Have you ever:
- Had a great idea for a play, but realized it couldn't last for 90-120 minutes?
- Had a hilarious punch line, but couldn't get any story around it?
- Created a terrific scene, but then had nowhere for it to call home?
Just as a quick snack in the late afternoon can re-energize a person, completing a short script can give satisfaction, cure writer's block, and recharge your playwriting batteries. Plus, short scripts are easy to rehearse and produce. You can even try videotaping them. So, if you want to explore this emerging arena, let's look at four areas of short scriptwriting:
- Ten Minute Plays
- Sketches
- Scenes
- Improvisation
Ten Minute Plays
Several nationwide contests are conducted annually for this popular venue. Recent events were the 7th Annual West Coast Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival and the Actors' Theatre Fifth Annual Ten-Minute Play Contest. Even local groups get into this, as evidenced by Denver's Write Angle Productions, which recently produced its Colorado Quickies 7.
I have written a handful of these, and not only are they fun to do, but they lend themselves to multiple venues. I've performed them at parties, as street theater during festivals, and in conjunction with other events. It's also a terrific challenge to see how much can be done in the time limit. Cast and set limitations also usually exist, helping the playwright to focus on the main characters and the dialogue.
Here is some more information about Ten Minute Plays.
Sketches
Sketches, particular comedy sketches, are also experiencing increasing popularity. Or maybe it's just a returning popularity. After all, television has had the genre for years, from Sid Caeser and Carol Burnett up to In Living Color and Saturday Night Live. But in the theatre, it's coming around again. In Denver, for example, there are several groups actively pursuing this field.
From the technical writing viewpoint, a sketch differs from standard play development in that it doesn't get much past a single situation, and generally ends with an appropriate punch line.
Since 1993, I have worked with several groups doing this, some for local cable television, and others for stage presentation. They're quick to create, and can later be tailored for incorporation into a larger work.
Scenes
Somewhat related to sketches, but existing for a different reason, scenes offer yet another option for short script projects. Scenes can be written as educational tools, classroom exercises, or audition pieces for actors. And, like sketches, they can later be brought into a longer play.
