Finding a theatrical stage play writer. By Lisa Montalto at Dixon Place

Finding a theatrical stage play writer.

By Lisa Montalto

Writing a stage play is different from writing a screenplay. While they are similar, one is for the stage and the other for the cinema. Both styles tell a story through characters, dialogue, and structure, but screenwriting focuses more on visuals and sometimes special effects. Even the dialogue is different. Stage play writing relies more on the spoken word to tell its story. A stage play writer is called a playwright and they’re usually more collaborative with the directors and actors. Films use edited material with recorded media, but a stage play will come to life through a live performance.

According to Alex Johnson, play writing is a skill unlike other forms of writing, because they are not producing something one reads but something that must be performed. “In that respect, it has more in common with musical composition than it has with, say, poetry or fiction.

The job of a playwright is to set the scene, create the characters along with descriptions, create the dialogue and provide the arc of the play as it moves forward. A theatrical producer may want the playwright to be on hand for rehearsals and rewrites.

Shakespeare is one of the most famous playwrights in history, but many historians believe he, in fact, was not the actual writer. They claim that he came from such a poor background with little to no education, that it would be impossible for him to pen such classics. One strong theory is that Francis Bacon, an English statesman and philosopher, was the actual author. The theory goes that the high-and-mighty Bacon wanted these works to be put out to the world, but did not want to be known as the lowly playwright that penned them. So he found broke amateur actor Will Shakespeare to be the one to be celebrated for its creation. This would obviously leave him to be hailed as one of the greatest writers in history, with a little help from his friends.

I’m assuming that Bacon was the author, for purposes of this article.

Bacon was what you call a ghostwriter today. According to writer Naomi Nakashima, another famous author known to have a team of ghostwriters is James Patterson. Recognized for churning out best sellers, Patterson is reportedly a big proponent of utilizing the collaborative effort of talented writers behind him. Patterson knows the power of ghostwriters and their importance in bringing his thrilling writing style to the public on an ongoing basis.

If you’re excited about an idea for the stage but don’t have the time or skill to write the script yourself, consider using a ghostwriter. You and the writer will collaborate to fulfill your vision, then he or she will deliver to you a finished, polished stage play script. When the final product is presented, the ghostwriter is left anonymous, and the credited author – you -- is regaled with the accolades.

Where do you find a playwright? Ghostwriters Central, Inc., a California company founded in 2002, offers playwright services from skilled writers under contract. Click the link to learn more. Thanks for reading.