Course

New Play Development and Production Workshop

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Performing & Fine Arts
Course code
PEFA 3120
Credits
6.00
Semester length
7 weeks
Max class size
24
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Tutorial
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course unites writers, apprentice directors, actors and stage designers/technicians for the purpose of developing new play scripts for production. Students will work as ensembles, in their own disciplines, and in cross-discipline roles, to simulate the operation of a small theatre company. In addition to learning how to work on a new script, students will learn other skills that make productions possible, such as leadership, teamwork, stage management, grant writing, fund raising, and house management. Mentors in various specialties will augment the instruction delivered by the primary instructor.
Course content

Script development

  • The Cold Reading
  • The Role of the Dramaturge
  • Rewriting
  • The Staged Reading

Directing

  • Pre-production Text Analysis
  • Casting Issues
  • Rehearsal Tools and Techniques

Leadership

  • Building a Collective Vision
  • Building a Committed Team

Teamwork

  • Understanding Roles
  • Interpersonal communication

Acting

  • The Actor’s Role in Creating New Characters
  • Workshop Protocol.
  • Advanced Practice in Working as an Ensemble

Designing a Production

  • Approaching a new script.
  • Visual storytelling
  • Creative Process for Design Elements

Stage Management

  • Organizational Skills
  • Aspects of Production Management

The Business of  Production

  • Grant writing
  • Fund raising through private sources
  • Budgeting
  • Advertising and Promotion
  • Legal issues

Front of House

  • Box office, ticket sales
  • Concession
  • Programs
Learning activities

Lecture: 3 hours per week

Workshop/studio: 12 hours per week

Means of assessment
Weekly research assignments on topics such as dramaturgy, directing, design, budgeting and promotion 40%
Class participation 20%
Written assessments of scripts at the cold reading and staged reading phases 10%
Final projects (including final written analysis of the various aspects of production 30%
Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will:

  • be able to discuss new scripts in an informed and constructive manner;
  • (the student writer will)  recognize contributions from other members of the artistic team and be able to move scripts forward by rewriting;
  • (the student designers will) be able to create an elementary design for a new play;
  • be able to work together in multiple capacities as a collective with a common goal;
  • understand  the artistic, financial and administrative aspects of  developing and producing  a new play; and
  • be able to mount a festival consisting of new plays.

Textbook materials
  • Scriptwork, A Director’s Approach to New Play Development, David Kahn and Donna Breed, Southern Illinois University Press
  • Working on a New Play, Edward M. Cohen, Limelight Editions (Prentice Hall)
  • Produce Your Play Without A Producer, Mark Hillenbrand, A Smith and Kraus Book

Lab fees of $100 for the Production Budget

Requisites

Prerequisites

Diploma in Theatre or Stagecraft, or Associate of Arts Degree in Creative Writing, or equivalent education and/or experience. Student acceptance determined by the Performing Arts Coordinator.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for PEFA 3120
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CA 3XX (5)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) No credit

Course Offerings

Winter 2025