Do I Need a Star?
The Need for Stars? “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” – Steve Martin Writing a play and then staying the course to see it produced is a daunting task. It requires tremendous focus and 100% dedication to each step in the developmental process. Once you think...
Make Submissions Easy
‘Tis the (Submission) Season Ah, the coolness of the air, the crisp sound of the leaves rustling underfoot. It’s the time of non-profit galas galore and Christmas party networking. For playwrights and librettists, it’s also the season of submissions. I’m sorry...
5 Top Takeaways from the “How to Write a Musical” Workshop
The World & The Want Yesterday I taught my favorite workshop, the “How to Write a Musical That Works” Workshop through Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) in NYC. Along with the Executive Director Bob Ost and a stellar panel composed of Dramaturg/Producer Ken...
Breaking Up With Aristotle: Alternative Plot Structures
To Aristotle With Love: We’re Done So many contemporary playwrights claim to have “broken up” with Aristotle. As is, “Ari, we love you and all, but you’re so old school. We’re done.” The energy of the “action plot,” where a protagonist has a goal and takes...
Story vs. Plot
Where in the Story Does Your Plot Start? A discussion about the difference between plot vs. story is anything but an academic question. Instead, like most talks about structure, how a plot is designed defines how the audience experiences the story. An early...What I’m Reading
Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Esther and Jerry Hicks
The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz, PhD.