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Great Plains Theatre Conference Writer´s Workshop

The 2008 Great Plains Theatre Conference Writer´s Workshop is a series of hands-on playwriting and acting classes designed and led by talented theatre professionals, each a skilled and experienced educator. The workshop is designed to enhance playwriting skills from several different viewpoints and expertise areas to allow for a well-rounded instruction base. A variety of approaches will be offered, and there will be opportunity to attend multiple sessions.

The classes will be two hours in length, allowing for writing, sharing and discussion. The creative work generated during the sessions will be developed into plays to be presented at the Sunday night Play Slam.

Schedule

Instructors

Robert Caisley		Javon Johnson		Larry Singer
Lee Wochner

Session Descriptions

All session descriptions will be posted by February 15.

Session 1A - Javon Johnson
"Truth in Acting"
This workshop provides practice for finding honesty on stage from moment to moment.

Session 1B - Robert Caisley
"The One Page Workshop"
A quick study of classical modes and structures.

Session 1C - Larry Singer
"Point of View Exploration"
A combination of relaxation, sensory work, storytelling and collaborative writing, which can strengthen an ensemble and create trust.

Session 2A - Javon Johnson
"Finding Your Voice"
This workshop will reveal strategies for developing an organic style of writing.

Session 2B - Lee Wochner
"The Deeper Truth"
While society often encourages the niceties of polite lies, playwriting demands the unpleasant truths of human psychology. In this hands-on workshop, playwrights will explore the groundwork of the subconscious as expressed dramatically, and then adapt this learning into instant character sketches and scenes.

Session 3A - Lee Wochner
"Starting at the Start"
How many ways are there to tell a story? Eleventy billion — if you could just get started. In this active (and interactive) writing session, playwrights will share and trade story ideas and get launched on a new play that gets them writing and leaves doubt in the rearview mirror.

Session 3B - Robert Caisley
"First Aid for Playwrights"
A diagnostic approach for assessing the symptoms of an ailing play.

Session 3C - Larry Singer
"An Exercise in Use of Self"
This workshop begins with relaxation exercises and then an exercise that helps the participants with revealing oneself followed with a dialogue exercise that evokes daring, honesty and risk.

Session 4A - Javon Johnson
"Finding Your Voice"
This workshop will reveal strategies for developing an organic style of writing.

Session 4B - Lee Wochner
"The Deeper Truth"
While society often encourages the niceties of polite lies, playwriting demands the unpleasant truths of human psychology. In this hands-on workshop, playwrights will explore the groundwork of the subconscious as expressed dramatically, and then adapt this learning into instant character sketches and scenes.

Session 4C - Robert Caisley
"The One Page Workshop"
A quick study of classical modes and structures.