Develop your voice as a playwright

As you study for your Playwriting degree at The Theatre School, you’ll be equipped with the primary tools of dramatic writing and the space and opportunities to put them into practice.

You can participate in The Theatre School’s productions as an assistant director or dramaturg and have your scripts workshopped in the annual Wrights of Spring playwriting festival.

You’ll learn from a distinguished and award-winning faculty of professional playwrights, dramaturgs, directors and arts writers, giving you opportunities to learn firsthand from industry professionals active in Chicago’s theatre community.

Classes

Coursework

• Directing
• Dramatic Criticism
• History of Dramatic Literature
• Topics in Playwriting
• Script Analysis
• Theatre Crew
• Theatre Studies

Resources

• Major Requirements
• Schedule of Classes
• Department Website

• Combined bachelor's + master's degree offered

Career Options

Common Career Areas

• Directing
• Education
• Performance
• Playwriting
• Screenwriting
• Script analysis??

Major Requirements

Plan of Study Grid

First Year		Hours
THE 212	INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE STUDIES	4
THE 210	SCRIPT ANALYSIS	4
THE 268	INTRODUCTION TO THE PRODUCTION PROCESS	4
THE 291	PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP I	4
History of Dramatic Literature Sequence (Arts and Literature Requirement)
THE 204	HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE	4
THE 205	HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE	4
THE 206	HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE	4
Three Quarters of Theatre Crew		6
TEC 107	THEATRE CREW
Second Year
THE 292	PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP II	4
THE 324	DRAMATIC THEORY	4
Principles of Design Sequence
THE 141	DESIGN WORKSHOP	4
THE 142	DESIGN WORKSHOP	4
Playwriting I Sequence
THE 227	PLAYWRITING I	4
THE 228	PLAYWRITING I	4
THE 229	PLAYWRITING I	4
THE 232	PLAYWRIGHT'S SEMINAR I	4
Dramatic Literature Electives: Select three courses in consultation with advisor		12
Third Year
THE 325	DRAMATIC CRITICISM	4
ENG 328	STUDIES IN SHAKESPEARE	4
Directing I Sequence
PRF 374	DIRECTING	4
PRF 375	DIRECTING	4
Playwriting II Sequence
THE 327	PLAYWRITING II	4
THE 328	PLAYWRITING II	4
THE 329	PLAYWRITING II	4
THE 332	PLAYWRIGHT'S SEMINAR II	4
Completion of Common Core: Select two of the following:		8
THE 143	DESIGN WORKSHOP
THE 293	PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP III
PRF 376	DIRECTING
Fourth Year
Capstone Sequence
THE 408	CAPSTONE:PREPARING FOR THE PROFESSION	4
THE 410	THEATRE STUDIES CAPSTONE	2
THE 412	PORTFOLIO PREPARATION	4
Playwriting III Sequence
THE 427	PLAYWRITING III	4
THE 428	PLAYWRITING III	4
THE 429	PLAYWRITING III	4
Topics in Playwriting Sequence
THE 430	TOPICS IN PLAYWRITING I	4
THE 431	TOPICS IN PLAYWRITING II	4
THE 432	TOPICS IN PLAYWRITING III	4
Select three English or Communication Electives in consultation with advisor		12
Production Practice III and/or Internship: Select three of the following:		12
THE 471	THEATRE STUDIES PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
THE 472	THEATRE STUDIES PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
THE 473	THEATRE STUDIES PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
THE 490	THEATRE STUDIES INTERNSHIP

Open Electives

Open elective credit may also be required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.