The Art & Craft of Playwriting

by Hatcher, Jeffrey

• ISBN13: 9781884910067
• ISBN10: 1884910068
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-04-01
• Publisher: F & W Media Inc

Summary

From "story" and "tension" right down to how to get a character from one side of the stage to the other, Hatcher, an award-winning playwright, conveys his expertise and love of the theater in an intelligent, engaging style.-- fourteen essential elements found in every good play, with examples from historical and contemporary theater-- a step-by-step walk through the classic play Hedda Gabler, showing good playwriting elements in action-- interviews with playwrights Marsha Norman, Jose Rivera and Lee Blessing offer practical advice and personal insight on distinct approaches to the craft-- a wide range of exercises increase the readers' mastery of the elements of playwriting

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(6)
Drama and Theater	7	(14)
The Six Elements of Aristotle	21	(36)
Space, Time and Casuality	57	(10)
Getting the Great Idea and Turning It Into a Play	67	(12)
Structure	79	(14)
Great Beginnings	93	(20)
Great Middles	113	(10)
Great Endings	123	(10)
Dialogue	133	(21)
Hedda Gabler: A Script Analysis	154	(21)
Three Interviews: Lee Blessing, Marsha Norman and Jose Rivera	175	(30)
Afterword	205	(4)
About the Author	209	(1)
Index	210