"Playwrights Teach Playwriting, edited by Joan Herrington and Crystal Brian, is a collection unique in the realm of "how-to" playwriting books. These essays by such well-known playwrights as Chris Durang, Marsha Norman, Tina Howe, Tony Kushner, David Henry Hwang, Marie Irene Fornes, José Rivera, Romulus Linney, Mac Wellman, Donald Margulies explore the pedagogy of playwriting, offering fascinating and valuable insights into the way established playwrights communicate their own creative methods to young writers. Each of the playwrights included in the book has extensive experience as a teacher in a variety of venues. Their chapters offer insight into the unique vision of each playwright and provide practical and tested advice, exercises, and course structures for both students and teachers of playwriting. A concluding essay by dramaturg and literary manager, Mead Hunter, offers career advice for beginning as well as emerging playwrights."
~Amazon.com

Playwrights, dramaturgs, teachers and students of playwriting and drama.

As a playwright and a teacher, I have often found and read books on both sides of the spectrum. I've read many a book on playwriting, and I've read books on teaching. For the first time in my experience, I've found a book of essays on the art of teaching playwrights. Not only is this an incredibly well thought out series of essays, it covers a variety of opinions and feelings on the topic.

The most interesting part of this book comes from the fact that, in many cases, these authors disagree. Some of the writers talk about teaching structure in their classes. Others are disgusted by the idea of teaching structure- instead leaning in the direction of finishing the play in whatever way it desires to be written. The opinions expressed in this book are simultaneously profound, interesting, and entertaining. I highly recommend this book to playwrighting teachers, teachers who write plays, and playwrights who have never taught a day in their lives. It's wonderful.

My only complaint is that it was so short- I only wish there were more essays by other playwrights.

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Created Jun 12, 2007 at 8:44pm • Submit your own review...