Playwriting For Dummies

Angelo Parra

John Wiley & Sons, Jun 28, 2011 - Performing Arts - 384 pages

The easy way to craft, polish, and get your play on stage

Getting a play written and produced is a daunting process. From crystallizing story ideas, formatting the script, understanding the roles of the director stagecraft people, to marketing and financing your project, and incorporating professional insights on writing, there are plenty of ins and outs that every aspiring playwright needs to know. But where can you turn for guidance?

Playwriting For Dummies helps any writer at any stage of the process hone their craft and create the most dramatic and effective pieces.

• Guides you through every process of playwriting?from soliloquies, church skits, and one act plays to big Broadway musicals
• Advice on moving your script to the public stage
• Guidance on navigating loopholes

If you're an aspiring playwright looking to begin the process, or have already penned a masterpiece and need trusted advice to bring it into the spotlight, Playwriting For Dummies has you covered.

What people are saying

Review: Playwriting for Dummies

User Review  - Stuart - Goodreads

This is my first foray into the "For Dummies" series. I imagine that this approach - assume the reader is an idiot - to understanding how to do things like plumbing, electrical circuits and laying ...

Review: Playwriting for Dummies

User Review  - Brian - Goodreads

Do not sleep on this book....it is a great tool, with really great stuff

Contents

• Introduction: 1
• Catching the Playwriting Bug: 7
• Living the Life of a Playwright: 19
• What Makes a Play: 45
• Starting with an Idea: 71
• Finding Your Plays Theme: 83
• Creating a Blueprint for Your Play: 93
• Creating Full and Rich Characters: 113
• Dialogue The Most Important Tool in Your Toolbox: 127
• Practical Considerations Staging Cast and Audience: 153
• The Nuts and Bolts of Putting: 167
• The Middle Developing Your Story Line: 191
• The Climax Bringing the Conflict to a Head: 211
• The Resolution Wrapping It All Up: 229
• The Show Must Go On: 253
• Rehearsals and Premieres Nail Biting 101: 271
• Promoting Your Play and Getting a Production: 289
• The Part of Tens: 315
• Ten Hallmarks of a Great Play: 325
• Ten Playwrights You Should Know and Emulate: 333
• Formatting a Script: 341

About the author

Angelo Parra is an award-winning playwright who has received national acclaim for several of his plays. He teaches theatre and playwriting at SUNY Rockland. Angelo is the founder and director of the Hudson Valley Professional Playwrights Lab and president of the board of Penguin Rep Theatre in Stony Point, New York.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Playwriting For Dummies; --For dummies
• Author: Angelo Parra
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2011
• ISBN: 1118120973, 9781118120972
• Length: 384 pages
• Subjects: Performing Arts / Theater / Playwriting