1. Playwriting

2. What is playwriting? Composing the script of the play
Outlines, drafts, edits, and rewrites
Includes all characters and locations
Includes only the most important info about props, costumes, lights, and sound

3. Vocabulary
Script: the play in written form; document that outlines the story through visual descriptions, actions of characters, and what the characters say
Setting: physical location where the action happens
Plot: the overall story; what happens in the play
Character: a person who is an active participant in the world of the play

4. Vocabulary Playwright: someone who writes the play
Playwriting: the study of or action of writing a play
What’s the difference between “wright” and “write” in this circumstance?

5. Play Structure

6. Elements of Plot Comes from the Greek philosopher Aristotle
Our plot style is called Aristotelian plot – most common
Can use a plot mountain to chart the 6 elements of plot

7. Elements of Plot
Exposition: what we know about the characters and the world of the play at the beginning of the story
Conflict: the point in the story when the major problem happens or is introduced
Rising Action: all the events that happen because the characters are trying to solve the conflict, gradually building in intensity

8. Elements of Plot
Climax: the height of conflict in the play; the most intense & interesting moment in the play
Resolution: the moment when the conflict is solved
Falling Action: anything that happens after the resolution; wrapping the story up after the conflict has been solved

9. Exposition Need to know each character’s name
Need to know relationships to the other characters
Where are we?
Think – if the audience doesn’t know this information, why are they going to care enough to pay attention to your story?

10. Conflict The main problem that has to be solved
The question that has to be answered
Generally need to see the conflict happen on stage
If we don’t see it happen, conflict needs to be stated in a clear, direct way
Without conflict, there is no plot!

11. Rising Action
All events that lead up to the moment of highest interest
Includes all attempts to solve the problem/conflict
Need to gradually build in intensity over time, otherwise the audience will lose interest
Must advance the plot forward!

12. Climax
Moment of highest intensity – the most interesting moment of the play
Can overlap with the resolution, but it can also happen at a different time

13. Resolution The moment wen the conflict is resolved
The question is answered
The problem is solved
Someone “wins”

14. Falling Action Sometimes referred to as the epilogue or denouement
Includes anything that happens after the resolution
What happens to everyone?
Does the world stay the same or does it change?
Cliffhangers are a specific type of falling action

15. How to Read a Script

16. Types of Talking
Monologue: one character talks for a while to another person without a break
Dialogue: conversation between 2+ characters
Soliloquy: one character is talking to himself/herself because they believe they’re alone
usually designed to help the audience understand what’s going on in the character’s head

17. Formatting Universally formatted to make reading a play easy
Blocking – the movement on the stage – are always written in italics and put in (parenthesis)
Character names are written in ALL CAPS
Bold formatting is never used in a final script
Always leave one blank space between the lines

18. Example
AMANDA: Hi, I’m Amanda. (Extends hand to TRISTAN) TRISTAN: (Shakes AMANDA’s hand) Hi. I’m Tristan. It’s nice to meet you. AMANDA: It’s nice to meet you too. Please, have a seat. (TRISTAN sits in chair across from AMANDA. She pulls out notebook and takes notes during the interview.)

19. Setting Information Setting: where the scene takes place
Need to establish where we are at the beginning of the scene
Example:
SETTING: AMANDA’s office inside the bank

20. What is a scene?
A scene is a sequence of action that takes place in one place, at one time, and has its own beginning, middle, and end
Write “Scene #” in the center at the start of your scene
If you change location or change time, you have changed scene!

21. When reading out loud… Only the dialogue is spoken
Stage directions are usually not read out loud, especially not during a performance
Sometimes an extra person may read the stage directions when first learning the script, but it’s never one of the actors