a long speech given by a single character- but to
no intended audience...it’s like
listening in to his/her inner thoughts and
feelings
What is…
the genre of drama that is humorous and often (at least in Shakespeare’s
case) ended in marriage
What is…
the clothing that actors wear to develop the
characterization of the roles they are playing
What is…
to tell the actor how to deliver the lines (facial expressions, emotion, body language, stage
movement, etc)
What is…
the different divisions of each act in a play--usually
change because of a change in setting or the
characters on stage
What is…
Scene 1Abby and Polly walk in stage right. The room is brightly lit with Christmas lights and is full of holiday decorations.
What is wrong with this?
Stage directions at the beginning of scenes are supposed to be centered and italicized.
What is wrong with this?
Scene 2(Abby and Polly run out
into the cold night. Trees are heavy with snow and
the porch light glows merrily.)
So is this correct?
NOPE! Stage directions at the beginning of each
scene are NOT supposed to have parentheses
around them.
So is this correct?
Abby: “Did you see him in there?”
Polly: “Yeah! Sooo cute!”
Abby: “Ahhhh. If only he would notice me!”
There are three errors...Can you find them?
ABBY: Did you see him in there?
POLLY: Yeah! Sooo cute!
ABBY: Ahhhh. If only he would notice me!Error 1: Characters’ names are to be in all caps.
Error 2: Characters’ names are to be bolded.Error 3: You do not put quotation marks around their
lines--obviously they are saying it--it’s a play, and the dialogue is what drives it! :)
There are three errors...Can you find them?
ABBY: Did you see him in there? (in a hushed, confidential tone)
POLLY: Yeah! Sooo cute!
ABBY: Ahhhh. If only he would notice me! (while throwing her arms up into the air)
There are two errors...Can you find them?
ABBY: (in a hushed, confidential tone) Did you see him in there?
POLLY: Yeah! Sooo cute!
ABBY: (while throwing her arms up into the air) Ahhhh. If only he would notice me!
Error 1: Stage directions inside lines of dialogue are to be both italicized and in parentheses
Error 2: If stage directions are telling the actors how to deliver a line (emotion, tone, body language, etc), they need to come
BEFORE the line he/she says.
There are two errors...Can you find them?
Isabella and Rory are planning a surprise party for their best friend Natasha. Place: Isabella’s room. Time:
Present Day. Conflict: They can’t decide the theme of the party.
Remember--use correct dramatic format...title, setting, dramatis personae, both types of stage directions, and
at least 4 lines of dialogue written correctly!
Now write the beginning of a play using this:
A Birthday Surprise
Dramatis PersonaeIsabella--a control freakRory--a natural leader
Natasha--a sweet, quiet girl
Time:Present Day
Place:Isabella’s Room, Natasha’s Backyard
Sample of how it should look...
Scene 1
The curtain rises on a teen girl’s room. There are boy band posters over the walls, pink curtains, and tons of girly clutter everywhere. The girls sit on the bed.
ISABELLA: (with an exasperated tone) Well, I still say that we should do a Hawaiian theme!
RORY: (trying to remain patient) Izzy, you know that theme has been done again and again. Let’s do something more original.
ISABELLA: (scowling) You always get your way. I’m so tired of you pushing us all around!
RORY: (looking shocked) Are you crazy!? I’m just trying to make sure our best friend’s birthday is awesome!!
Sample of how it should look...