Advanced Playwriting: Writing for Actors, Audiences, and You
This course has been canceled. Please check back for Summer 2026 offerings in Fall 2025.
THEA S4106 - 3 POINTS
SESSION A: May 26–July 4, 2025
INSTRUCTOR: Stephen Adly Guirgis
Day & Time: MW 1–4:10 PM
THEATRE
SUMMER 2025
This course is about making it personal, telling a story, and building community. The workshop is focused on nurturing the individual voice of writers, diving deeper into craft and introducing new tools to unlock creativity. It is designed for students with playwriting experience who are looking to generate new writing, nurture work in progress, or expand their practice. At the end of the workshop, students will have the opportunity to hear their writing read by professional actors. Each class will also include time for questions about process and space to discuss working professionally in theater, film, and television.
Week One:
Focused in-class writing exercises and assignments specifically designed to introduce the central themes of the class.
Week Two & Three:
Devoted to reading work, providing feedback and re-writing new assignments, and discussions of Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Letters To A Young Poet”
Weeks Four and Five:
Students bring in plays they’re working on for group feedback utilizing students and professional actors as readers.
Week Six:
Dedicated to creating a group project to be read and performed.
Required reading:
Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet
Selected essays.
Columbia students do not need to apply, but they do need to register. All visiting students will need to apply to the School of Professional Studies and register upon acceptance.