Have an idea for a play? Maybe a funny situation, a memory, or something you overheard on the subway has made you say to yourself, "That would make a good play." But what do you do now? Or maybe you've already written a scene or two, but you're not sure what to do next. Our 10-week course will give you the tools and the time to turn your material into a complete draft. Students will work according to a curriculum that includes writing exercises and instruction on the common practices and modes of play construction, while also reading some short plays that will be used as models. Each student will, finally, write a complete draft of a play.

Application deadline is January 20th. Class will be limited to 20 participants. Applications will be considered in the order in which they are received, and applicants will be notified on a rolling basis. No prior theatre or playwriting experience is necessary. Payment information is required upon application; however, your credit card will not be charged/your check will not be deposited until you have been accepted into the class and have confirmed your participation. Tuition will be charged in two installments: 50% upon registration, and the remainder will automatically be charged on February 3rd. Upon registration, the FULL tuition is non-refundable and non-transferrable.

Tuition: $300 for NYTW Members / $350 for Non-Members

Alex Lewin's plays have been developed and presented at the O'Neill Playwrights Conference, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Geva Theatre Center, MCC, The New Group, Ensemble Studio Theatre, the Alliance Theatre, Arena Stage, the New Harmony Project, and New York Theatre Workshop, where he is an Artistic Associate. He is the recipient of the Ted & Adele Shank Professional Playwriting Fellowship, and a commission from Ensemble Studio Theatre and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Alex has been a finalist for the L. Arnold Weissberger Award, the Heideman Award, and the Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition, among others. Alex holds an MFA in Playwriting from the University of California at San Diego. He was 2009-10 Playwrights Realm writing fellow and a member of the 09-10 P73 writers group. He is also a member of the MCC Playwrights' Coalition and the Dramatists Guild. Alex is the founding and lead teaching artist for NYTW's intergenerational education program, Mind the Gap. Alex co-authors the film-review blog They'll Love It in Pomona. He lives in Manhattan with his cat, Charlie Chaplin.

Comments from past students:

“Alex was perfect. A great catalyst, a fine teacher. He gave us no fear.”

“Alex knows his craft, so it was wonderful to have an instructor who had ‘been there, done that.’ He was able to find the perfect balance between giving guidance, advice, instruction and allowing us to discover, create, explore and experiment in our own ways.”

“Alex was incredibly supportive and encouraging. He appreciated the strengths that each of us brought to the table, and had great compassion for whatever difficulties we were having. He was always able to bring me back to trusting myself.”

“Alex is so much of the reason that I was unafraid to write something that was really true.”

“Alex gave me confidence and opened up the range of possibilities for my writing.”