Writing: The Ten-Minute Play
Cary Pepper
This course will cover the basics of writing a 10-minute play: structure (beginning, middle, end); character; dialogue; plot. We’ll investigate what these elements are, why they’re important, how to do them well, how to craft them in a specific play.
Previous playwriting experience is not required — just the desire to explore this increasingly-popular creative writing format. Students will have the opportunity to work on at least one 10-minute play.
Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Structure
Week 3: Character
Week 4: Dialogue
Week 5: Plot
Week 6: In-class reading of plays
Cary Pepper has had work presented throughout the United States and internationally. Among his full-length plays, How It Works won the 2012 Ashland New Plays Festival and The Maltese Frenchman was a Finalist for the National Play Award. Among his one-act plays, Small Things won the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival 2006 One Act Play Contest and Anything Can Happen won the 2013 UpStage Theatre Annual Festival of Comedy. Most recently, Irish Stew was produced as part 2014 Short + Sweet Sydney, and Party Favors won the 2016 Goshen Peace Play prize. Cary is a member of the Dramatists Guild, and a four-time contributor to the Best American Short Plays series from Applause Books.
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