The Samuel French Institute

In June, 2012 Samuel French launched the Samuel French Institute, offering classes and seminars to the theater community. Our instructors in the institute include Samuel French playwrights as well as other industry professionals that will teach a wide range of classes on a number of various topics throughout the year.

Our goal is to offer something unique to the theater community in New York and beyond. We are starting with classes here in New York but we are looking at ways to bring this program to other cities, offering online courses, and hosting programs in high schools and colleges.

Samuel French believes that theater education is incredibly important for all ages and we are thrilled to be creating learning opportunities for theater lovers across the country. All classes are held at the Samuel French corporate head quarters in NYC at 45 West 25th Street, Second Floor, New York, NY 10010.

Fall 2012 Classes

ROCK YOUR REWRITES! ADVANCED PLAYWRITING INTENSIVES
with Crystal Skillman

Select Wednesdays - 6-9PM
Specific Class Dates: October: 3, 10, 17, 24, 25. November: 7, 14, 28. December: 5, 12.
January 14th, Presentation A | January 21st, Presenation B
Admission $475

Rewriting or starting your next play is a scary venture for a playwright! Known for her prolific, engaging work Crystal will mentor writers to rewrite, or tackle their new full length play, in ways that honor the heart of their play while at the same time challenging writers to make bold decisions. Structured as an intensive, this class is designed to capture each playwright's unique voice in the rewriting process/new play process. This workshop will take place over three months, with structured time off to write. Playwrights will learn how to make strong story choices in scenes and plot work, play with new theatrical conventions, challenge their imagination, strengthen character motivation, and emerge with a working script to share with theaters and confidence in their new play. Dramaturgical skills will be sharpened as each playwright will learn to ask the deeper questions necessary to create a powerful play that accomplishes the goals set by each individual writer. The workshop will culminate in a two-day presentation for invited industry and Samuel French professionals that will feature a reading of each playwrights new play.

Learn more about Crystal Skillman HERE.

THE PLAY ONLY YOU CAN WRITE
with Kristoffer Diaz

Friday October 5th 6-9PM
Admission Fee: $90.00


One of the keys to success as an artist is to create work that is entirely unique to one’s worldview and voice. In this class, we’ll work on discovering and writing to your passions -- what are the topics and issues that you must explore in your writing or you’ll burst? We’ll also look at ways to create and utilize theatrical devices that make your work thrive as a work of live theater. Get started on a new play that couldn’t come from anybody else.

To learn more about Kris Diaz please click HERE.

YOU WROTE A PLAY, NOW WHAT?
with Abigail Katz

Saturday October 6th 10AM-1PM
Admission Fee: $90.00


This workshop is specifically designed to give you, the playwright, practical tools for approaching your work and navigating this very competitive industry. The areas we will explore are as follows: Where to send your play, How to Present Your Material, How to Network within the Industry.

Abigail Katz currently serves as Literary Manager for Atlantic Theater Company. Previously, she was Literary Associate and Dramaturg for The Civilians, where she worked on productions Brooklyn at Eye Level, This Beautiful City (The Vineyard Theatre) and Paris Commune (The Public Theater), and was Producer for Voice & Vision, a company devoted to developing women theatre artists. Other companies she has worked with include Classic Stage Company, New Dramatists, Snug Harbor Productions, and the New York Musical Theatre Festival. She has been a guest on numerous panels to discuss play development, a teaching associate/guest lecturer in theatre at Barnard College, and has taught at The New School, PlayPenn, and the Playwrights Foundation. She created Work My Play in 2011 for the specific purpose of giving artists practical tools and information to navigate the competitive theater industry. Abigail also heads up the Arts Committee for the Alumni Career Task Force for The Dalton School and serves on the New York City team for the American Theatre Archive Project. A native New Yorker, she received her MFA in dramaturgy from Columbia University School of the Arts.