“Got some pockets of time during the current pandemic? Here are five valuable ‘how-to’ books on theater that I keep coming back to…
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1.) The Elements of Playwriting, by Louis E. Catron – a basic guide to writing plays that has been around a long time. There are a couple really excellent chapters, including one entitled ‘What Makes a Play?’ which is a succinct and insightful summation of the dramatic form.
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2.) The Dramatist’s Toolkit, The Craft of the Working Playwright, by Jeffrey Sweet. Sweet is a working playwright with a craftsperson’s eye and way of explaining what fires the form. His sections on working with Objects and the power of Negotiations are incredibly helpful.
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3.) Backwards & Forwards, A Technical Manual for Reading Plays, by David Ball. Although intended for directors and actors, the way Ball explains how conflict is built is gold for writers.
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4.) and then, you act. making art in an unpredictable world, by Anne Bogart. This book is inspiring for all theater creators, especially when thinking about a work that might not follow a standard Western well-made play structure. Her section on ‘Magnetism’ and the elements that combine to generate powerful, must-be-watched performance I could read over and over.
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5.) Letters to a Young Artist, by Anna Deveare Smith. This book is so human and useful to theater artists of any age. Deveare Smith is both an actor and a playwright, so she’s got really astute tips in here that see the work from a number of angles.”
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Elizabeth Heffron’s Playwriting I & III classes, part of Freehold’s Spring 2020 Online offerings begin Sunday, April 12 and Tuesday, April 14. More information and registration HERE.
