BPF Workshops for Playwrights

How To Begin and Finish a Play
with Mark Scharf
Monday, June 8, 7 - 9 pm at Fells Point Corner Theater

So, you want to write a play but you find yourself staring at that blank page. Or maybe you've got a scene written, but find yourself unsure of what to do next. This session addresses both of these common playwriting dilemmas with tools/techniques you can use to get your playwriting machine started and to keep it running. In doing so, the session features topics such as developing YOUR playwriting process, defeating writer's block and yes, proper formatting and presentation does matter!

Raising the Stakes - Adding More Dramatic Action to Your Writing
with Rich Espey
Monday, June 15, 7 - 9 pm at Fells Point Corner Theater

Drama is not plain conversation, and scenes with true dramatic action make your story jump off the page and cry out to be produced on stage. In this session, participants will work to add even more dramatic action to a two-character scene they've already written. We'll begin by using the end of Scene Eight from John Patrick Shanley's Doubt as a model for writing dramatic action. Then we'll do a little brainstorming and revising of a scene you've already written to make it include more dramatic action. (Or, if you prefer, you can create a brand new scene during the session). A prior reading or viewing of Doubt is helpful but not required.

Getting That Play Onto the Stage - Marketing Your Work
with Rosemary Frisino Toohey
Monday, June 22, 7 - 9 pm at Fells Point Corner Theater

How do you get a complete stranger to produce your play? We'll talk about mining the gold in multiple submissions. Because we need to convince ourselves---before we can convince the rest of humanity -- that the product is worth the effort, we'll focus on converting the introverted writer into the extroverted salesperson. Since the flip side of sending things out is watching them bounce back, we need to prepare for rejection, so we'll discuss moves to bring that monster to heel. And finally, we'll look at the value of routine, learning to work like a nun...or like Ernest Hemingway, Flannery O'Connor or maybe Stephen King.

To reserve your space, please make out a check or money order to The Baltimore Playwrights Festival, and send to:

BPF Writing Workshops
c/o Kathleen Barber, Event Coordinator
1500 Shadyside Road
Baltimore, MD 21218

Cost: Any one workshop $30, any two $55, all three $75
Reservation deadline: May 31, 2009

Please be sure to denote the specific workshop(s) you are attending, as well as your name, address, email, and phone. There will be no refunds after the reservation deadline.

About the Workshop Leaders

Mark Scharf's plays have received readings and productions in London, New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Texas, Australia, Beijing and Singapore. Mark's awards include The 2009 Maryland State Theatre Festival's Special Award for Best Original Script, The Northern Virginia Theatre Alliance's 2008 Award for Best Original Script, The 2008 Robert J. Pickering Award for Playwriting Excellence, The 2006 Arts and Letters Prize in Drama, First Place 2002 Baltimore Playwrights Festival, and three Individual Artist Awards for Playwriting from the Maryland State Arts Council. Mark teaches Playwriting at the University of Mary Washington, and has taught creative writing at Howard Community College. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild.

Rich Espey is a two-time winner of the Best Play in the Baltimore Playwrights Festival. His plays have been produced in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington D.C. He has had several Equity Showcase productions in New York. Rich has also received an Individual Artist Award for Playwriting from the Maryland State Arts Council. Rich is a faculty member of the Park School of Baltimore, where he proudly teaches Middle School Science. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild.

Rosemary Frisino Toohey has won the 2008 Next Generation Playwriting Contest in New York, the 2007 New Playwrights' Festival, the First Place 2005 Baltimore Playwrights Festival, 2009 and 2004 Towngate Theatre Playwriting Contest, and has received an Individual Artist Award for Playwriting from the Maryland State Arts Council. Her plays have been seen in London, Canada and all across the US. Her comedy, IN THE TANK, published by Dramatic Publishing, is included in the collections of dozens of university libraries. Rosemary is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild and works frequently in film and on TV. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild.