First and foremost a passion for theatre is a must for those venturing to write plays. There are lots of playwrights yet few theatres willing to take on unknown dramatists. Even fewer are those playwrights making a living from plays alone. One must love theatre as well as have something to say that can only be said on stage.
Theatre is not Film or Television
One must have an understanding that theatre is not a live version of film or television. A close-up shot of an actor that can convey an entire story arc cannot be seen from the balcony during a live performance.
Yet along with film and television, theatre shares an element of good storytelling: characters show not tell the story. For the stage, dialogue along with action is relied upon to convey stories, or as Tom Stoppard said in a 2007 interview with Charlie Rose, theatre is “text transmuted into event.”
See a Lot of Plays
Plays are a three dimensional experience. The ability to translate the page into something living and breathing on stage can be challenging in the beginning. One of the best ways to learn the language of theatre is sitting in one, and watching plays whether good, bad or indifferent. Reading plays is especially valuable in conjunction with seeing them whenever possible.
There are innumerable ways to see theatre on the cheap. Local college and university productions, as well as small theatre companies, are excellent resources for live theatre. Some theatres offer rush tickets, or half-price tickets. Ushering or volunteering at a theatre is another way to obtain seats to a performance. “Comp” tickets are free tickets that are often available to crew, actors, and the press. Sometimes comps are available when seats haven’t sold and management wants a larger audience. Don’t expect comps, but don’t be afraid to ask a theatre if comps are available.
Find and Befriend Actors
Perhaps unless a playwright is writing a one-person show that he'll perform himself, writers need to find ways to hear the play out loud. Words heard only in the head most likely won’t sound the same coming from live actors, especially the first draft of a first play. Stage roles, unlike film and television, are meant to be performed by a variety of actors, each one bringing her own unique delivery of the role. Hearing an actor struggle over lines is sometimes the casualty of a cold reading, but also can be a signal for a re-write.
There are actors who enjoy honing their cold reading skills, and even those who want to support new playwrights. Actors can be found in local schools, theatre associations, or in the community at large through (for example) Craigslist. It always helps to be clear, kind, and courteous to those prevailed upon for help.
Cold and Rehearsed Readings
Playwrights need to learn to hear the play without any rehearsal. A cold reading means the actors read the script without any practice of it, and often without reading the script before hand. Cold readings in effect de-emphasize the acting, and highlight the words and story to help the playwright in the re-write or refining process.
Rehearsed readings are valuable to hear how an audience responds to the work. A theatre is not required for readings as they can be held anywhere from an auditorium, a church basement, or a living room. The purpose of informal readings is so that the playwright can determine what is and is not working about the play, and to facilitate the next draft.
Patience with Submissions
See passion for theatre in the opening paragraph of this article. Unless a beginning playwright self-produces her work, it takes time to secure a professional reading, workshop or production. Some theatres are gravely understaffed and overburdened and may never respond to a play query. Some may take a year or even longer to respond.
Also, understand that not all plays are suitable for all theatres. Research the theatre or program before submitting work to it, and follow the submission guidelines. Submission guidelines may be listed on the theatre’s website, or in The Dramatist Sourcebook.
Starter Resources
The Dramatist Sourcebook, published by Theatre Communications Group, provides a listing of contests, festivals, and theatres with submission guidelines.
Richard Toscan’s The Playwriting Seminars, has been available online since 1995 and provides a concise, insightful guide to writing plays.
En Avant Playwrights provides a online forum listing submission opportunities.
There are many good books about playwriting. For instance, The Playwright’s Guidebook, by Stuart Spencer, covers more than the basics on how to write a play.
It's Playwright not Playwrite
Lastly, please remember a dramatist may be called playwright not playwrite. According to a March 2009 update for The Oxford English dictionary, the term “playwright” goes back as far as Shakespeare’s day. Search any good modern dictionary and "playwrite" does not appear, except perhaps to refer back to "playwright." A playwright involves playwriting; the act of creating, shaping and writing plays.
Other Suggested Resources
The Oxford English Dictionary
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