ONLINE WRITING INTENSIVE: Investigative Playwriting

Intensive Description

WAITLIST

“Calling all playwrights with a question!”
This writing intensive is designed to help students identify and explore their investigative storytelling sensibilities in the theater. Verbatim and contemporary docudramas will be read and discussed in order to deepen their prior knowledge about the genre. Each student will need at least one subject in the areas of, but not limited to, biography, oral history, current events, or history, that they are interested in researching through traditional research like libraries, small talks, interviews, and focus groups, etc. and adapting into a play.

The intensive begins with a ten-minute playwriting exercise based on a current event of your choice and ends with the first draft of your full-length docudrama.

This intensive is for you if you:

• Are intrigued by real-life stories and want to turn research into a compelling theatrical story.
• Enjoy digging into biographies, oral histories, current events, or historical topics.
• Are curious about verbatim and docudrama techniques and how they’re used on stage.
• Are ready to write and revise in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.
• Are excited to start with a short piece and build toward something bigger.
• Like combining journalism, storytelling, and theatrical form.
• Want to explore your voice as an investigative playwright.
• Are interested in learning more about Tylie’s work and approach to writing.

What to expect:

• Take part in eight group sessions and at least two one-on-one check-ins with the instructor to discuss your subject of interest and the development of your play.
• Participate in weekly table readings of new pages, followed by guided roundtable discussions with your cohort and verbal feedback from the instructor.
• Receive an individualized reading list and best practices tailored to your topic and the style of your play.
• Explore research methods such as interviews, oral histories, and archival digging.
• Complete a first draft of a full-length docudrama or play based on historical events — personal or public.
• Develop your dramaturgical skills by reading and observing the new work of your peers.
• Connect and engage with fellow students and the instructor online via Zoom and email.
• Stay accountable as you produce, share, and respond to new pages each week.
• Strengthen and more clearly articulate your writing process.

Intensive Sessions: 

Tuesdays, July 15 through September 16

8:00am – 10:00am Central Time

Payment Schedule: 

3 Monthly payments ($117 Tier 1 Members/$150 Tier 2, Tier 3, Non-members)

• Payment #1: Due at time of enrollment
• Payment #2: Due August 11
• Payment #3: Due September 01