AN ALL-PURPOSE PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP
or, whatever you need this to be for you
Facilitated by John J. Caswell, Jr.
GROUP ONE: Tuesdays Oct 14, 21, 28 and Nov 4, 11
GROUP TWO: Thursdays Oct 16, 23, 30 and Nov 6, 13
6-9PM ET on Zoom
Note: Final sharing session (last class) will run long, usually until 10PM
$300. Installments can be arranged! Let me know what your needs are.
PARTICIPANT EXPECTATIONS
1. Please be sure before signing up that your intention is to be present for each session. The workshop will rely greatly on where conversation takes us, making it difficult to impart knowledge after the fact. Also, the process of sharing our work is a vulnerable act made easier as we become more familiar with one another.
2. Theater is a communal experience made whole by sharing our work. While this can be daunting at first, please come willing to share your work and hear the work of others.
3. As part of our sharing we will reflect the work back to the author in accordance with the Liz Lerman Critical Response Method (we will review this together). After this step is taken, the author may solicit additional feedback as they see fit.
4. Bring with you a true desire for the artistic success of your peers. We are here to lift each other up and all feedback must be offered in that spirit. This is an ego and competition-free zone.
5. Between sessions we will be reading short essays, plays, and other material meant to expand our perspectives on theater, writing, and the creative process. These readings will be kept to a minimum and shouldn’t take too much of your time. We will discuss these together so please be ready to contribute to the conversation.
WORKSHOP SESSION CONTENT
Checking In– At the top of each session we will each take the time to check in with the group about whatever is on our mind. We use this as a moment to connect, update us on your week of writing, or simply vent about the world before we begin to work.
Reading Discussions / Craft Talk – This will be a combination of discussion around whatever short readings I’ve sent the week before. It’s a way to interrogate our understanding of craft and for you to ask questions of me and of the group. This will also involve me talking about some element(s) of drama which we will then address in greater detail through our exercises.
Exercises – Writing prompts meant to be generative and/or supplemental to your own work outside of class. These exercises might produce new material you’ll then add to your play, or they may clarify thoughts and ideas you have about your work’s direction.
Mini-Readings – At the end of sessions I will leave space for mini-readings, or readings of small portions of your work no longer than a page or two. This is meant to be quick and informal and guided entirely by the playwright in need of the help.
Occupational Therapy – Also at the end of the session and after any mini-readings, this is a time for you to ask me anything about industry, career, and writing.
Final Readings– We will each share larger chunks of our text with the group (10-20 pages) and engage in discussion and feedback. We will decide in advance who would like to share during each session so you’ll know when you’re up.
IN-BETWEEN WORKSHOP SESSIONS
Optional Chats and Coaching:
I will hold Thursday/Friday office-hours virtually from 3-5 PM ET
Schedule in advance a 20 minute session by signing up (an online form will be provided)
Note: This is not required. Use this option for additional guidance as needed. If you can’t meet during these times and still would like some extra help or discussion, see below.
On-Call Between Sessions:
If you have artistic emergencies, need clarification, are unavailable during my office hours, or just want to chat/run something by me randomly, I am available to you outside of our sessions and one-on-ones via text or email. We can also talk by phone if arranged in advance. Please understand I may not always respond immediately but will as soon as possible.
POST-WORKSHOP ONE-ON-ONE
At the close of the workshop I will set individual one-on-ones for all interested participants. You send me whatever work you’ve finished that you’d like me to read. It can be your whole play if you’ve finished, or parts and fragments. Whatever you find helpful. The one-on-one we set will likely be a few weeks following the end of the workshop so I have ample time to read everyone’s material. If you need to delay your one-on-one because you’d like more time to finish a draft before I read, we can also kick it down the road and you’re free to come back to me when ready.
HOW TO ENROLL
First, fill out the form below. Then I’ll be in touch with next steps!