How do I write a stageplay?

Question

I want to write a stageplay, but I am just a business student and I dont even know where to start. Any ideas? Thanks.

Answer 1

First I'll tell you how you do NOT start. You do NOT start by sitting down and writing a play...You have to do the background work first. (Oh, and you also don't start by thinking, "I have something to TELL EVERYBODY!" Odds are everybody already knows it, and any play that starts like that will be a sermon, not a play...)



You start with something you feel about life--or even better, something you do not understand, and want to explore. You then consider what type of person embodies this feeling or question--a central character. Who can be like or unlike you, doesn't matter as long as they WANT SOMETHING AND ARE WILLING TO GO AFTER IT. You spend time in your head with that person--getting to know them, talking to them, writing down who they are and what they tell you about themselves. You learn why they want that something, and what they're willing to do to get it. And then--this is the simplest construct--you give them something in their way trying to stop them, preferably another character. Who you ALSO spend time with in your head, trying to find out why they're so determined to stop the first character. And then you find a place (or places) for them to exist in, and set them in motion.



It's the essence of drama: a protagonist, an antagonist, and conflict. The harder the protagonist goes after what they want, the harder the antagonist tries to stop them--until, at the climax, the main character either gets what they want or fails, or changes somehow. (Break down any major play, and it's still the same: Hamlet wants to kill his uncle, his uncle doesn't want to get killed. Takes 4 hours, but by the end, Uncle's dead. Of course, so's Hamlet...) And DURING all that (which is written down in paper in the form of dialogue, and descriptions of physical action), we will learn what you learned about them, take the journey you took in writing it, and presumably end up feeling the same feelings you felt that led you to write it.



Suggestions for a first play: keep it short--a half-hour is plenty (that's about 30 pages). Keep it simple--a couple of characters working out one issue. Try to keep it in one place--it's a play, not a movie. Don't write the script until you're ready; the more time you spend writing character backgrounds, outlines, notes to yourself, etc. the faster the actual script will go--but if you try to start writing dialogue on Day One, you won't get very far, because you won't know who these people are you're writing about. Write a practice scene for yourself to see how it works--say, Man A wants Woman B to go out with him, and she doesn't want to. Write 5 pages to see how they work it out. Don't sweat dialogue--say whatever these people would really say, even if it's not brilliant. What matters most is the action: trying to get something, however big or small, and either succeeding or failing. Finally: it doesn't have to be perfect--that's what drafts are for. Don't criticize yourself while you're writing; allow yourself to write as much crap as you need to in order to get to the good stuff.



EDIT: while we're at it, here's some other things not to sweat: FORMAT--you can fix format later. Write first. People who are preoccupied with format aren't writers, they're word processors. STAGE DESIGN--theatres hire perfectly talented people to figure that out for you. Your job is to write the play, not design it. "Bob's apartment--morning" (or whatever) is all you have to say. STAGE DIRECTIONS--theatres ALSO hire perfectly nice people called directors to take care of that. Don't waste your time obsessing with "Bob goes to the window stage right"--it's the first thing the director will ignore anyway. WORRYING ABOUT AGENTS, THEATRES, READINGS, ORGANiZATIONS, or anything else having to do with BUSINESS--you have no play, so you have nothing to sell. There'll be plenty of time to deal with that later. (I know Jon Dorf--he's a great guy, and his advice is excellent--for AFTER you've written a play, not before.) Your job now is to go off by yourself and write what's in your head, in any way that works for you and taking as much time as you want. THAT'S ALL.



Oh, and have fun. After all, it's only a play...

Answer 2

If you TRULY want to write a stageplay, go to a community college in your area and take a night course on stagewriting or screenwriting. This type of course is usually always offered at the community college level and you don't have to be a student. You just sign up and take it as a night course. The course is usually once a week for 3 months (12 classes total). Everyone works on their stageplay and reads it to the class for criticism. At the end of this class (which usually costs $200-300) you should have no problem at all writing one. It's a lot more effective than just picking up a book on the subject. Do it. You'll learn more than you thought you could.

Answer 3

You need to understand that stageplays, films, books, short stories are about conflict and resolving that conflict.



There is a situation that needs to be dealt with and in dealing with the rpoblem, it sometimes gets worse before it gets better. Or it may not get better and people spiral down to their own doom.



Onew way to write a stageplay is to read stageplays. It doesn't matter which one. Get one from the library and read it.



You will learn about character development, conflict and resolution and pacing.



Let me recommend a website, zoetrope.com. This is a site sponsored by Francis Ford Coppola and will allow you to see a variety of scripts so you can see how people handle numerous genres. Some succeed, some don't succeed.



Then, write.

Answer 4

First get a book from the Library, then enroll in the college that has a professor that teaches this. I read a book that was written in the 70's called "Write That play". Tnere others out there, but if you want real recognition, go to the college that offers this. Depaul Un in Chicago used to but it now is so popular, you might be able to go just about anywhere. Talk to a counselor of where to go. If it is just for a hobby, create the story and write things down then the story must have a beginning, middle and end, most shows don't even have that anymore let alone the quality to finish it. Remember this, you must captivate the audience or the person you are trying to present this play to or forget it. I won't read something that is boring from the beginning. Good Luck!!

Answer 5

1) Firstly - write about something that interests you. A lot. If you pick something uninteresting to you, it won't work.



2) Secondly - pick something that you know about. For instance, don't set it in a time period that you are unfamiliar with, set it somewhere that you know,so you can write about it not just with intelligence, but with understanding. Otherwise, it just won't seem real, and it won't convince the audience.



3) Do your research well. Look into anything that might be useful for the stage play - if you are setting it in a particualar city or town for example, research that town. Know its history, and why the people are the way they are in it. This will give your script richness.



4) Know your characters. There are two ways of doing this. You can base the characters on people you know (if they are horrible characters, make sure the person you are basing it upon doesn't know!!) Or, you can create a character, but then, you need to create a past for them. Why? Because every action we take in our lives is determined by our histories, how we've been raised, how we've been educated etc etc. If you know thier history, you will know how they will react in given situations.



5) Listen to dialects. A person from one area of a country will talk very differently to a person from another part of the country. You don't necessarily have to convey this in your writing, eg, you don't have to write 'I 'aven't got any bleeding money' if you are writing the part for a london cockney, but you might need to know that they would use the word 'bleeding'!



6) Plot out your story line first. You need to know exactly what is going to happen and when. Belive me, if you try to write it without knowing, you will end up going in directions you didn't want to go in. Have a game plan!



7) Read around, and see how other playwrights write. This will be invaluable to you. In particular, read playwrights who write similar plays to what you want to write.



But above all else, good luck, I've been writing for a long time now, and have just had my second book published, it is a hard thing to get into, but is so rewarding at the end of it!

Answer 6

Writing a stageplay? That's the EASY part. Getting an agent to read it and take you on as a client, THAT'S when you'll start wondering why you spent so much time writing the play in the first place.

Answer 7

Oscar Wilde said there are 3 rules for writing a good play.

Rule one is not to write like A W Pinero. Rules two and three are the same.

More recently a Manchester playwright said "there are 3 golden rules for writing a successful play - unfortunatley nobody knows what they are!"



When running playwriting classes for youngsters (16 and under) I start by asking if they all have pens and paper at which point they all brandish said items in the air. I then get them to throw eveything into the centre of the room.

Nothing is written in the first session. Ideas come first.



My advice to adults varies. What experience of the theatre do you have? Read and see as many plays as you can. Decide what you want to say. Try to format it into a stageplay. Write it all down. Put it into a box and forget about it for 6 weeks. Come back to it with an objective frame of mind.



Show it to somebody who is not a close friend or relative and has some experience of theatre - their insight combined with an unbiased eye will be of great help. Some have compared this process to having a child and giving it away. It's difficult but necessary. Ultimately you MUST let go of it. Others will direct/produce and perform it.



There are no exact rules.

(Said theatre practitioner Antonin Artuad and who am I to disagree?)



It would be more helpful (to you) if we could meet face to face but that will never happen so you must make the best of what I - and other answerers - can offer you.



I've been working in this area for years and used to run playwriting workshops (for different groups) in the UK.

More recently, in addition to my regular jobs, I've been freelancing as a script consultant. All my experience tells me the same important thing:

Everyone is different.

There really are no exact rules.

But... some expereience of theatre and plays will help you enormously. You could also try listening to some radio drama - this will help you pick up on structure and exposition (through dialogue) without the distraction of the visuals.



I could say much much more but I must go........



I wish you the best of luck......



ps beware advice that comes in numbered or headed paragraphs - there really are NO exact rules - check out some of the plays of Sarah Kane and Caryl Churchill...

formatting (for example) is a hurdle to be dealt with later - creating a coherent text is of much greater importance!

Answer 8

Generally speaking there are two versions - the one act and the three act. Despite the the different lengths they both are structured the same way - a beginning, a middle and an end. In the beginning you introduce us to the characters, where they are situated, and a goal that at least one of them has. In the middle obstacles to achieving the goal are presented. The end leads to the conflict being resolved determining whether the goal to either be achieved or not.

Before you write your 1st play read some popular ones first so you have a good idea how they work. When you get ready to write outline the story first. Tip: start with the end so you know where you going. Good luck.

Answer 9

Stageplays are all dialogue, so tell the story through that.



You can go stream of consciousness and see if something good comes out, and by that I mean doing it for an extended period of time, or start with an idea. The important thing is to actually do, and then think about it when you aren't doing. Its not something you're going to be able to do casually, like for an hour or two a week, and expect to make something decent. Unless you have a really brilliant concept and great skill, that is.



Also, read plenty of plays and pay attention to your relationships and conversations as well as other people's, to get inspired for dialogue and situations. Just don't make the mistake of deciding the smaller events in your life are worth going autobiographical over.

Answer 10

Stageplays are meant to be creative so you can pretty much do what you want.



I would advise looking at some different kinds of plays to inspire the format that you write it in. Such as Shakespeare, Brecht, Berkoff (contemporary and a good one) and Tennessee Williams.



Every play/film and fundamentally story needs a beginning, a middle and an end. The beginning should be to introduce your characters (as few or as many as you want), the middle is where the problems start to build up (where you weave your web), between the middle and the end you should have a climax and then the end is your resolution (or is it? could leave it on a sad note).



Try and keep things as simple as possible and just get on with it and the rest will take care of itself.

Answer 11

You might want to start by adapting a short story that you like and are familiar with, for practice. In screenwriting, a page equals a minute, so 120 pages is a movie. Keep that in mind for your stageplay. You may have to come up with dialogue yourself; just keep it natural. (contractions,appropriate slang,etc.)Don't forget stage directions. Yes, there are websites that can help; including templates. Plug in the searchword "stageplay".

Answer 12

You just write one, millions do, who is stopping you?!

Most writers would do anything instead, if they could. Ask any writer and they will tell you that it's something you do because you can't not do it. Heck, ask any smoker how to join their elite club! You are still lucky enough to feel free of the compulsion - be warned!



Oh - you meant - How do I get someone else to pay me to do this, pay others to act in it, and pay me to publish what I've written? And who pays for their costumes?"



Typical business student!



Seriously, why not go along to your local theatres and get involved in what you love? Then you will be equipped to observe what sells and what does not, and decide which you want to do for fun and which for profit? You might take it up as a hobby, not as a living. Also, you might figure out how many years practice you need to become good at it.



LOL, as though anyone ever does anything with good advice, other than give it away. I should know better.

Answer 13

You have to imagine yourself in the middle of it; have to really pretend it is happening to yourself and that's the start of the writing. Once you are done start edditing by trying to imagine what effect it has on people scene by scene and how you could enhance that effect. Then you may think of side stories to bring in your main stageplay theme.

One other way, if you have a budget and don't have time to fill in all the details, is to hire a ghost-writer. You would just fill in the main theme in bullet form and they will add in the details.



Good Luck

Answer 14

Simply Hard. Watch as many as stageplays until your brain flashes some real idea on that you can start playing write.

Answer 15

I imagen if you are a business major you know how to write a business plan. It's almost the same thing, you need to be creative.

You creat a B.P. with the idea of communicate some ideas, ok, the same things is with the stageplay.

First make a brain storm of ideas that you have about something specific, like problems in an office, put all the problems that can happend in an office in one day, then just start giving form to the play putting actors. For example, how the day start for someone who work in an office, problably wake up 6am, so,

Scene I. Luke wake up at 6am, is in his room and he notice that it is raining.

Luke: (speaking to himself) freak is raining, I don't want to go work.

Then you use your imagination and put more actors and develop the ideas that you have.

It is not very hard, the only thing that you need are ideas.

Good look

Answer 16

Ask people who have, didn't Matt Daemon and Ben Afflect write the one for Good Will Hunting? They were in high school when they started it. They won an EMMY or something. Read Shake spear. Read some stage plays or do you want to be a screen writer? Take someone Else's story and write a screen play? Maybe not much difference. It's a big undertaking write the outline and plot of the story. Name the people you will have in the play. Good luck and do your dream.

Answer 17

You can start with a good book like "The Playwright's guidebook", written by Stuart Spencer. Read an award winning play like "Doubt", by John Patrick Shanley. Also, watch the TV show "Six feet under" which carries most of the story in the dialogue, just like plays do. Study how the characters evolve throughout a season. Don't stress over the format of the script. That's a breeze. Good luck!

Answer 18

Using your creative abilities that you have as a business student prepare an outline which would provide your characters with positive and negative traits in the same way you prepare a balance sheet.

Provide your self with plenty of time and do research on the main theme or historical setting. Conflicts of the characters provides for more interest. With the outline you can have an over view of Who What Why When Where How

Visualize the play as it is being acted out and allow for the editing process to do the (stage left, stage right and exits) (lighting and staging areas) (number of acts and background for your characters) I would be available for further information. I wrote two stage plays (Baba) and (God is on the Wagon) for local production

Answer 19

Before you try for publication of any sort, stage it or have it done as a reading to see if it actually works as a play. That's the whole purpose of writing a stageplay, no? If you're in school/high school/college, gather friends or people in the theater arts/drama department and see if they'd be interested in putting it on or doing a reading. If you know of a local little theater or improv group, or amateur playwright's club, you might try there. If it works, then think about publication.

Answer 20

Taking The Plunge



Are you ready to step out of your rut? There are five easy steps to producing your own theatrical show.



1. Write the script. Keep it small and simple. No fancy sets or a cast of thousands. One or two characters are more than enough to create a compelling story.



2. Find a venue. You don't need to premiere your show at the Kodak Theatre or Pantages. Scope out local community theatres and nearby universities. There are even venues that will allow you to use their space for a nominal fee (as little as $20), as long as you're not selling tickets.



3. Cast and crew up! Find actors and crew amongst your circle of family and friends or check out the college theatre department.



4. Tell the world! Create a press release telling the world about what you're doing. Send it to local newspapers and arts publications. Post online in message groups and arts calendars.



5. Perform your show. You can perform your show once or 20 times. It's up to you. Just remember to continue to market your show throughout the duration of your run.

Answer 21

Just start by using your own experiences...that often helps. If you use what you already know then you will have better chances at creating a stageplay.

Answer 22

You've got some fantastic feedback here. I would definitely listen to some of the people who know what they are talking about and draw on their experience. I think that this "answers" thing has turned out to be amazing! For what it's worth, as I absorbed all of the advice being given to you, I thought of "Arsenic And Old Lace." I don't know whether or not you've ever seen this play, but I very much doubt that the author was writing from personal experience. JK Rowling wrote wonderful books and how many schools of wizardry do you suppose she'd attended? Lots of storytellers just want to tell stories, and they tell wonderful, absorbing stories to people because that is what they WANT to do. I don't believe that you need to be highly educated in order to tell a story. But that's just my humble opinion :)

Answer 23

Why is it that no one holds any faith in the public, or school, libraries? I wrote a screenplay - I went to the library, checked out 5 or 6 books on the art of writing screenplays, read them all, and used the best ideas from each. I took into account the copyright date on each book, and for technical/formatting info used the newest.



I love the internet, but if I have a project to do I'd rather have 5 or 6 books - that way, they can be with me any time, any place.



Just easier for me, as is writing things in long hand before typing them on the computer. I wish you luck on your stage play!

Answer 24

I'm not an expert on plays, but I do write, so I am guessing it is similar.

Start with your charcters. Make sure you know EVERYTHING about them, especially if it is a fiction play. Once you have developed your charcters, figure out the best way to connect them to each other. Maybe is is a ceratin event in which they meet, and you can show how they all got there, etc. By doing this, you can easily create a good plot. From there, choose your point of view, structure, and order of events, and start writing!

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 25

I would suggest either you take a class or workshop (which would be offered by a writing center rather than a college which could be more expensive).



Read as many plays as possible to get the style. Also go to a lot of plays to see what works well and inspires you.

Answer 26

First go to Barnes & NOble or some other book store and buy a book called, Formats, which is published by Writer's Digest and then write a story or script, as the case might be, in the format that the book tells you is for stage plays. You will, of course, have to write a dialog and a script for the people who perform in your play.

Answer 27

There are five thing that you must focus most while writing the stage play

1)character

2)environment

3)Aim

4)object

5)language

So just go on keep your heart free from any thing and Think about these factors and write a stage play ..............simple baby........

Answer 28

Well u have probably already read how to write one. Pick out some characters, possibly that u know, and make some changes to them. Figure out if u want to make it Romantic, comedy, or dramatic, then start writing lines that will catch the eye of another person. An Idea you can do a dramatic Stage play that depicts the trials of one mans life and His struggle to overcome them.

Answer 29

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Answer 30

I have many ideas actually because I'm a creative writer. But I make story script for a living not for free.



For now I give you some tips:



Your own life story could be the best source of your inspiration.

Think about your own experiences that you could turn into a stage play story. You may exaggerate or change some events in it for artistic purposes.

If you don't find your life story remarkable enough, then go and find another person.



Ask your self questions such as... should it be timely? modern? traditional? humorous? drama? love story? or combinations of these...



You may send me your script and then I'll help you edit and improve it. My email add is [e-mail]

Answer 31

Step one, write a story, with some dialogue.

step two, work out what places your story is set in, for how you set the stage and how many scenes...when the story moves to another place, start another scene or act.

Step three, make a note of the characters, their names, physical description, likes dislike a bit of their history.

Step three, start writing the play, write down where the first act is set and draw out a stage setting (helpful). you write the characters name, then how the line should be said - if appropriate - what they say and if they move.

then the next character......etc.... If you want more info, email me, coz you also have to think about camera angles eg do you see him full face, or in profile.....It can be fiddly to do, but START with a story.

Answer 32

i was in technical theatre so i had lots of experience with plays. first u have to come up with a story and plot that u want your play to be about. then you pretty much have to come up with the characters.. and wat makes a stageplay different from others is IT NEEDS STAGE DIRECTION like what the character does where it moves, etc etc and definitely a stage play needs description of very small details so that ur audience can visualize it clearly...hope this help

Answer 33

Check out "Writing Your First Play" Second Edition, by Roger Hall.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/024080290X/qid=1145470813/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/104-3460418-8094333?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Answer 34

Based on actual experiential situationers and learnings and equipped with the stage play writing techniques and skills, If given the opportunity to do so, I will write one with appropriate time and considerable factors for needed resources to have an effective and affective stage play.

Answer 35

Start with a character first. Imagine someone - anyone. Picture their hair, their face, their clothing style, and write it all down. Then think about that person's values, and write it all down. Then really think, and give that person a name that fits.



Now you have your first character (we'll say his name is Johnny). Now you have to decide where Johnny is going to be during the play. This establishes a setting.



After you know who and where Johnny is, you have to figure out who Johnny is going to talk to. And once Johnny has someone to talk to, we'll say Blanche, you have to give them a problem to solve.



And your play is them trying to solve that problem.



And always remember, if you can make someone cry at the end of your play, it's a REALLY good play.

Answer 36

First of all, you must have a storyline, then add characters, outline your play. add props. A title sounds good. All good plays have a title. Your a business student? Go to your campus drama dept. Go to the library. Write from your heart. You can write of many things from your life. Know your characters. Write with enthusiasam. Be bold, optimistic, and gregarious and confident in your choices. It begins all with you!

Answer 37

HOW DO YOU WRITE A STAGEPLAY !!!AW THATS EASY JUST WRITE A STORY THEN WRITE LINES FOR THE ACTORS IN YOUR STORY AND ADD EMOTION AND ACTING NOTES NEXT TO THE LINES I GUESS I DONT KNOW I WOULD RESEARCH IT ON THE NET I GUESS SOUNDS LIKE FUN..WONDER HOW MY ANSWER ADDS UP

Answer 38

You need lots and lots of imaginations.

They're very helpfull at times.

Like always!

Well, start by asking yourself what kind of play you want it to be.

Then come back to me for more advice.

No.

I might watch it if you add a scene of a guy falling over a banana peel.

Answer 39

Find a quiet area. Sit down get comfortable. Write about what you like, about what you know. Jot it down as it flows and organize later. It doesn't have make sense yet. As you gather it up it will piece together.

Answer 40

One way to start with is : you just recall an interesting incident in your class or at party or at home. Then write it down in narrative style. Then modify it in reporting speech thus forming dialogs. That is your script for the stage play.

Answer 41

Get one of Syd Field's books on the subject. I was a Film Major in college and work in the field, and his book's are still considered the Bible of writing for stage and screen.

Answer 42

Close your eyes and imagine your self in your own little world. Now that you are focused and at peace, let your imagination do the work, your mood will tell the type of scenery you want. (sad, happy, emotional, or enthusiasm). Than let your character reveal themselves, where there's bad there's good, where there's sad there's happy. Let your imagination do the work. Remember a director's success is through the art of imagination.

Answer 43

its easy all u do is start it with 3 easy steps



1:amount of characters

2:the role for each character

3:location



but remember depending on your location has a lot to do with the cast for example there may be a poor lonly old lady then comes the location shes poor so it might be a poor country. but if it a rich posh young lady she may live in london.Do u get me anyway good luck with the stage play



charmed_girl_94

Answer 44

easy. first you pick your place and you picture yourself there. Next, who do you see? Than, for the cou de gras, what are they doing?(talking is considered a doings) Or, A better way might be to read a thousand plays, take a dozen workshops, and spend a couple of hours in therapy every week.

Answer 45

1

Answer 46

I would think about a part of my life and write about it. Be it funny, sad, etc. Once you have your story "changing the names of the characters to avoid embarassment etc" then if you want to act out the play cast people that would best suit the part, people that are most like the people you are writting about!

Answer 47

Have you checked into classes offered by the English department? They may have a class to take that teaches how to write stage plays. Maybe you could take it as one of your free electives.

Answer 48

check online for writing courses or if you are in a fairly large city check community college course calendars for part time classes you can take in the evenings or weekends, they won't cost much and you can still work. contact a local arts/drama association for contacts that can lead you to some answers.

Answer 49

i suggest when you write a stage play to sit down and relax. use some of your life stories and mix them in with a little bit of realism. you might find what you want to write about, then again you might not. think of it this way though. you'll never know until you try.

Answer 50

Honey, go to writersdigest.com check out their book club.. they have absolutely WONDERFUL reference books on this, and many other, writing subjects. I have been a writer for many years and have a huge collection of their books.. I still look to them for guidance .. because we never know it all no matter how long we do this. Good luck.

Answer 51

Write the ending and work your way back?

Answer 52

yes i have a great idea for u. First u take a blue ink pen and a piece of white paper. Then start writting. That's all.

Answer 53

If you want to write a stage play write one that maybe expresses yourself that people will then know somewhat about you

Answer 54

its always a difficult thing, well here goes first prepare just a one - liner so called out liner, in which there shd be the basic idea just the basic idea, then plan ur cast, after that a lil summary will help, then try to make it in detail .. thats how ur real scriptin goes.

Answer 55

use your imagination. or inspiration. or just take an old book of poetry and turn it into a musical. worked for ALW pretty well. but you would probably try asking around campus. there are more people into that stuff than you think ;)

Answer 56

Get some people to join. Then make scripts for them.

You should get a stage play in no time.

Answer 57

sit in one corner, do 5 minute meditation, then think one situation in ur daily life. start to write any sentence which will be related with that situation. it may be wrong. and try again. and later u will gate new ideas to write storry.

Answer 58

START BY USING A PEN....ALWAYS WORKS FOR ME....NO REALLY TRY A ROMANTIC COMEDY PERHAPS MEDEVIL TIMES....NEED TO THINK OF YOUR CHARACTERS FIRST MAINLY YOUR TWO STARS AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW THEN WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO BE AND CREATE A STORYLINE. DON'T DRAG OUT THE STORYLINE BUT ENOUGH TO CREATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE CHARACTERS. GOOD LUCK

Answer 59

All you need to do is just write something on paper,whether it makes sense or not .after which you spell-check, you proof, you clarify, you recenter and you polish.

Answer 60

first sit in a good enviorment .a peacefull enviorment then think of some characters u would like to include in your play. write dialouges in agood way . that's how i write my stage play for my school...........

Answer 61

start writing down ideas and names of actors. then start putting it together and let it flow.



get some ideas from some that are written already by looking them up on hte web.

Answer 62

THX your anser to my Question was very helpful.

My anser to your question is to read a highly ac lamed play and structure it the same way but with your own subject.

Answer 63

You coud start by doing a brainstorm and some bullet point then just start writing...

Answer 64

if u have time u can see movie & take ideas from it then u can write a stage play. with it. but take out time from our busy shudle. ok

Answer 65

You can go to the threft store and they should have 25 cent books on that.

Answer 66

first write a story then you can turn it into one. but you should start out with a good plot first

Answer 67

You might try figuring out the outcome you want and work your way backwords, it works for me most of the time.

Answer 68

by looking at life in ur area and telling tales of what is good and true to ur soul. Or, tell what u would like to see in ur area , so, u could drfine that area.

Answer 69

Think of a story, plot, characters and put pen to paper and just so it.

Answer 70

first think of what u want the play to be about and then start from there

Answer 71

make it about your struggle to write a stage play. and how you over came your writers block by writing about your writers block!

Answer 72

s t a g e p l a y



hehe



you haveto leARN LERITURE FIRST because many of us know something about stories but not a suufeiantone

Answer 73

Just use your imagination and use a stage format script.

Answer 74

ride public transportation and eavesdrop on interesting conversations for ideas

Answer 75

With a pen and paper

Answer 76

write the place, people and time first.

Answer 77

first, think of the reason your writing this play for.

Answer 78

first think of a theme(romantic/comedy/parody)

then think of a movie that most inspired you that would fall on your chosen category/theme..from there you could get ideas on how your story would flow....



goodluck!

Answer 79

what is your message, what is your point. that is where you need to start. then you can think of the type of play you want. (musical, comedy, drama, ect.) then you can focus on dialog, ect.

Answer 80

I think you should think of it as a story kinda. but have it so the stars can say what YOU whant them to say!!

Good Luck!!!!

Answer 81

with the help of a paper and a pen

Answer 82

HB pencil and a lot of paper.

Answer 83

sit down and write about what u like and boom there u go

Answer 84

Don't you have any other work to do.

Answer 85

pen, page, write.

Answer 86

figure out what you want to do Do it and stick to it until the end.

Answer 87

think of a story

Answer 88

simple...



S



T



A



G



E



P



L



A



Y







STAGEPLAY!

Answer 89

http://good-family-health.com/recipe-for-orange-marmalade.html

Answer 90

BUY GO ONLINE AND LOOK FOR SAMPLE OF OTHER PLAYS, BUT DON'T

COPY THE PLAY ,BUT REVIEW THEM.

Answer 91

go take a class.

Answer 92

i playing fotball vere well and i want to playing fotball

Answer 93

i don't know how i am only in 4th grade ask my sis

Answer 94

with a computer

Answer 95

no ideas

Answer 96

be very creative

Answer 97

you can if you have experince of sex

Answer 98

use your emagination

Answer 99

learn it!

Answer 100

Drama Workshop: How to format a screenplay



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ACTS & SCENES

- Act & scene designations should only appear on the 1st page of each act or scene.

- Acts are usually designated with Roman numerals or spelled out: Act II, Act Two

- Numeral designations tend to be reserved for scenes: Scene 3

- Begin each act or scene at the top of a new page.

- Opening Stage Directions: Tell us when & where we are are and who is there.





PAGE MARGINS

- Top: .75 - 1.0"

- Bottom 1.0 - 1.5"



PAGE NUMBERING

- Numbering begins with the first page of Dialogue

- Numbering is always in the upper right hand corner of the page.

- Each act is number consecutively through the end of the act: i.e. I-1, I-2, etc.

- Start new page numbers with each act: i.e II-1, II-2 III-1, III-2

- Preliminary pages (front matter) should either be not numbered at all or, numbered with

lower case Roman numerals.





DIALOGUE:



Character Tags:

- Use all capital letters to identify the character speaking.

- The first letter of each character name is centered (4.25") with the rest of the name

spelled out to the right. Use your tab setting for this allignment instead of your

center justifications option in your word porcessor.



Margins:

Left 1.5 - 2.0"

Right1.0"



Spacing:

- Double space after previous stage directions or dialogue, before the character tag.

- Single space between character tags and character stage directions or dialogue.

- Single space all dialogue

- Double space after dialogue before the next stage direction or character tag.





STAGE DIRECTIONS



General Stage Directions

- Stand alone never in parenthesis

- Use all capital letters when a character name appears in the stage directions.

- Margins:

Left: 3.5"

Right1.0"

- Spacing: Single spaced, but double space between paragraphs if needed.





Character Stage Directions: Appear directly under the character's name or between the

lines of dialogue of a single speech and enclose them in parenthesis.



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Writers Store: Getting it on stage



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What a high: you've typed 'end of play' and that full-length stage play you've labored on for the last eighteen months is finally finished. Time to send it out to Broadway producers and get that rave in the New York Times you've always dreamed of. ADD REALITY HERE.



Finishing a first draft of a play is great. But it's like building a house. If you tried to sell that 'first draft' house, buyers would wonder why you're selling a house without wiring, plumbing, coverings on the walls -- you get the idea. Ninety-nine percent of the time, you only get one shot to sell them the house, so wait until it's absolutely ready.



Whenever I finish a play, the first thing I do is print it and read through it myself, proofing for errors the spell- check missed and for anything in the play that no longer makes sense to me. Personally, I like to work at restaurants, so this article is being revised at Nizam, a tranquil Indian restaurant in West L.A. Often, the play you start writing isn't the one you finish writing; it takes the process of writing the play to figure out what the play is really about. Then, the job becomes to make the beginning, when you didn't know what you were writing about, more like the ending, when you did know. I call that process 'recentering.'



So you spell-check, you proof, you clarify, you recenter, you polish -- you've done all you can on your own. Now you need help. You're ready for a reading. To hold one, all you need are a bunch of actors, chairs and a room. While you may be able to get scripts to the actors ahead of time, it will probably be a cold (unrehearsed) reading. It's nice to have a few audience members, people who are committed to your work and whose opinions you trust. Your objective: to listen to the play. Hearing it aloud is a great way to know if the dialogue works and to get a sense of the play's rhythm. You may wish to hold a brief discussion afterward. If you do, find a good c. A few rules to make the discussion more useful:



~~ DO NOT respond to comments. Your job is to write down everything that is said and sort it out later. If you don't agree with it, you don't have to listen to it.



~~ Discuss questions you have about the play in advance with the moderator (e.g. 'Is Holly's return credible?'). The moderator can use these questions to focus the discussion.



~~ Feedback is often best delivered in the form of a question. For example, 'What does Candy want in that scene?' Don't answer during the discussion, but think about the answer and make sure the play addresses the issue to your satisfaction. IMPORTANT: It does not matter whether others understand your intentions or what you wanted to say in the play. They either 'got it' or they didn't, either of which is useful to know. Explaining to them after the fact what their reactions should have been is silly.



~~ A moderator should prevent people from offering suggestions. The object is to react to the play you've written, not the one they wish you had written or the one they would have written.



~~ You are not your work, so don't get defensive. EXPECT any first draft (and even second or third drafts) of your play to have problems. But if having your play in front of an 'audience' is the problem, you need to get over it or take up writing novels.



After any useful reading, you'll have rewrites to do. Probably a lot of rewrites, since often the play you thought was so wonderful, when looked upon with less biased eyes, isn't quite so wonderful -- at least not yet. Rewrite ruthlessly. Get some distance by taking a break and working on a new project before starting your rewrites; that way, you won't be so in love with the play that you can't make the tough, but necessary, decisions. Once you finish the next set of rewrites, it's probably time to hold another reading -- it could be another sit-down (a.k.a. table) reading, or perhaps a staged reading: at a certain point, the play needs to 'get on its feet.' Why? Certain problems in a script don't show up in table readings.



As you move toward staged readings -- which can range from a few hours of rehearsal to create basic blocking to up to twenty hours of rehearsal with relatively polished blocking and even basic props or costume pieces -- you'll need a director, and you're asking actors to commit more time.

Here are a few ways to find the resources you need:



JOIN A PLAYWRIGHTS ORGANIZATION

I was the managing director of the Philadelphia Dramatists Center for several years. PDC facilitates readings, both sit-down and staged, by maintaining books of headshots and director resumes, and allowing members to use its space for free for their readings. Many cities have organizations like PDC. Two good sources of information are the Dramatists Guild Resource Directory (EVERY serious playwright should be a member) or the Dramatists Sourcebook (available through The Writers Store). (Writers Store Note: The newly updated 2001-2002 edition of the 'Dramatists Sourcebook' will be available shortly, and we will announce in an upcoming eZine when it's in stock.)



GET TO KNOW A THEATER COMPANY

Some playwrights are lucky enough to develop a relationship with a theater company. I'm a resident playwright at City Theater in Wilmington (DE), and I know that whenever I write something, they're committed to helping me develop the play through readings and workshops, with an eye toward producing it. Don't have a relationship with a theater company? Try calling your local community theater, introducing yourself and telling them that you're looking for actors and a director for a reading. They may help you out and give you some names.



APPROACH UNIVERSITIES AND THEATER SCHOOLS

Universities are an excellent source of eager actors (potentially both undergrads or graduate students) and directors, and theater schools (attached to professional theater companies) usually consider referring their students for outside projects to be part of their job. It's unlikely that either will help you organize the reading, but they're a source of 'talent.'



After the staged reading, there will be more rewrites, and the reading/rewrite process can go on for as long as it's productive. It may take a year or more from the completion of the first draft to get to the point where you feel confident in your script. But eventually a script needs a production -- not because it's finished and ready to be set in stone, but because it takes a more fully realized production to continue its development. So now you're ready to submit. Where do you submit? The best resources for play submission are the previously mentioned Dramatists Guild Resource Directory and the Dramatists Sourcebook. Not only do they list hundreds of submission opportunities, but they'll also tell you the appropriate way to submit your work. Here are some listings you'll want to look for:



DEVELOPMENTAL THEATERS/PROGRAMS

Some theaters, for example the wonderful Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey that just did a table reading of my play BEN, specialize in developing plays. At PTNJ, they begin with a table reading. Assuming the script continues on course, the next step is a concert reading and then a workshop production, which is close to a full production. There are a number of programs that will provide you with a high-quality (and often high-profile) staged reading or workshop -- for example, the O'Neill Festival or Sundance (yes, there's a Sundance for playwrights.)



NEW PLAY FESTIVALS

Many theaters have festivals -- and some festivals exist in their own right -- for new plays. Obviously, these are great places to submit that new script. Some theaters particularly gear their festivals toward local playwrights, so keep a special eye out for these.



CONTESTS

Many contests have as part of their submission requirements that the script not have been previously produced (readings and workshops are fine in most cases). You're competing, quite wisely, with other scripts that are developmentally in more or less the same boat as your own. Of course, there are also listings for theaters' regular production slots, agents and publishers. Beginning with the most obvious answer, if your script hasn't been produced yet, it's too early to approach a publisher: they typically want evidence of some kind of track record. Agents can open doors, though a decent query will get you read almost anywhere. A good time to approach agents is if you're having a production you can invite them to (no, a NY agent isn't going to travel to a high school in South Dakota…), or if you can present them with some evidence that your career is moving forward. But they're far less necessary in theater than in film -- of course, I still wish I had one right now.



As for theaters, if you're really sure your script is ready -- remember, there are rarely second chances -- research the theaters that seem to be good fits for you, and then follow their submission guidelines. If a theater has a website, chances are you'll find a link to it at American Theater Web. They also have a bulletin board with playwriting opportunities. Another place to find playwriting opportunities on the web is the Playwrights Noticeboard. If you're a young playwright, go right to my Young Playwrights Page, which lists many contests for young writers (and has extensive playwriting instruction as well).



Once you've cast your bread upon the waters, don't wait around for the responses to come back. Write something new, and start the process all over again.



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You must be really excited about beginning your journey! :) Good luck! Let me know how it works out - I hope I helped.