i need to write a play?

Question

me and my friend have been asked to write a play about and hour and a half long ... we have ideas....lots of them.... but dont know how to write it down properly with out it looking confussing..... does anyone have a step-by-step guide please?

Answer 1

Are you directing it?

Keep dialogue seperate, unless blocking is a crucial part of the scene, don't bother with it, the director is the onle to assign blocking, slao same with actors direction, the specifics are what the actor brings to the play. Only write down dialogue the actors and directors will interperet it the way they are trained to.

Answer 2

Writing a play is not kids work -- even if kids are to write it. I don't know what to say. I've never really written a play, but I've read some Shakespear and Samuel Beckett. There are many different ways of writing plays, in many different styles.

My personal opinion is that unexperienced writers should have the whole story in their head beforehand and not write spontaneously, or else it may all get confusing. Try to first organize the story into chapters (or acts), even before writing down anything. Decide with your friend about the beginning of the play, the middle, and the end.

For beginners, I suggest to be concise and not expand the story too much. Get to the point early and work it from there. Don't fall into clichés and try to relate the story to the audience. If it's a school work, try to involve some events that have affected your school mates, in the play.

If you are to include comedy, then perhaps you could involve some incident where a teacher got upset over something? Just make sure you do it good and don't make it as a form of criticism, unless you intend to. Then, of course, try to act the play with your friend. See what feels natural and realistic, and what doesn't.

Good luck!

Answer 3

There are several references that give standardized formats, but they boil down to the following.

In summary a typical format is as follows:

Title page, including the author's name and copyright notice.

The next page(s) include:

Author's Notes: What's the play about from the writer's perspective, what time period is it in. What type of audience. How long will it take to perform. Recommended music. Author's acknowledgments to people who helped form the script.

Setting: What does the stage look like.

Proplist: What stageprops are needed; two chairs, a popcorn machine, etc.

Costume List: What costumes are needed.

Cast List: What age and gender of people the Director needs for the performance.

All the above is followed by "Stage directions and Script."
Stage Directions are usually given in upper case text.

Each scene usually ends with everyone going off stage, or the lights going out. Then either time has passed, or we're in a different place. The end of each act works the same way, and is usually followed by a major transition.

Act I, Scene I

THE CURTAIN OPENS, OR THE LIGHTS GO UP, AND MARY AND JOHN ARE SEATED IN THEIR APARTMENT. THE PHONE RINGS, AND JOHN ANSWERS IT.

JOHN:
Hello. You're coming right over? Great.,

JOHN HANGS UP AND MARY COMES OVER TO HIM

MARY

Who was that?

etc.

The play ends with CURTAIN written after the last line or stage directions.

Note: It's best to keep the stage directions to a minimum.

Answer 4

Buy this book...The Playwright's Process. I have it currently listed on eBay for $1. My daughter is a junior at Clemson University studying film and communications and took that class. The book is good but she isn't interested in plays.

Answer 5

first number then, then beside each one write a short description of the plot and anything neccessary to know about the play. This way will keep it organized and allow u to remember anything about the plays that u mite have forgotten.

Answer 6

All I could think of is to write them all down,figue out which ones are the most interesting,and narrow them down to no more than five,to make it more interesting without it making it too busy or confusing.Thanks.

Answer 7

write it down and study it thoroughly. Get people to act it out, and find a small audience to test the play. See if they understand it, good luck!

Answer 8

No, the Jonas Brothers did no longer write the music "Play My music." the administrators of Camp Rock wrote it, yet after it replaced into written, they have been given to restoration it up and make it their own. -demi

Answer 9

You need to figure out the characters, setting and dialogue. Separate them all. For example: Setting: on the rocky beach at sunset. (character&dialogue) Sara:"The dog at my paper,dad."
Good luck in your endeavor!!

Answer 10

An imagination and paper and pencil.