Weekend Playwriting Workshop

For a second year, NET offers a range of playwriting courses taught by Playwright in Resident, Catie O’Keefe. This fall, we offer a series of three weekend workshops. Each one will focus on specific areas of writing, and each course will build upon itself. Sign up to take just one, add another, or take all three for a discounted price*.There are no prerequisites; writers decide what course is best for them and the workshops are open to anyone and everyone 16 years and older. All workshops are taught at Dramakinetics in Northside. See the website for full course listing and times.
New Edgecliff Theatre’s Playwright-in-Residence leads these exciting workshops! Catie O’Keefe joined the company in 2010, and in 2011 NET produced her play Darker at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Last year, she adapted the stories of Edgar Allen Poe for Poe-sessed, The Sweet Suspense Radio drama for stage/radio. This season will see her adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost, as well as the world premiere of her new original play, Slow Descent from Heaven. Catie has a BA and a Masters in Playwriting and her work has been performed in London, Scotland,Amsterdam, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Louisiana and Colorado.

Workshops

Introduction to Playwriting (Beginning/Refresher): Have you ever wanted to write a play but didn’t know where to start? Have you written a play but don’t know how to improve upon it? Having writers-block or wanting to explore an idea more? Or do you just want to try something new? This class is designed to cover the basics in how to start with an idea and turn it into a play. We will focus on a
number of writing exercises to get the creative juices flowing and discuss the essentials like finding good objectives, upping the stakes, character development and dialogue. The course ends in the creation of a 10 min play with feedback from the teacher and other students.

– September 8-9th, 2012 – Saturday 11-5:00pm and Sunday 11-4:30pm; $90

Building upon the Ideas of a Play (Intermediate/Advanced): This course focus’ more directly on the enhancement of a play idea or a play in the process. Finding a playwright’s Voice is an integral part of becoming a good playwright and this workshop aims to delve into your writing to make every scene, character and line more rich and better developed. There will be exercises to improve structure and playwriting devices. We will have a large section devoted to group feedback as we start to explore the benefits of constructive criticism, how to stay true to your vision while making the play more accessible for others as well as turning a rejection into an acceptance. If you have dabbled in playwriting or have even had things produced but want to focus more in depth on the craft, then this is the workshop for you.

– October 13-14th, 2012 – Saturday 11-5:00pm and Sunday 11-4:30pm; $90

Advanced Playwriting Techniques: (Advanced): Students in this workshop will come prepared with one full length piece already written or a few smaller pieces (10 min plays or similar) to work on with the group. We will read and analyze what’s working and what needs improvement. We will address
rewrites and final touches as well as where to go and what to do with a completed script. This course will pick a future date to hold a staged reading for all or parts of the plays for audience feedback with the goal of seeking production. If you feel that you have proficient experience in writing for the stage and understand the fundamentals of writing a play then this is the course for you. This course is also a great follow up to the Introduction to Playwriting and Building upon the ideas of a play.

-November 17-18th, 2012 – Saturday 11-5:00pm and Sunday 11-4:30pm; $90

The Details

WHERE: Dramakinetics, 4222 Hamilton Ave.,Cincinnati Ohio, 45223

FEE: If you have attended one of NET’s playwriting courses in the past you can receive 25% off your next course (for up to one course), or book all three workshops for $225. (Savings of $45, must be paid in full before first workshop. No refunds). Registrants must be paid in full by the Thursday before the weekend of each workshop (Sept. 6th, Oct. 11th, Nov. 15th. Participants enrolling in all three courses must be paid in full by Sept. 6th).

Space is limited! Qualified applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis and our class will be capped at 15 participants. Apply early to ensure your spot!

Questions?

Contact New Edgecliff Theatre at (888) 588-0137.