A standard appearing train for college students is to think about what their character is doing subsequent once they exit a scene, and what they’re doing once they aren’t onstage. We’re turning that train right into a playwriting immediate — writing the subsequent scene for an exiting character. Where did they go? What are they doing? Why did they go away? Let’s determine it out!
Instructions
1. Select a play, and have college students every select a second the place a personality exits inside the scene (ideally not the lead character). Students must determine the character’s identify because it seems within the script, write a one-sentence abstract of what brought about them to exit, and be aware the precise line that’s spoken or sung to make them exit. Be positive to additionally be aware the act and scene quantity (if recognized), in addition to the web page variety of the script.
2. Write a scene instantly following their exit. Their first line is the final line they are saying earlier than they exit (or the road of the character who causes them to exit). Where is the character going? What are they doing? Who are they assembly with? What are they speaking about? How is the character feeling?
For instance, in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, the character Clarisse is magically drenched by bathroom water when she corners Percy within the camp toilet. Her exiting line is, “You’re worm meat, Jackson… WORM MEAT!” What does she do when she leaves the lavatory? Does she seize her fellow Ares cabin mates and begin plotting revenge? Does she go to the lake and cry in secret? Does she set hearth to Percy’s mattress?
Here’s one other instance. What does Courtney, the snooty salesgirl within the opening variety of Legally Blonde: The Musical, do after Elle calls her out for exhibiting her a costume from final yr? The line that causes Courtney to exit is her supervisor singing “Elle Woods! Sorry, our mistake, Courtney take your break! Just ignore her, she hasn’t been well.” Does Courtney sneak out the again of the shop? Does she write a letter of resignation and enrol in school? Does she steal her supervisor’s automobile? It’s as much as you!
3. From right here, college students could be as ingenious as they need for his or her scene. It could be the identical tone or style because the established play, or go in a very totally different course. Perhaps a personality from a play exits and bursts into tune of their scene, or a personality in a tragedy begins cracking jokes. Perhaps a seemingly happy-go-lucky character reveals a hidden darkish aspect.
Students can invent new characters for his or her scene or use established characters who will not be presently showing onstage within the play. They must develop their focus character’s character past their presently scripted traces within the play. Give the character a correct identify if they do not have already got one (for instance, in Heathers: The Musical, a few of the characters embody Beleaguered Geek, Hipster Dork, and New Wave Girl — they want correct names). Include the brand new setting on the prime of the scene as nicely.
It doesn’t matter if this scene follows the established plot of the present or not. Students are welcome to tie it again to the unique play if they need, however they don’t must. It generally is a aspect journey, or take the play in an entire new course. Who is aware of — maybe this writing train will encourage a sequel or spin-off manufacturing!
4. If you want to add a efficiency side to this writing train, have college students learn the scenes aloud, or create a staged studying sequence of all the brand new scenes. If the scenes are all from the identical play, organize them so as of the place they happen inside the established script.
5. Have college students full an exit slip responding to one of many following questions:
- How does this train make you a greater author?
- What is the aim of this train?
- How might you employ this scene or this train course of for future work at school?
Kerry Hishon is a director, actor, author and stage combatant from London, Ontario, Canada. She blogs at www.kerryhishon.com.