6 Weeks, 6 Plays

Class Description

Short plays are all the rage these days. There are dozens of short play festival opportunities across New England, from the venerated Boston Theatre Marathon, to new forms and traditions, such as the One Minute Play Festival. The short play format allows playwrights to test out a new idea, try a new style, and see their work performed––and can be a way for an established playwright to see an idea brought to life much more immediately than can sometimes be the case with full-length plays. Festivals like these also allow new playwrights the opportunity to try their hand at the form and to see their work performed by professionals. No matter where you are in your playwriting career, short plays are fast, fun, and a great way to keep your storytelling muscles toned and your pencils sharp. Modeled after the ever popular, often sold-out short story workshop at Grub Street.

6 Weeks, 6 Plays, dares you to come up with something new each week––anything from 1 to 10 pages––with the caveat that it absolutely must be new. Use the course to jumpstart your writing practice, try out new ideas, or to write brand-new beginnings of longer plays. Each week, students will use different writing exercises to explore methods for writing compelling plot, character, conflict, and dialogue. Everyone will hear their writing read aloud and get quick, on-the-spot feedback on what you've written from both the instructor and fellow students. Readings will include short plays by classical and contemporary master playwrights for inspiration, including:

• Jose Rivera
• Susan Glaspell
• Lynn Nottage
• Chiori Miyagawa
• Neil LaBute
• Craig Lucas
• Tracey Scott Wilson
• Romulus Linney
• David Ives
• Eugene O'Neill

Recommended for students at all levels.