presentation. Subtext. Tone. Argument and exposition.
Week 6
Subtext and Context: Surface motivations. Subconscious motivations.
Week 7
Setting and Sets: How time and place affect the action and tone. Setting and style. How many setting and sets? Type of theatricality.
Week 8
Theme and Image: Understanding theme. Dramatizing theme. Translating theme into image.
Week 9
The Climactic Event: The moment of decision. The final showdown. Problems to look for. Group structure. Using the climactic event to keep you on track.
Week 10
Collaboration: Readings. Full productions. Choosing a director. Casting. Speaking up. Too many cooks. Embrace your oddities and imperfections.
Note: Content may vary among individual classes.
Teachers
Richard Caliban
Richard Caliban was artistic director of Cucaracha Theater in NYC where he produced new works and directed his own plays, including Homo Sapien Shuffle at the Public Theatre. His work has been seen at Primary Stages, Playwrights Horizons, Cherry Lane, Ensemble Studio Theatre, La Mama, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Geva Theatre, Denver Center Theatre, and the Berkshire Theatre Festival. He wrote the book/lyrics/music and directed MoM: A Rock Concert Musical, which won Outstanding Musical at the NY International Fringe Festival. Published plays include Rodents & Radios, Gladiator, Famine Plays, and Cranium Fandango. He has directed and/or taught at the National Theatre Conservatory, NYU, Columbia University, C.W. Post College, Hunter College, City College of New York, Towson University, Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, and the Director’s Guild. He holds a BA from Bard College and attended the Yale School of Drama and NY Film Academy.
Read moreRichard Caliban
Richard Caliban
was artistic director of Cucaracha Theater in NYC where he produced new works and directed his own plays, including Homo Sapien Shuffle at the Public Theatre. His work has been seen at Primary Stages, Playwrights Horizons, Cherry Lane, Ensemble Studio Theatre, La Mama, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Geva Theatre, Denver Center Theatre, and the Berkshire Theatre Festival. He wrote the book/lyrics/music and directed MoM: A Rock Concert Musical, which won Outstanding Musical at the NY International Fringe Festival. Published plays include Rodents & Radios, Gladiator, Famine Plays, and Cranium Fandango. He has directed and/or taught at the National Theatre Conservatory, NYU, Columbia University, C.W. Post College, Hunter College, City College of New York, Towson University, Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, and the Director’s Guild. He holds a BA from Bard College and attended the Yale School of Drama and NY Film Academy.
