Play Writing!

JACK SHARKEY- 1931-1992
1. A.K.A. (Pseudonyms)
• Monk Ferris, Rick Abbott, Mark Chandler and Mike
Johnson
2. Writer of “…laugh-a-minute, zany, screwball farces.”
3. Lots of fast-paced action and ambiguity- mistaken
identity
• Lots of detailed facts supported by research
4. Real characters with slight flaws in judgement
5. Low to middle comedy
6. Rated PG to PG-13
7. 82 plays published
*TIM KELLY- 1937-1998
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A.K.A. (Pseudonyms)
Vera Morris and Robert Swift
Most Prolific American playwright*
Over 350 published plays
Over 3000 plays in production per year throughout the
world
Lots of Action- in many different genres
Fun characters and stories
Low to middle comedy
Rated G- appropriate for any audience*
Use of much cliché, and popular sayings (phraseology)
EV MILLER- 19351.
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English teacher in North Dakota for 35 years
Modern American writer of Realism.
Based on real people and events
Real, true-to-life characters with real issues
Dramatic writer, with moments of comic relief- not forced
Rated G- appropriate for any audience*
Usually a strong theme that comes from his writings
Deeper characters who reveal lots about themselves
Social awareness plays
PLAY-WRITING ASSIGNMENT
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5 – 10 minutes in length.
Patterned after the style of one of the three playwrights.
Consider Plot- Beginning, middle and end to story
Write in “Play” format
20+ minutes of independent writing time each class period
Not to be memorized
You will direct other students in your play- make sure that
all students are included in some way
8. School appropriate
RUBRIC
PLAY-WRITING DEADLINE = TODAY (50 PTS)
Sharkey
Kelly
Miller