Playwriting
Plan of Study
The required sequence of courses is detailed below. Each term, a student is required to take at least one writing course and/or anchor class. More than one writing workshop/course may be taken. In addition, throughout the year, the Playwriting program hosts guest classes and workshops with visiting artists.
Students are encouraged to take electives as audits beyond their required credit courses. Electives may also be selected from other School programs or from Yale College with the approval of the chairs. The program recommends playwriting students enroll in at least one course in Directing, Design, Theater Management, and Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism during their three years at the School. Among the electives for consideration are DRAM 66a, Lyric Writing for Musical Theater; DRAM 67b, Libretto Writing for Musical Theater; DRAM 350b, The Choreographic Imagination; DRAM 334b, Advanced Projection Design; DRAM 102a/b, Introduction to Set Design and Design Techniques; DRAM 141b; Law and the Arts; and DRAM 191b, Managing the Production Process. All plans of study must be approved by the chairs.
For course descriptions, electives, and additional information, please view the David Geffen School of Drama Bulletin.
Class of 2025
Year One (2022-2023)
DRAM 3(05)a - Toward Anti-Racist Theater Practice in Playwriting: Katie Christie, Anne Erbe, Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 7a - Hansberry Welcome: Anne Erbe
DRAM 21a - Founding Visions: Joan Channick
DRAM 47a - Fall Workshop: Anne Erbe, Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 50a - The Theatrical Event: Liz Diamond, Catherine Sheehy
DRAM 51a/b - New Play Lab: Anne Erbe, Yuri Kordonsky, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Katherine Profeta, Justine Williams
DRAM 97b - Industry Practice I: Jennifer Kiger
DRAM 107b - Workshop with Actors: Anne Erbe
DRAM 163b - Text Analysis I: James Bundy
DRAM 177b - The Playwrights’ Studio: Tarell Alvin McCraney
Year Two (2023-2024)
DRAM 3(05)a - Toward Anti-Racist Theater Practice in Playwriting: Katie Christie, Anne Erbe, Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 7a - Hansberry Welcome: Anne Erbe
DRAM 27b - Second-Year Anchor Class: Theater Now (NYC): Amy Herzog
DRAM 37a - The Production Process for Playwrights: Anne Erbe
DRAM 47a - Fall Workshop: Anne Erbe, Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 107b - Workshop with Actors: Anne Erbe
DRAM 177b - The Playwrights’ Studio: Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 207a - Teach What You Write: Majkin Holmquist
DRAM 307b - Tutorial I: Anne Erbe, Tarell Alvin McCraney
Year Three (2024-2025)
DRAM 3(05)a - Toward Anti-Racist Theater Practice in Playwriting: Katie Christie, Anne Erbe, Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 7a - Hansberry Welcome: Anne Erbe
DRAM 37ab - The Production Process for Playwrights: Anne Erbe
DRAM 47a - Fall Workshop: Anne Erbe, Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 97a - Industry Practice II: Jennifer Kiger
DRAM 107b - Workshop with Actors: Anne Erbe
DRAM 177b - The Playwrights’ Studio: Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 317a - Tutorial II: Sarah Ruhl
DRAM 327b - Tutorial III: Sarah Ruhl
Class of 2024
Year Three (2022-2023)
DRAM 3(05)a - Toward Anti-Racist Theater Practice in Playwriting: Katie Christie, Anne Erbe, Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 7a - Hansberry Welcome: Anne Erbe
DRAM 27b - Second-Year Anchor Class: Theater Now (NYC): Amy Herzog
DRAM 37a - The Production Process for Playwrights: Anne Erbe
DRAM 47a - Fall Workshop: Anne Erbe, Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 107b - Workshop with Actors: Anne Erbe
DRAM 177b - The Playwrights’ Studio: Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 207a - Teach What You Write: Majkin Holmquist
DRAM 307b - Tutorial I: Anne Erbe, Tarell Alvin McCraney
Year Four (2022-2023)
DRAM 3(05)a - Toward Anti-Racist Theater Practice in Playwriting: Katie Christie, Anne Erbe, Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 7a - Hansberry Welcome: Anne Erbe
DRAM 37ab - The Production Process for Playwrights: Anne Erbe
DRAM 47a - Fall Workshop: Anne Erbe, Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 97a - Industry Practice II: Jennifer Kiger
DRAM 107b - Workshop with Actors: Anne Erbe
DRAM 177b - The Playwrights’ Studio: Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 317a - Tutorial II: Sarah Ruhl
DRAM 327b - Tutorial III: Sarah Ruhl
Class of 2023
Year Four (2022-2023)
DRAM 3(05)a - Toward Anti-Racist Theater Practice in Playwriting: Katie Christie, Anne Erbe, Tarell Alvin McCraney
DRAM 7a - Hansberry Welcome: Anne Erbe
DRAM 37ab - The Production Process for Playwrights: Anne Erbe
DRAM 97a - Industry Practice II: Jennifer Kiger
DRAM 317a - Tutorial II: Sarah Ruhl
DRAM 327b - Tutorial III: Sarah Ruhl
Additional Requirements for the Degree
Anti-Racist Theater Practice Requirement
Playwriting students are required to enroll in DRAM 3(05)a, Toward Anti-Racist Theater Practice in Playwriting, in order to fulfill the School’s anti-racist theater practice requirement. Combined with the prerequisite workshop, Everyday Justice: Anti-Racism as Daily Practice, this course offers vital strategies for the lifelong development of individual and communal anti-racist practice.
Theater History Requirement
Playwriting students are strongly encouraged to enroll in DRAM 6a/b, Survey of Theater and Drama, in order to fulfil the School’s theater history requirement. One to two courses in theater history offered by David Geffen School of Drama or Yale College may be substituted for DRAM 6a and/or 6b with the following conditions: 1) the student has the program chairs’ approval; 2) the student has the course instructors’ approval; 3) a thorough vetting by program chairs and work-study supervisors of any potential schedule conflicts.