Foundations of Playwriting

Playwriting allows writers to tell stories using a unique medium–live performance.  But how to leverage the opportunity so that writers harness the full power of the audience’s imagination?   The headlines:

• Attend five sessions over five weeks
• Learn seven key elements of narrative structure
• Create an outline for a short play and receive input
• Write the play; hear it read by local actors; receive critique
• Rewrite the play based on the critique; hear it a second time; receive additional feedback
• Leave the class with a submission-ready ten-minute play

Advanced Playwriting Workshop

Okay, you’re ready to want to start writing a full-length play….now what?  You’ve written at least one short play, maybe a few.  You understanding the basic elements of narrative construction and know how to use them….mostly.  You may have even written a full-length play and want to start another one.  You are pretty sure you already have an idea already you want to develop, or you may have some pages.  And you think could use some support to stay on track during the writing process.  This workshop is for you!  The headlines:

• Attend eight sessions over eight weeks
• Work on a new ten-minute play, a one act or develop a full-length play
• Present an outline for a full-length and have it “workshopped”
• Bring in new pages every week (10-15 pages)
• Hear the pages read by professional actors, followed by a critique
• Rewrite the pages or move to the next section of your play (playwright choice)
• Discuss other students’ plays; learn by giving feedback; see changes and growth in others’ work
• Become part of a writers’ community

Special workshops are offered for writers who have a full-length play in hand and want to commit time to developing this one specific work:  Look for the Master Playwriting Clinic for Full-Length Plays.

Short Play Showcase

Beginning in 2015, Andrew worked with Indy Fringe and the Indiana Writers Center to co-produce a showcase of student playwright work in evening of short (ten-minute) plays written by playwrights from the Indiana Writers Center.  Over the years, the event has been very successful, giving lots of student playwrights, aspiring directors and part-time actors the chance to demonstrate their craft. All performances sold out; we had to keep waiting lists. 

Each of six ten-minute plays needs to be “adopted” by a local Indianapolis theater company.  The company will provide a director from its stable, and the director will cast the plays from the actors in his/her network, mostly actors who work frequently at the theater.  (Most plays only have 2-3 characters.)  The director and the actors work independently (with the student playwright in tow) to interpret and stage the short play.    

The playwrights get the experience of having a live production, working with a theater, a director and actors and then, the thrill of seeing the work performed.  Each year, playwrights who have taken classes from Andy at the IWC submit their best plays, and the best of the best are produced in the festival.  Preference is given to new playwrights who have not yet had productions but have very strong work. Note:  Only playwrights who have taken playwriting classes at the IWC are eligible for this playfest..

Play Reading and Personal Mentoring