East West Players

Course Description:

During the course of our workshop, we'll focus on different aspects of the rewriting process, as well as remind ourselves of the fundamental building blocks of successful plays. We will investigate the elements that comprise a script including dialogue, monologue, subtext, character, structure, action, language and imagery in service to imagination, intentionality and expression ultimately meant to be realized in performance.You will also have the opportunity to work intensively on new drafts of your play, integrating both the thorough notes you'll receive in class and the writing exercises that are meant to be a springboard to the imagination. Furthermore, we will witness the development of each playwright’s work and recognize the inevitable commonalities and overlap in everyone's process. Finally, reading and viewing assignments will help supplement our understanding of the form and provide much- needed real-world context, as well as inspire, provoke, and challenge.

Course Objectives

·  To craft one’s play with clear action, developed characters,

intentional dialogue and inspired imaginings

·  To deepen our understanding and appreciation of the playwright’s craft

·  To bestow constructive criticism and thoughtful feedback to self and peers

·  To execute REVISION

·  To cultivate fearlessness in our writing experiments

·  To invest deeply in the content and the form

·  To surprise oneself

·  To relentlessly discover “What can a play do?”

 INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Giovanni Ortega (Instructor) Commissioned plays: Sama Sama: Solidarity in the Fields, Criers for Hire & Allos, The Story of Carlos Bulosan (East West Players), The Butterfly of Chula Vista (San Diego Rep), Simula – A New Beginning, Fall in Winter, Tug of War, Wayne Kalani – A Soldier’s Tale, Jonah, Mutyang Kalayaan – Beloved Freedom, Tao Po: We Are Here, Lost in the Margins, El Pescador y La Lluvia and The Sea. In Singapore, Giovanni devised/directed The Body Series, Evolution, Kabaret Singapura at Haque Centre of Acting and Creativity. Poetry Festival Singapore also commissioned Giovanni to write the plays Benches and Palindromes, followed by films Belonging, Atlas and Nomads.  Giovanni is faculty at Art of Acting Studios, AMDA College of the Performing Arts and Visting Professor at Colorado College.