INSTRUCTOR: James Anthony Tyler –
To be held online via Zoom:
This course will focus on writing plays that explore the social constructions of race, gender, sexuality, religion, and popular culture. We will engage with films, novels and short stories, newspaper and magazine articles, popular music, television and digital media to spark discussions about both justice and injustices that shape our varied perspectives. The hope is that the conversations inspire our writing of 10 Min Plays to be workshopped in class. The goal is to write plays that honestly explore hard topics in ways that are truthful, but also have a balance of levity and seriousness that ultimately give our audience catharsis.
James Anthony Tyler is the recipient of the 3rd Annual Horton Foote Playwriting Award, and was one of the inaugural playwrights to receive a commission from Audible’s emerging playwrights fund. His plays include ARTNEY JACKSON (World Premiere at Williamstown Theatre Festival, 2018 Edgerton Foundation New Play Award) and SOME OLD BLACK MAN (Berkshire Playwrights Lab at St. James Place and 59E59 Theaters NYC). Current projects: ALL WE NEED IS US (Audio Play 35 min); HOP THA A (Audio Play 87 min, Ars Nova, The Drama League and Asolo Rep); and DOLPHINS AND SHARKS (LAByrinth Theater Company and the Finborough Theatre in London)…read more about James