Workshop; Generating Ideas Prompts; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

LAB:

Take the first few minutes of class to continue reading/critiquing your peers plays. By 7:45 stop and focus on the following writing tasks:

5 prompts to jumpstart your writing by Winter Miller (and Brad Craddock)
Use the prompts below to prepare your 10-minute play script for our next writing project. Your project should follow these rules:

• 3-4 characters. That's all. As we read the next few plays, notice how the playwrights use 4 characters to create a pretty complex and character driven play.
• Write your play in the standard play script format for writers.
• Your play script should be between 6-10 pages in length.
• Use the prompts below to get an idea. Please generate ideas first--instead of just sitting down and typing. In fact, instead of typing these prompts, use a journal/notebook and a pen/pencil. Write by hand. If you skip this step you will get stuck and then...well, I told you so. Yes, you may get stuck anyway. Generate ideas first. Then worry about shaping them into a well written play script.

Let's mix the ingredients first. Then I'll show you how to bake them...

Prompt #1: Write a letter to yourself from someone in your past (or present) who has said kind words to you. A favorite teacher, a family member, a best friend, and just have them say some things they love about you, some words of encouragement. Spend only 3 minutes or so on it. First name that comes to you, just go. Surprise yourself. 1-2-3: go!

#2 (10 minutes total): Give yourself TWO MINUTES (time yourself) for each of the next tasks. You must keep your pen moving, do not stop to think. If you run out of ideas, just repeat the last word you’ve said until a new word enters your mind. So if all you can think of is peanuts, keep writing peanuts until the next word comes out of you. Make these lists:

• Make a list of at least five things you’ve never seen on a stage before that would totally floor you if you did. (For instance, very elderly people skiing; a baby wrestling a snake, an elephant on a skateboard, etc.)
• Come up with as many lies as you’ve ever told a friend, parent, sibling, or teacher (you can lie about your lies if you want, I’m not looking over your shoulder) (For instance here are some lies: I have horns; I will always love waffles; I didn’t see you there; I love you).
• Make a list of machines to replace people in the future and what they will do. (For instance a robot that cleans your oven and tells you a bedtime story, a cell phone that absolves you of your sins, a headset that fills you in on all the gossip you missed that day, etc.) 
• Make a list of at least five things you never want to see on a stage! (For instance: a beautiful sheep who tramples teenagers for sport; an actor removing her liver with a knife, a train wreck, a falling chandelier, a helicopter landing on stage--the last two have been done before!)
• Remember to keep your pen moving, repeat if necessary, or make up a new word, just keep writing until your two minutes is up.

Reread your above lists and circle any words or phrases that excite you. You don’t have to know why. Next, choose 3 of the many things you’ve circled and write them down. You have your last 2 minutes to complete that.

#3A.Stretch break. Take one minute and goof off. Stretch. Relax. Stretch. Relax. Now get back to writing you next prompt:

#3B: Spend 15-20 minutes on this next part. Really push yourself to keep going, even when you want to quit. See if you can remain open and focused on this task.

• Take your three things from your list above. (For me that might be, very elderly people skiing, I have horns, and a person in performance removing her own liver).
• Take the first character who jumps into your head, give that person a name (ie JUANA).
• Now, write a scene in which JUANA witnesses another character (ie FRANKIE) doing any of the above things you circled WITHOUT being seen. Then have JUANA make her presence known to FRANKIE. What happens?
• Somewhere in the scene, one of the other things on your list comes to pass during the scene—what happens? How do they both react to this event or revelation? Are they surprised? Did they know it? Are they angry? Do they respond by force? With love?
• Take this scene as far as it goes and if need be, bring in more characters to engage with the two you have. Let them have real connections to each other, real conflict and real emotions and see where they take you.
• It’s okay if surprising things come out of their mouth—maybe they’re sexist or racist or have a Martha’s Vineyard accent or curse a ton—whatever idiosyncrasies these characters present to you, let them have it. Trust your impulses.
• Do not go looking outward on google for confirmation that such a person could exist, could make those choices. Just go with your gut and see where it leads.

#4: Make a list of things that absolutely terrify you. (For instance, Nazis; an angry bear). Write continuously for one minute. Now, take one of your characters from the scene you just wrote a few minutes ago (JUANA or FRANKIE), preferably the one that is least like you. Write down this character’s name. Take that character and have a character most similar or like you approach this first character.

• Begin to insult the first character for his/her beliefs, or appearance, or actions.
• How does your first character respond to the second character’s insults? Do they fight? Is it verbal? Physical? What happens?
• Let your impulses dictate whatever the conflict is, but do not shy away from it. See if you can get as down and dirty with these two people. See if you can go somewhere that feels IRREVOCABLE with them. Then, at some point in the scene, one character will turn to the other and reveal an important secret. Then what happens? (10 minutes)

Take a pee break/water break. Do NOT check your phone or your email Stay in this burgeoning world you’re creating. Go to the library and return with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf by recently deceased superauthor Edward Albee.

With the rest of our time in the lab today or when we move to the classroom, please complete:

Finally: #5: Before you pack up your stuff for the night, make a list of everything you know about this new play you’re beginning. Could be characters’ names, location, time of day, geographical spot in the world or galaxy, a need, a piece of clothing, a desire, a repeated physical gesture, anything that could be in this new world of your play, no matter how far-fetched or banal, put it on the list. Create a working title, a short cast list, and a short description of your setting and time.

Between this class and next, please outline your play. You only have 6-10 pages to tell your story. You must use 3-4 characters and develop all of them. Outline the following (page # suggestions are based on a 10 page play script; adjust for a play that is a little shorter or longer as you see fit):

• What is your inciting incident? (page 1)
• What is your major dramatic question? (pages 1-10)
• What is your crisis or complication? (pages 3-4)
• What is your play's event? (pages 3-7)
• What is your character's major decision? (pages 2-8)
• What is each character's dark moment? (pages 1-10)
• What is each character's enlightenment? (pages 5-7)
• What is your climax? (page 8-10)
• What is your denouement or resolution? (page 10)
• What startling and interesting image will you end your play with?

Bring your outline with you next class to begin working on your play. Or see homework below.


DISCUSSION: Compare & contrast How I Learned to Drive with Driving Miss Daisy.

READING: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Pair, Stand, Perform. We will read as much of the script as possible in class.

HOMEWORK: Complete your reading of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. As you read, take particular note of the interactions between the 4 characters. How do each become the protagonist and antagonist as the play unwinds. Look for the horrible secret! You'll never guess...

And complete your outline using the brainstorming exercises you did today in class. Bring your outline and your play scripts back with you next class. Maybe there will be a test.