Primary Stages ESPA

February 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9, 16, 23

Wednesdays from 6:30pm – 9:30pm ET

In-Person at ART/NY Studios at 520 8th Ave.

NEW STUDENT RATE: $580

RETURNING STUDENT RATE: $560

Studio Fee: $40

Due to the increasing cost of studio space, our in-person classes will now include a $40 studio space fee to help us offset these costs.

If you’re curious about stepping into the world of playwriting - welcome! In this 10-week class, playwright and performer Iraisa Ann Reilly will help you build a toolbox of the fundamentals, so your first play (and each play you write after that!) can be built on a strong foundation.

This class might be for you if you are:

• A budding playwright who wants to explore an idea that you've been trying to write forever.
• A theater artist boldly crossing the line from one discipline to another and ready to start writing!
• A novelist or poet searching for a new form.

In this class you will:

• Build a toolbox of the fundamentals, including discussions on character, Western dramatic structure, and dialogue.
• For the first half of the semester, generate new work through in-class writing exercises, using these to connect with your subconscious and tap into the characters that are in your heart. 
• In the second half of the semester, focus on workshopping and revising your own short play, bringing in 10 pages each week to share with the class. 
• Share your pages and exercises aloud as a class and have feedback sessions led by Iraisa, learning how to share and receive creative feedback with your peers.
• Read a full length and short play at the beginning of the semester to understand fundamental concepts and have a shared vocabulary.
• Throughout the semester, Iraisa will give non-mandatory reading and viewing suggestions tailored to each playwright to help you on your writing journey.Find community and motivation through and with your fellow artists.

By the end of this class you will:

• Have an understanding of playwriting fundamentals and the workshop process.
• Have written (and re-written) your own ten-minute piece and feel empowered to take your writing into the world, whether through expanding your characters into a full-length play or submitting your short work to festivals.
• Feel inspired and ready to create!

Learn more about Iraisa Ann here.

This class will be fully digital for sharing and reading pages. All pages will be shared via a class Google Drive folder, and we will use devices in class to read each other’s pages. Please come to class with a device (laptop, tablet, etc) and a charger/power cord for your device. If you are unable to bring your own device, please contact ESPA Administration.