| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| Were to go from here | 7/5/2009 |
Q: My friend and I have developed a musical play and improved it over six one night performances in ...
A: Sounds like you've already had a great start. Congratulations! As for where to go from here, you ...
|
| colaborator needed | 6/30/2009 |
Q: I've written the lyrics for a completetly all singing rock musiclal. I need to find someone to write ...
A: I can't answer for all producers, of course, but generally producers don't get interested in a play ...
|
| Preferred Cast Page | 6/16/2009 |
Q: I'm working on a few plays and I have a question concerning the order of the characters on the cast ...
A: Of course every playwright approaches his/her cast list differently depending what they want to ...
|
| Question on boundaries and roles | 3/17/2009 |
Q: I have a written a rather dark play which comes heavily from my own past, so I'll start by admitting ...
A: Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I've been sick and away from my computer. But I'm back ...
|
| play protection | 3/3/2009 |
Q: Shulman, I realize you're not a lawyer, but I was told long ago that no one has the right to change ...
A: Yes, it is true that no one has the right to change a play's words without the written consent of ...
|
| 3-Act Play | 2/11/2009 |
Q: I am writing a 3-Act Play. The outline is done and some of the character development plus some ...
A: First of all, I'm not sure what you are asking here. Do you want to know how long the play should ...
|
| Directing a one-act play stage reading. | 1/30/2009 |
Q: I have written a one-act play that was chosen to be performed as part of a one-act play festival. ...
A: Sorry for the delay in getting back to you... As I am a stage director and have never directed a ...
|
| phenomena | 12/11/2008 |
Q: there is some phenomena I practice want to take your opinion on ? when I m writing a scene or ...
A: I really can't address your first question. I'm not a writer. But I do know that every writer has ...
|
| Legend: The Story Of Bob Marley And His Wailers: A Biographical Musical. | 11/5/2008 |
Q: Schulman My Name is Spencer and I am a screenwriter, who also loves plays and after seeing a few ...
A: I appreciate how enthusiastic you are about your play, and how much you want to get started. Please ...
|
| Cast size | 10/8/2008 |
Q: My most recent play, a farce, has a cast of 10 (4 of whom are minor roles.) At 65 pages, it appears ...
A: How the size of the cast affects the choice of a play by a company varies greatly. Many community ...
|
| policital satires | 8/29/2008 |
Q: I've completed a first draft of a script for a rock opera and am now dealing with my somewhat absent ...
A: My apologies for the delay in getting back to you... I know of no specific tool that can assess the ...
|
| Directing New Work | 6/11/2008 |
Q: I am just a year out of College and I have been directing in Chicago. I have been working with many ...
A: .. I am SOOOO sorry I haven't gotten back to you... I've been in pre-production and now out of ...
|
| Directing New Work | 6/10/2008 |
Q: I am just a year out of College and I have been directing in Chicago. I have been working with many ...
A: Working on new shows can be very different from working on published works. Working directly with a ...
|
| question please | 3/18/2008 |
Q: I m writing short & long stories , I ll take some workshop to learn screen writing , but I have an ...
A: I'm really not exactly sure how to answer your question. Screenwriting is actually creating and ...
|
| Stage Play | 3/14/2008 |
Q: I've recently had a horrific experience involving a team of directors and a dramaturgy with regards ...
A: As a playwright, you own your play. It legally CANNOT be changed without your permission. You are ...
|
| royalties | 2/19/2008 |
Q: I have been writing children's plays for over 30 years. A small theatre offered to produce my ...
A: I am not a legal expert and without knowing exactly what kind of music she wrote for your script - ...
|
| D&G CONSULTATION | 1/29/2008 |
Q: You are the first person that I have given any details of my project to. I have a partner in this ...
A: I am really honored that you have trusted me with an introduction to your "baby". I know how hard ...
|
| WRITING THE BOOK FOR A MUSICAL | 1/22/2008 |
Q: I have been recording music by MIDI for many years. 2 years ago I undertook a project to create a ...
A: Sounds like a wonderful subject for a musical (as a director I'm trying to imagine how you manage ...
|
| How much of a script can you re-word | 12/29/2007 |
Q: If i have payed for the rights to a script how much, if any of the script can I change? e.g from USA ...
A: When you sign a contract to produce a play and pay royalties, you are contracting to do the play AS ...
|
| stage play | 12/6/2007 |
Q: Is age a barrier to writing a stage play as it is, I believe, for other areas such as songwriting?
A: Age is not a barrier to writing anything - not a short story, not a song, not a novel, not a stage ...
|
| How low should the playwright lay? | 9/9/2007 |
Q: Arlene, I've had a number of plays produced, and have always felt awkward about stepping forward and ...
A: Ideally, there is no boss. Theatre is a collaboration, and if you are present when a director is ...
|
| musical theatre | 5/10/2007 |
Q: I am a senior citizen who is interested in attempting to develop a musical stage production. I ...
A: I'm not sure what you mean by "attempting to develop a musical stage production". Do you mean that ...
|
| Producing a Play | 3/23/2007 |
Q: Arlene, I had someone to approach me about producing a stage play I wrote. What should I be looking ...
A: My apologies for the delay in getting back to you... sometimes life gets in the way. Every ...
|
| Taking My Creativity Further | 3/22/2007 |
Q: Three years ago, I put on a stage play for the very first time and I plan on putting on another one ...
A: I apologize for the delay in answering your questions... sometimes life gets in the way... I'm not ...
|
| Stage Play - Touring | 2/6/2007 |
Q: Arelene, I wrote a play and have produced it 4 times in my city and once in Florida. Our audiences ...
A: How exciting for you to see your play produced so many times! If you are thinking of touring with ...
|
| Writing plays/Directing | 12/9/2006 |
Q: I am still a student at secondary school - ok, it's my last year at school - and though I am almost ...
A: There is absolutely no way to answer your first question. It's not an "either/or" quesiton. And ...
|
| Theater Records | 12/5/2006 |
Q: Do theaters keep a record of play submissions such as dates, titles, etc..? I'm wanting to resubmit ...
A: I see no reason why you shouldn't resubmit your play. Each theatre has their own policy - there is ...
|
| problems writing a play | 11/21/2006 |
Q: i am doing research on playwright's. i what to know what problems a playwright faces when writing a ...
A: Like any artist approaching a major project there are many problems that a playwright could ...
|
| New Playwright | 11/1/2006 |
Q: I have read your other responses - love the insight and was wondering if you could assist me. I am ...
A: As I am a stage director and dramaturg, and neither a playwright or a lawyer, I am really not at all ...
|
| musical | 10/24/2006 |
Q: I am currently writing a musical. I am having trouble on a certain scene, and finishing the musical, ...
A: I'm sorry, Christi, but I simply can't read every play that people would like me to read. I would ...
|
| How long should a one woman show run? | 10/24/2006 |
Q: Somebody I know has an outline of a story that I would like to start working on to make into a ...
A: There really is no "right" answer to your question. A show runs as long as it needs to run to tell ...
|
| Independent Production Questions | 10/11/2006 |
Q: I want to produce an independent play I wrote. It's a gospel stage play but I will not be sponsored ...
A: 1) Royalties are the payment that is paid to the playwright for privilege of producing the play ...
|
| After the Play is Finished! | 10/7/2006 |
Q: Arlene. Should someone with a finished play concentrate on winning a contest or use their energy ...
A: The choice is yours. There really is no one "right" way to approach submissions. You are right, ...
|
| How to find a producer for a play already staged off-off-Broadway | 9/28/2006 |
Q: My client, an accomplished children's book writer (6 books published by New York publishers) and ...
A: My apologies for not getting back to you sooner. You and your client are in the same position as ...
|
| getting legal permission to perform a copywritten play | 9/19/2006 |
Q: I am trying to find out how to get legal permission to perform a one man christian play called: John ...
A: Although I've found lots of info on the video of ST. JOHN IN EXILE, I have not been able to find out ...
|
| hey, | 9/4/2006 |
Q: I'm writing a screenplay about a mysterious girl who is transferred from a different high school to ...
A: Being a stage director, I am not a writer, nor am I an expert in film and screenplays, so I'm not ...
|
| Music Submission | 8/15/2006 |
Q: Arlene. I've finished a play and have lyrics and ideas for the music. I took piano for many years ...
A: Sure, you could use music students. I don't know if a recording studio have people that they use, ...
|
| Writers Guild and International Copyrights | 8/10/2006 |
Q: A friend of mine and I are creating a Television series and were wondering what the process for ...
A: Sorry, but I'm a stage director, not a writer and not involved in TV at all. So I really can't help ...
|
| Submission | 7/25/2006 |
Q: Arlene. Thanks for answering my previous question concerning the length of my play. It was very ...
A: There's nothing to stop you from sending a letter of inquiry (with no script or other submission ...
|
| Length of play | 7/23/2006 |
Q: How can you estimate the length of a stage play based on the number of pages or words in the script?
A: You really can't. Actually, this is difficult to say without knowing the format you are using and ...
|
| Paper to Stage | 7/21/2006 |
Q: Arlene.. Iam very new to this and have a couple of questions. I have an idea for a play that is ...
A: 1) If the book you are adapting is not in the public domain (and if it was published in 1952 it is ...
|
| Family Productions | 7/18/2006 |
Q: I've written a one-act of 50 pages that would be considered a family production. Many theaters have ...
A: You are right, Rachel. Many theatres do want to do only plays with small casts. Part of the reason ...
|
| musical | 7/18/2006 |
Q: ok, i am only 16, but i am attempting to right a play/ musical. and this is sort of strange for me ...
A: Writing a musical is a huge project, one that even many professional playwrights wouldn't think of ...
|
| play writing software | 7/2/2006 |
Q: my name is luke and i reside in Sydney, Australia. I am currently in my last year of High School and ...
A: Sorry, Luke, but I am not a playwright myself, although I work closely with them, and I'm not an ...
|
| Everything happens offstage | 6/28/2006 |
Q: Yes you did answer a question about marketing my play. Thank you. That was my first play. I'm ...
A: You certainly don't sound stupid at all! The only way to learn is to explore and discover and ask ...
|
| Everything happens offstage | 6/26/2006 |
Q: I'm writing a new play. It's about a family who discover that their clothes dryer is a time travel ...
A: Didn't I just answer a question from you on how to market your play? Most plays can be saved, ...
|
| I think my play is finished | 6/26/2006 |
Q: I just finished revisions based on feedback from the second reading we did. I've got a ...
A: You are faced with the same problem that every playwright faces - what to do with your play once ...
|
| Getting A Play to the Stage | 6/20/2006 |
Q: Ms. Schulman: Last year I finished writing a play about my son's struggle with severe, chronic ...
A: There is no one way to market a play for production. And it's almost never fast or easy unless you ...
|
| Promoting my show | 5/23/2006 |
Q: I have written to you before. A couple of years ago, when I was still reshaping my show, ...
A: Congratulations on having your play produced. That's a real accomplishment. I checked out the ...
|
| musicals | 4/19/2006 |
Q: From your profile and background, you are the right person for thisWhat do you do if you have a ...
A: Find a composer to collaborate with. Most musicals are not written entirely by one person. They ...
|
| theatre business | 3/24/2006 |
Q: I am writing plays and I am trying to get them produced in local theatres (any beginner would do ...
A: You say you submitted your plays to a "stage director." Do you mean a director who directs plays, ...
|
| copyrighted material | 1/23/2006 |
Q: How do I obtain permission to use copyrighted songs in musicals or plays? And where do I find out if ...
A: As with plays, the way to obtain permission to use copyrighted songs is to contact the publisher and ...
|
| recorded songs | 1/15/2006 |
Q: I wrote a play for a choir so they can have more exposer and also for me too. but my question is all ...
A: Songs are copyrighted material and may not be used without permission from the writer or publisher. ...
|
| Help over a longer period | 12/30/2005 |
Q: it's helped a WHOLE LOT umm, this is probably the last question i'll have I turned in my rough draft ...
A: Without knowing exactly what you submitted it's hard to know what is missing. And without the ...
|
| starting an off off bway production? | 12/15/2005 |
Q: I read your answer to Kevin on About.com. I thought your answer was insightful and a good starting ...
A: Congratulations on your ambitions for an Off-off Broadway production. I am not an expert on the ...
|
| Help over a longer period | 12/12/2005 |
Q: alright basically, the scene that I will be doing is a law-enforcement office like.. a judge's or a ...
A: It seems to me that you are on the right track. Aside from the specifics of the contents of the ...
|
| I need some help | 12/12/2005 |
Q: My name is Brittany. I'm 14 and I am very intrested in writing. I was wondering if you could give ...
A: Writing in general, and writing screenplays in particular, is not something that can be taught in a ...
|
| Help over a longer period | 12/4/2005 |
Q: I was just wondering if you were familiar with the play "The Accidental Death of an Anarchist" by ...
A: Sorry, no, I'm not familiar with that particular play. But then I'm not going to do your work for ...
|
| Arlene,I've been writing... | 11/10/2005 |
Q: Arlene,I've been writing plays for church functions. However, I'm interested in getting some ...
A: There are lots of different kinds of plays, Patty. What may be perfect for a church venue may not ...
|
| Spacing | 11/3/2005 |
Q: Hey there Arlene. One more, I promise. I'm sending in my new play to some producers, and they asked ...
A: No problem... that's what I'm here for. I just wish I could be more help. I'm a stage director, ...
|
| A format issue, not a biggie. | 11/2/2005 |
Q: Hey there. Working on a play, and I was looking over some Sam French plays, and I noticed that some ...
A: I think I know what you are refering to... Some plays format their dialogue like this with the ...
|
| staged reading with a new playwright | 10/27/2005 |
Q: I am a theater director and I am directing a stage reading with invited guests. My question is about ...
A: There are really no "right" answers to these kind of situations. No matter what you do, it's a ...
|
| Selling/Producing Play | 10/18/2005 |
Q: I have found very few resources on the 'net or even in the bookstore about what to do with a play ...
A: There is no one particular way to market a new play. One way, of course, is to do basically what ...
|
| Author's royalties | 10/12/2005 |
Q: Schulman, Greetings from Boston and thanks for being a part of Allexperts.com. I was an expert ...
A: Nice to hear from a ex-expert and a Bostonian. My kids live in the Boston area and I'll be up there ...
|
| self produce | 10/3/2005 |
Q: Now I have absolutly no experience with writing, directing or producing. I have been writing skits ...
A: You say you have no writing, directing or producing experience and that you have been writing skits ...
|
| Writing a movie... | 8/10/2005 |
Q: Hey I was wanting to make a somewhat short movie for the fun and accomplishment of it, I wanted ...
A: I commend you on your imagination and creativity. Making a film is a big job and I think it's great ...
|
| copyrighting a play | 7/15/2005 |
Q: I have recently finished reading a book and have adapted it into a play. I would like to get the ...
A: I wish I could be of more help, but although I work with playwrights regularly as a dramaturg and ...
|
| playwriting prompts and tips | 6/24/2005 |
Q: I moderate a playwriting workshop at Borders. I do it for the love of writing etc. I am a ...
A: Sounds like you have a potentially wondeful group, and I appreciate your enthusiasm and passion for ...
|
| staging a stage | 5/4/2005 |
Q: my job is the dierctor and i need help on how to stage a set. i need to know how the plays back then ...
A: To be honest, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "stage a set". The director stages the show - ...
|
| writing play | 4/29/2005 |
Q: I HAVE A PASSION TO MAKE THIS PLAY...I ALREADY KNOW THE STORY IN MY HEAD. MY OWN ORIGINAL ONE, AND ...
A: There are no short-cuts to good writing, Jake, and playwriting is a complex art. Creating plots and ...
|
| playwrighting | 4/18/2005 |
Q: There's no confusion I'm not that familiar with the venues or production aspect of the theater an ...
A: In answer to your question at the end of your post... If these plays are old and have already been ...
|
| playwrighting | 4/17/2005 |
Q: For a few years now I've been interested in being a playwright especially after reading books and ...
A: I admire your ambition and your dedication and planning. But I'm a little confused about your ...
|
| practical?? | 3/29/2005 |
Q: I would just like to know how practical is it really to get into screenwriting? Will I be able to ...
A: I'm a stage director, so not quite an expert on film or screenwriting, but, as with any career in ...
|
| stage play | 3/16/2005 |
Q: I wrote a play and was so wrapped up in getting it written that I never really gave much thought to ...
A: Let me answer your last question first. Every play should have at least one, if not more, readings ...
|
| producing plays | 2/16/2005 |
Q: I am glad we learned something in my writing class called tightening, because I went back for the ...
A: Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. You've asked alot of questions here. Some I can ...
|
| Published Work | 1/31/2005 |
Q: I have written a musical. (The topic is in the public domain). I've heard that I might need to ...
A: I am not a writer myself, so I can't give you the details, but I do know that you do NOT need to ...
|
| about guilds | 1/28/2005 |
Q: I would like to thank you for answering my question in the past few days, now I have another one, ...
A: Your very welcome... :-) And good for you! I think it's wonderful that you really understand the ...
|
| producing a play | 1/20/2005 |
Q: I've just wrote my first script of a full length play, a comedy with three acts. I want you to ...
A: Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. You've asked several questions here and I'm going to ...
|
| Staging a play on screen | 1/12/2005 |
Q: My name is James Higginson, and I am a British screenwriter currently developing a script about the ...
A: I'm not a playwright, so there are a number of the intervening business steps that I'm not familiar ...
|
| Selling my script | 12/30/2004 |
Q: After my script is completed, who do I show it to? Do I package it and send it to the production ...
A: I assume, from what you say, that you've written a screenplay and are now trying to market it. I'm ...
|
| How To Put On My Own Small NYC Play | 12/4/2004 |
Q: I read one of Arlene's answers and am happy to hear such detailed knowledge. I am hoping someone ...
A: NYC might be a very expensive venue for a non-professional doing an exercise in free speech and ...
|
| From Play To Stage | 11/10/2004 |
Q: I've written a full-length stage play. I know my targeted audience. It's an urban comedy. I have ...
A: I am assuming that this is the first play that you've written that you are trying to get produced. ...
|
| to the stage | 10/27/2004 |
Q: Schulman, I was recently approached by a budding playhouse about performing one of my plays. It is ...
A: First of all, congratulations on getting your play produced, even by a "budding" playhouse. Many ...
|
| changing scenes | 10/25/2004 |
Q: At the moment i'm working on a script and i just have one question i'm hoping you can answer for me. ...
A: The short answer is yes, it should be a new scene if this is a screenplay. But there is more ...
|
| Help!!! | 10/22/2004 |
Q: How did you break into the buisness? Any tips for me? Everyone i've talked to makes it seem very ...
A: All those people you have been talking to have been telling you the truth. This is an incredibly ...
|
| Setting | 10/19/2004 |
Q: I have two screenplays, one that's set in Los Angeles (where I live) and another set in New York ...
A: Sounds like you have a good handle on writing and on the problems inherent in your own scripts and ...
|
| Golden Lion | 10/13/2004 |
Q: What is the Golden Lion Award? Do you know?
A: Apparently there are several different Golden Lion Awards (one given by the Lions Club, one - the ...
|
| How much should I say. | 10/3/2004 |
Q: I was wondering how much information you give to each character in a character bio. For e.g. do I ...
A: Basically, the playwright is free to describe his characters any way he wants to. I'm not sure what ...
|
| How to get from a short screenplay to a long one | 9/15/2004 |
Q: I've written two screenplays that aren't technically formatted and they are both only 20 pages on ...
A: Without actually reading your screenplays there is no way that I can give you any specific ...
|
| Character Realism | 9/8/2004 |
Q: I'm writing a screenplay and I have all my characters laid out and eveyrthing. The only problem ...
A: Three-dimension, multi-layered characters with depth and strongly individual voices are the hallmark ...
|
| How to Find a Producer | 8/31/2004 |
Q: I'd like to find names of producers in the NYC area so that I can invite them out to see my show (a ...
A: I was simply going to click on the "I can't help with this" link, but I decided to answer instead ...
|
| Dear Arlene,
Since... | 7/24/2004 |
Q: Since I was four years old acting modeling and writing have been my passions. At the age of 16 they, ...
A: I think it's wonderful that you have not only talent but also the determination and perseverence to ...
|
| music arranging fee | 6/15/2004 |
Q: I recently sent a question related to a previous email from you, butI have not yet received your ...
A: I have answered all the questions that I have received. If you have not received an answer to a ...
|
| Marketing a Play | 4/12/2004 |
Q: I am in the process of doing the final edit of a two-act play I wrote about my son's struggle with ...
A: It IS very complicated and based alot on luck! And there is no easy way to market a play. Some ...
|
| format | 4/7/2004 |
Q: If I introduce a scene and state that a character is on the phone, do I still have to put in ...
A: You are the playwright - you can write it whatever way you think will be clearest to the actors ...
|
| response to my play | 3/3/2004 |
Q: ------------------------- Followup To Thanks very much for your prompt reply, Arlene. I hope I ...
A: YES!!! Jane, I remember! And yes, I did receive it and read it. And yes, I was intending to get ...
|
| response to my play | 3/2/2004 |
Q: You may recall I sent you a copy of my play "The Triangle" last year, which you kindly agreed to ...
A: To be very honest, while your name sounds familiar, I don't recall our "conversation" (please ...
|
| Page to the stage | 2/27/2004 |
Q: I was reading in your profile that you have knowledge from getting a play on paper to the stage. So, ...
A: I'm not sure exactly what you are asking here, maybe because the issue you are asking about is ...
|
| An English Editor and then an English Screenwriter! Must be GOOD | 2/13/2004 |
Q: My name is Tollan Wade. I currently live in Salt Lake City, Utah. I was born in Bromley, Kent, ...
A: Sorry, Tollan, but I'm American, not British. Although I do claim a great love of all things ...
|
| Running time | 12/12/2003 |
Q: I would very much like a rough guideline on how a play's word count translates to its running time. ...
A: I'm not sure that there even is any guideline, even a rough one, between a play's word count and its ...
|
| Play length, story etc. | 12/10/2003 |
Q: Ms. Shulman: I'm just getting back to my first love, theater, after a 25-year absence due to mental ...
A: First of all, welcome back to the world of theatre! I'm not sure that your perceptions of current ...
|
| "page to stage" | 10/24/2003 |
Q: I HAVE WRITTEN A THEATRICAL MUSICAL COMEDY WITHOUT EVER REALLY CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF ...
A: The way to make money on a new show (musical or not) is to have it produced and get paid royalties ...
|
| Getting a play produced | 8/28/2003 |
Q: I have written a play and would like to find out how to get it produced. I have worked as a ...
A: First of all let me say that I live and work in the US, not in the UK, so I can't give you specific ...
|
| playwrights/drama techniques | 6/24/2003 |
Q: Im currently doing an assignment on "the Crucible" by arthur miller, its been extremly hard ...
A: I'm not sure exactly what you're asking here. If you're asking "how to write a play" as opposed to ...
|
| Writing a play | 5/16/2003 |
Q: I understand how broad my subject is, sorry! I am a high school student, but am a published writer ...
A: Wow... you certainly don't ask simple questions. I really have no way of answering this question ...
|
| Newby here | 3/18/2003 |
Q: Ive been a writer all my life. That does not mean Ive been widly published. I submited a synopsis to ...
A: I wish I could give you a complete answer, but I'm a stage director not a writer and while I work ...
|
