| Description |
1 online resource (x, 182 pages) |
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text file rdaft |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Summary |
"Life as a Playwright addresses the questions central to any playwright's career and very identity. What is a playwright's life like? What should an aspiring playwright expect? What are the danger zones? How can you stand out from the crowd? Alongside answering these questions, the author looks at situations that the emerging playwright is bound to encounter: handling rehearsals, workshops, castings, re-writing, venues, reviews, successes and failure. The book concludes with seventeen interviews with other USA-based playwrights, representing a wide range of experience, from writers just starting to make a name for themselves to seasoned, award-winning veterans such as Sheila Callaghan, Steven Dietz, Keith Glover, Lauren Gunderson, John Pielmeier and Jen Silverman. Author Jon Klein has a wealth of experience with over 30 of his plays produced in the USA and over 100 productions, including T Bone N Weasel, Dimly Perceived Threats to the System, Betty the Yeti, and his most recent play, Resolving Hedda. This knowledge he imparts to the reader as he draws upon the various lessons he has learned from collaborating with numerous established theatre folk, many from the start of their careers. These include figures such as Bob Falls, Gregory Hines, Jon Jory, Kenny Leon, Dan Sullivan, and August Wilson"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Contents |
What Is This Book? -- Who Am I? -- 1.Becoming a Playwright -- Which Road Should You Take? -- Why Do You Want to Be a Playwright? -- When Do You Call Yourself a Playwright? -- Points to Remember -- 2.Writing Your First Play -- Are You Compelled to Write a Play? -- Are You Ready to Start? -- Idea versus Story -- How Do You Learn About Playwriting Methods? -- What Does the Reader Look For? -- Meeting Professionals -- The First Play -- Points to Remember -- 3.Submissions -- What Are Plays Supposed to Look Like? -- How the Heck Can You Get Someone to Read Your Play? -- Agents -- The National New Play Network -- The New Play Exchange -- Other Submission Methods -- Points to Remember -- 4.Developing Your First Play -- What If Your Play Isn't Perfect? -- How Do You Organize a Cold Reading? -- Are There Other Ways to Develop New Scripts? -- The Rewrite -- The Staged Reading -- What Are the Leading Play Development Programs? -- Points to Remember |
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5.Rehearsal and Production (If Things Go Well) -- The Rehearsal Room -- Good Rehearsals -- The Production -- What's It Like to Have a Hit? -- Points to Remember -- 6.Rehearsal and Production (If Things Don't Go Well) -- Mistakes to Avoid -- Do Playwrights Have Any Say? -- Bad Rehearsals -- What About Critics? -- How Do You Deal With Failure? -- Points to Remember -- 7.Publishing and Professional Decisions -- Publishing -- How Do You Protect Your Writing? -- What About Contracts? -- Does Geography Matter? -- Can a Playwright Make Bad Decisions? -- How Do You Earn a Living? -- Points to Remember -- 8.Building a Reputation -- How Do You Bounce Back? -- Financial Considerations -- Emerging and Established Playwrights -- The Next Play -- Points to Remember -- 9.Lessons of Luck -- What's Luck Got To Do with It? -- Good Luck -- More Good Luck -- Bad Luck -- Points to Remember -- 10.How Other Playwrights Got Started -- Introduction |
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Stories from 17 Other Dramatists -- Sheila Callaghan -- Allyson Currin -- Steven Dietz -- Robert Freedman -- Gary Garrison -- Keith Glover -- Allison Gregory -- Lauren Gunderson -- Chad Henry -- Cory Hinkle -- Velina Hasu Houston -- Meg Miroshnik -- John Olive -- Brendan Pelsue -- John Pielmeier -- Jen Silverman -- Y York -- 11. Final Thoughts. |
| Note |
Description based on print version record. |
| Subject |
Playwriting.
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Drama -- Technique.
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Theatre direction & production.
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Creative writing & creative writing guides.
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Literary studies: plays & playwrights.
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LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES -- Composition & Creative Writing.
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LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES -- Rhetoric.
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REFERENCE -- Writing Skills.
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Drama -- Technique. (OCoLC)fst00897512
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Playwriting. (OCoLC)fst01432078
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| Genre/Form |
Electronic books.
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| Other Form: |
Print version: Klein, Jon. Life as a playwright. London ; New York : Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2018 9781474285094 (DLC) 2017040935 (OCoLC)987796941 |
| ISBN |
9781474285100 (electronic book) |
|
1474285104 (electronic book) |
|
9781474285117 electronic book |
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1474285112 electronic book |
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9781474285124 electronic book |
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1474285120 electronic book |
| Standard No. |
10.5040/9781474285124 |
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