GRADUATE PLAYWRITING SEMINAR
SYLLABUS
THEATRE 8987/ENGLISH 8560
PAGE 1
Revised 3/9/16
Instructor:
Phone:
Office hrs:
Email:
Course Credit:
Goals:
David Crespy
(573) 882-0535
Wednesday 1-2PM/By Appt.
CrespyD@Missouri.edu
3.0
Meeting Time:
Meeting Place:
Prerequisite:
W 3:00-6:00
FAA 116
Graduate Standing
Instructor Consent
Lab: Missouri Playwrights Workshop
• To complete a full-length, two-act (60-80 pages) play or two one-act plays (each
30-40 pages), and a body of shorter playwriting exercises including monologues,
scenes, and character studies.
• To develop a course in beginning playwriting or a proposal for a playwriting
component to a creative writing/theatre program (syllabus or teaching proposal)
• To explore theories of playwriting from Aristotle to present, including the ideas
of Brunetiere, Archer, Ibsen, Zola, García Lorca, O’Neill, John Howard Lawson,
Wilder, Shaw, Brecht, Strindberg, Ionesco, Beckett, Richard Foreman, Augusto
Boal, etc. in order to research how these theories influence the research,
pedagogy, and creative technique of playwriting.
• To explore and create new modes of play development by producing new plays
at the Missouri Playwrights Workshop. These explorations will be followed up
with a research paper defending their ideas and using historical research (based
on the examination of play development processes of professional and
educational theatres) to support their ideas.
Course Requirements:
• PARTICIPATION (25%)
–Lecture/discussion, conference (2 per semester) (15%)
–Missouri Playwrights Workshop 5%)
–Mizzou New Play Series (2.5%
–MU Theatre Productions (2.5%)
• WRITING ASSIGNMENTS (75%)
– Journal (10%) (Midterm & Final)
Play & Text Responses, Playwriting Assignments
– Full-Length Play (55%)
Play idea worksheet, Character etudes, plot treatment, draft,
revision, MPW Reading
– Pedagogy Project (10%)
Syllabus, Sample lesson plan, playwriting exercises, projects,
and a teaching portfolio, including a philosophy of teaching
GRADUATE PLAYWRITING
SYLLABUS
THEATRE 411
PAGE 2
Revised 3/9/16
Required Texts:
Castagno, Paul. New P laywriting Strategies. New York: Routledge,
2001
Smiley, Sam. Playwriting: The Structure of Action. Yale University
Press, 2005.
Required Plays:
Parks, Suzan-Lori. Top-Dog Underdog. TCG 2001
Congdon, Constance, Tales Of The Lost Formicans, TCG, 1995.
Jenkins, Len, Dark Ride and Other Plays, Sun & Moon Press, 1993.
Overmeyer, Eric , Collected Plays , Smith & Kraus, 1993.
Wellman, Mac , The Bad Infinity: Eight Plays, Performing Arts Journal
Publications, 1994.
Recommended Readings on Reserve
THEATRE 8987/English 8560/WINTER 2007/SECTION 1
Graduate Seminar in Playwriting
PROFESSOR:
PHONE:
DEPARTMENT:
Dr. David Crespy
882-0535
Theatre
EMAIL: CrespyD@Missouri.edu
LOCATION: 129 Fine Arts Building
Author
Title
Publisher
Date
Call Number
Aristotle
Poetics
Hill & Wang
1989
PN1040.A5 B7 1961
Artaud, Antonin
The Theatre and Its
Double
Grove Press
1958
PN2021 .A713
Boal, Augusto
Legislative Theatre
Routledge
1998
PN2051 .B6413 1998
Boal, Augusto
Theatre of the
Oppressed
Urizen Books,
1979
PN2051 .B63613
Castagno, Paul C. New Playwriting
Strategies : A
Language Based
Approach to
Playwriting
Routledge/The
atre Arts Books
2001
In Process
Chapman, Gerald Teaching Young
Playwrights
Heinemann
1992
PN1701 .C44 1990
GRADUATE PLAYWRITING
SYLLABUS
THEATRE 411
PAGE 3
Revised 3/9/16
Cole, Toby
Playwrights On
Playwriting
Cooper Square
Press
2001
PN1661 .C56
Congdon,
Constance
Broadway Play
TALES OF THE
LOST FORMICANS Publishing,
In Plays from Actors
Theatre of Louisville
1989
PS634 .P612 1989
Dukore, Bernard
Dramatic theory and
criticism: Greeks to
Grotowski
Holt, Rinehart
and Winston
1974
PN1621 .D8
Egri, Lagos
The Art of Dramatic
Writing
Simon &
Schuster
1977
808.2 Eg85a
Garrison, Gary
Playwrights Survival
Guide
Heinemann
1999
PN1661 .G37 1999
Jenkins, Len
Dark Ride and Other
Plays
Sun & Moon
Press
1993
Deskcopy on Reserve
Scriptwork
Southern
Illinois Univ
Press
1995
PN2053 .K34 1995
TCG
2001
Kahn, David and
Donna Breed..
Kathy Sova
Dramatists
Sourcebook 20012002
PN2289 .D73 2000/2001
Kennedy,
Adrienne
Adrienne Kennedy
In One-Act
University of
Minnesota
Press
1988
PS3561.E4252 A6 1988
Lawson, John
Howard
Theory and Practice of G.P. Putnams
Playwriting &
Screenwriting
1949
PN1661 .L32 1949
Marranca, Bonnie Ecologies of theater
: essays at the
Century Turning
Johns Hopkins
University
Press,.
1996
PN1861 .M36 1996
Overmeyer, Eric
Smith & Kraus
1993
PS3565.V94 A19 1993
Collected Plays
Parks, Suzan-Lori Venus
Theatre
1997
Communication
PS3566.A736 V46 1997
GRADUATE PLAYWRITING
SYLLABUS
THEATRE 411
PAGE 4
Revised 3/9/16
s Group
Parks, Suzan-Lori The America Play
Dramatists Play 1995
Service,.
PS3566.A736 A5 1995
Parks, Suzan-Lori Top Dog Underdog
Theatre
2002
Communication
s Group
PS3566.A736 T66 2002
Smiley, Sam
Playwriting: The
Structure of Action
Prentice-Hall
1971
PN1661 .S65
Wellman, Mac
The Bad Infinity:
Eight Plays
Performing
Arts Journal
Publications
1994
PS3573.E468 B3 1994
Willett, John
Brecht on Theatre
Hill and Wang
1966
PN2021 .B68 1966
GRADUATE PLAYWRITING
SYLLABUS
THEATRE 411
PAGE 5
Revised 3/9/16
CLASS STRUCTURE
RECOMMENDED READINGS: We’ll have regular readings from two major texts of the
course and there are recommended readings for those who are interested in pursuing
additional sources for playwriting theory or technique. This is particularly useful to students
who are preparing a reading list for their comprehensive exams or for an independent study
in playwriting, new play development, or dramatic literature.
PREPARATION FOR COURSE: Students taking this course should be familiar with Buzz
McLaughlin’s Playwriting in Process and Michael Wright’s The Playwrights Process. Both of
these books use terminology with which you should be familiar; if you haven’t read these
books, I highly recommend you do so. Both are available in the University Bookstore under
the beginning and immediate playwriting courses (Theatre 2920, 3920). Another option is to
read these books on reserve—but since we use these texts in our beginning and intermediate
playwriting courses, it doesn’t hurt to purchase these on your own.
JOURNALING: We will be journaling in class and upload those materials to a blog. You are
expected to write 2-5 pages per week between in your journal and to respond to other
students work on the blog. The journal consists of in-class writing exercises, play ideas,
dreams, character studies, plot treatments, and script drafts. Be aware that much of what we
will journal, we’ll first develop in class—so bring a laptop to class for in-class exercises.
ASSIGNMENTS: All assignments are due on the date specified on the syllabus unless the
class agrees as a whole to change dates. All written assignments must be uploaded to the
blackboard website.
MISSOURI PLAYWRIGHTS WORKSHOP & MIZZOU NEW PLAYS SERIES are a vital
part of the playwriting program at the University of Missouri and are an open forum for new
playwrights and their work. You are encouraged to actively participate in these programs as
actors, directors, and dramaturgs. The requirement is that you attend the workshop at least
five times over the course of the semester and at least two of the evenings of the Mizzou New
Play Series.
MU PRODUCTIONS are an important resource to seeing how scripts translate into
productions. It is important that you see the following productions so that we may discuss
them in class: Tango by Slawomir Mrozek, Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare, Art by
Yasmina Reza, the Mizzou New Play Series, the Romulus Linney Visiting Playwright Series,
and The Irish Rogue by Mary Barile. It’s hoped you’ll participate as a playwright, director or
dramaturg in the Mizzou New Play Series.
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION POLICY
If you need accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical
information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must
be evacuated, please inform me immediately. Please see me privately after class, or at my
office.
GRADUATE PLAYWRITING
SYLLABUS
THEATRE 411
PAGE 6
Revised 3/9/16
To request academic accommodations (for example, a notetaker), students must also register
with Disability Services, AO38 Brady Commons, 882-4696. It is the campus office responsible
for reviewing documentation provided by students requesting academic accommodations,
and for accommodations planning in cooperation with students and instructors, as needed
and consistent with course requirements. For other MU resources for students with
disabilities, click on Disability Resources on the MU homepage.
GRADUATE PLAYWRITING
SYLLABUS
THEATRE 411
PAGE 7
Revised 3/9/16
JAN. 20-26 NO CLASS/KCACTF
1
Wednesday, Jan. 30
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday,
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
Discussion:
ARISTOTLE & THE CRISIS DRAMA
TRADITION (READINGS ONLY/NO CLASS)
Primary Text:
Castagno: Chap. 1, Overview
Smiley: Chaps. 1-3, The Playwrights’s
Solitary Work
In Class:
Shifting Levels of Speech
Recommended Aristotle, Poetics (Online)
Readings:
Egri, Premise
Lawson, Introduction, I. Aristotle
Cole, Introduction
2
Wednesday, Feb. 6
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
3
Wednesday, Feb. 13
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
Discussion:
MULTIVOCALITY: THE PROCESS OF WRITING
PLAYS
In Class:
Lifeboat Exercise/Special
Knowledge/Developing Discourse
Primary Text:
Castagno: Chap. 2, Multivocality
Smiley: Chap. 4, Plot
Recommended
Readings:
Egri: Character: Chaps. 1-5
Lawson: II. The Renaissance
Cole: Chekhov: Advice to Playwrights
Discussion:
POLYVOCALITY/HYBRID PLAY
Primary Text:
Castagno: Chap. 3, Polyvocality/Hybrid Play
Smiley: Chap. 5, Story
In class:
Fronts & Facades, Transforming the Object
Plays:
Constance Congdon: Tales of the Lost
Formicans
Recommended
Readings:
Egri: Character, Chaps. 1-5
Lawson: III, The Eighteenth Century
Cole: Thornton Wilder
GRADUATE PLAYWRITING
SYLLABUS
THEATRE 411
PAGE 8
Revised 3/9/16
Due: 2/13/08
Play Idea Worksheets
Play Analysis: Tales of the Lost Formicans
GRADUATE PLAYWRITING
SYLLABUS
THEATRE 411
PAGE 9
Revised 3/9/16
4
Wed., Feb. 20
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
Discussion:
THEATRICALITY OF CHARACTER
Primary Text:
Castagno: Chap. 4, Theatricality of Character
Smiley: Chap. 6, Character
Recommended Egri, Character, Chaps. 6-11
Readings:
Lawson: IV, Nineteenth Century, Ibsen
Cole: Ibsen, Zola, Strindberg
In Class:
Speech Genres
Plays:
Suzan-Lori Parks: Top Dog/Under Dog
Due 2/20/08:
Play Analysis: Top Dog/Under Dog
REGION VI KCACTF – Dr. Crespy will be out of town – No class Meeting on Feb. 27.
5
Wed., Feb 27
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday,
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
Discussion:
LEN JENKIN: DRAMATURGY OF CHARACTER
Primary Text:
Castagno: Chap. 5, Len Jenkin’s
Dramaturgy of Character
Smiley: Chap. 7, Thought
Recommended Egri, Conflict, Chaps. 1-5
Readings:
Lawson: I. Conscious Will/Shaw/Social
Necessity/Dualism of Modern Thought.
Cole: Chekhov, Galsworthy, Shaw
In Class:
Character Etudes, Dark Ride Exercise
(The Call)
Plays:
Len Jenkins, Dark Ride
Due 2/27/08:
Character Etudes
Play Analysis: Dark Ride
GRADUATE PLAYWRITING
SYLLABUS
THEATRE 411
PAGE 10
Revised 3/9/16
6
Wed., Mar. 5
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday,
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
Discussion:
Eric Overmeyer: CHARACTER
TRANSFORMATION
Primary Text:
Castagno: Chap. 6: Eric Overmeyer:
Principles of Character Transformation
Smiley: Chap. 8, Diction
Plays:
Eric Overmeyer’s On The Verge
Recommended Egri: Conflict, Chaps. 6-10
Readings:
Lawson: Critical and Technical Trends,
Eugene O’Neill, Technique of Modern Play
Cole: O’Neill, Brecht, Thorton Wilder
7
Wed., Mar. 12
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday,
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
In class:
Character Etudes, Plot Treatments,
Exercises: Equivocal Character/Interrupt
Assignment:
Plot Treatment
Play Analysis: On the Verge
Discussion:
MAC WELLMAN: LANGUAGE-BASED
CHARACTER
Primary Text:
Castagno: Chap. 7, Mac Wellman:
Language-Based Character
Smiley: Chap. 9, Melody
Recommended Egri, General, 1-4
Readings:
Lawson, Law of Conflict/Dramatic Action
Cole: Sartre, Fry, Durrenmatt, Osborne,
Ionesco
In Class:
Nouning, Plot Treatments, Language
Shaping Character
Plays:
Mac Wellman’s Whirligig
See also the handouts on Mac Wellman
“Theatre of Good Intentions” and an
interview with Mac Wellman
Due:
Play Analysis: Whirligig
GRADUATE PLAYWRITING
SYLLABUS
THEATRE 411
PAGE 11
Revised 3/9/16
8
Wed., Mar. 19
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday,
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
Discussion:
DIALOGIC BEAT
Primary Text:
Castagno: Chap. 8, The Dialogic Beat
Smiley: Chap. 10, Spectacle
Recommended Egri: General, 5-7
Readings:
Lawson, Unity in Terms of Climax, The
Process of Selection, The Social Framework
Cole:
In Class:
First Act Readings, Ex: The Beat Shifter
Due:
THE PLAY: ACT 1 – DRAFT
SPRING BREAK, MARCH 22-30, 2008
9
Wed., Apr. 2
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
10
Wed., Apr. 9
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday,
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
Discussion:
SCENES, ACTS, REVISIONS
Primary Text:
Castagno: Chap. 9, Scenes, Acts, and
Revisions
Smiley: Chap. 11, A Way of Life
Recommended Egri, General, 8-10
Readings:
Lawson, Continuity
In Class:
First Act Readings, Ex: Scene Polish
Discussion:
FOUNDATIONS OF CONTEMPORARY
MONOLOGUE
Primary Text:
Castagno: Chap. 10, Foundations of
Contemporary Monologue
In Class:
Act 2 – Draft, Monologue and Absent
Other
Recommended Egri, General, 11-14
Readings:
Lawson, Exposition
Due:
THE PLAY: ACT TWO - DRAFT
GRADUATE PLAYWRITING
SYLLABUS
Revised 3/9/16
MIZZOU NEW PLAYS SERIES – CORNER PLAYHOUSE
APRIL 10, 11, 12, & 13 (THURS-SUN)
THEATRE 411
PAGE 12
GRADUATE PLAYWRITING
SYLLABUS
THEATRE 411
PAGE 13
Revised 3/9/16
11 Wed., Apr. 16
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday,
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
Discussion:
DIALOGIC MONOLOGUE: STRUCTURE AND
ANTISTRUCTURE
Primary Text:
Castagno: Chap. 11, Dialogic Monologue
Structure and Antistructure
Recommended
Readings:
Lawson, Progression
Kahn & Breed: ScriptWork
In Class:
Act II – Drafts, Monologue Aria: Rapture
ROMULUS LINNEY RESIDENCY – CORNER PLAYHOUSE
APRIL 14-17 (THURS-SUN)
12 Wed., Apr. 23
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
Discussion:
NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT: LIVING
AUDIENCES
Essays on New
Play
Development
–Rush, David: Theatre Topics Article
–Anderson, Doug: The American Dream
Machine, Thirty Years of New Play
Development
Recommended
Readings:
Lawson: The Obligatory Scene, Climax
DUE:
The Play: ACT I REVISION
GRADUATE PLAYWRITING
SYLLABUS
THEATRE 411
PAGE 14
Revised 3/9/16
13
Wed., Apr. 30
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday,
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
14
Wed., May 7
Missouri Playwrights
Workshop
7PM, Tuesday,
Memorial Union
North Ground Lounge
15
Final Exam week
Discussion:
SCRIPTS & MARKETS
Recommended Lawson: Characterization, Dialogue
Readings:
In Class:
The Play: Act I - Revision
Handout:
THE BUSINESS OF PLAYWRITING
Discussion:
A WAY OF LIFE
Recommended Smiley, A Way of Life
Readings:
Due:
The Play: Act II - Revision
Discussion:
DISCUSS PLAYS IN WORKSHOP
Due:
FINAL DRAFTS:
SYLLABUS/LESSON PLANS, PAPER, PLAY
FINAL EXAM