LTUE Presentation: From the Page to the Stage

Playwriting Worksheet:

1. Which one of my works am I considering turning into a play/musical?

2. Can I wear all three hats (librettist, lyricist, composer)

3. Why do I want to turn this into a stage production? Is it a good fit?

• Do you have a manageable cast of characters?

• Can you adapt it with a limited number of locations?

• Can you tell your story with limited “special effects”?

• Can the story be simplified in a meaningful way?

• Will adding music enhance the story?

4. What characters will your stage production need?

• Who is your protagonist?

• Who is your antagonist? (Is it even a person?)

• What supporting characters do you need and why do you need them?

5. Will you do the same genre? (Drama/Tragedy/Comedy) Or a different spin on the source material?

6. What settings will you need in your stage production?

7. What format will your production be in? (1 Act, 2 Act, 3+ Acts)

Where will you split the story into acts, if applicable? How will you split up the different acts into scenes?

8. What kind of production will you create and why? (opera/operetta/musical/stage play)

9. What plot points or scenes could be turned into musical numbers? For each one, what is the purpose of the number?