The Writing Process for Theatre
Make it Sparkle Video with Don Zolidis
Professional Playwright
3:48 (runtime)
Director’s Notes
Join accomplished playwright Don Zolidis as he demystifies the writing process for theatre. Whether he's drawing inspiration from the world around him or engaging in comedic observations, Don shares insights that can elevate your own writing journey.
Don prefers writing in public spaces like coffee shops or parks to glean inspiration from unexpected happenings around him.
He uses a dual-document approach: one for the play he's working on and another as a stream-of-consciousness notebook for ideas.
As he writes, Don often finds himself unconsciously acting out scenes, becoming "the weird person in the corner" at coffee shops.
Don draws comedy from everyday situations, like a unique experience at a Subway sandwich shop, transforming them into potential scenes.
He encourages aspiring playwrights to look at the world through a tilted lens to find amusing and intriguing angles for storytelling.
About Don Zolidis
Don Zolidis is a former high school and middle school theatre teacher, and is the most-produced playwright in American schools. His more than 100 published plays have been produced more than 11,500 times, appearing in every state and 63 countries. He holds a B.A. in English from Carleton College and an M.F.A. in playwriting from the Actor’s Studio Program at the New School University.
Honors include the Princess Grace Award, multiple Edgerton New Play awards, and others. His work has appeared or been developed at the Purple Rose Theatre, the Phoenix Theatre, Victory Theatre, The Great Plains Theatre Conference, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, and many others.
His first novel, The Seven Torments of Amy and Craig, was published by Disney-Hyperion in October 2018.