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How To Playwright

Lauren Gunderson
Playwriting
Dialogue
Theater
Fall Of Freedom
American Theatre Magazine
Regional Theater
Character
Audience
Ending
Theatre
Albert Camus
Freedom
Staging
Exposition
Midpoint
Arts Funding

Hosted by award-winning playwright Lauren M. Gunderson (author of I and You, Silent Sky, The Book of Will and fifteen other published plays and musicals), How to Playwright is an exuberant long form discussion of the craft, creativity and joy of playwriting and theatre-making spanning the practical to the philosophical, the strategic to the aesthetic. Each episode will unpack theatrical concepts, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes24Founded2 years ago
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Performing ArtsArts

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Artwork for How To Playwright

Latest Episodes

In community with Fall of Freedom - a nationwide cultural mobilization and movement uniting artists, cultural institutions, and communities across the United States in creative resistance against censorship and authoritarian overreach - this episode ... more

Lauren chats about The annual Most Produced Plays / Playwrights List: the data it tallies, what it tells us and how to get on it.

Lauren talks about writing and understanding dialogue. Let's unpack the difference between informational, emotional, musical, silent dialogue... and the power of profanity ;)

We discuss understanding, creating and perfecting the midpoints of our plays. Big stakes, big shifts, no turning back.

Intro music by Joriah Kwame!

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Host

Lauren Gunderson
Host of How To Playwright; award-winning playwright with numerous notable works; guides craft-forward discussions and provides practical, mentor-like insights.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 104 ratings
  • A Free Masterclass!

    I have learned so much from all of your talks! They have helped me immensely. If you have more wisdom to share, I will definitely be downloading and listening!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rosalind Mary
    United States2 months ago
  • Thank you, Lauren G.

    I love this podcast. Thank you for sharing your insights and knowledge of the craft with the world. Keep up the good work. More dad appearances would also be great. :)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TimothyMouse
    United Statesa year ago
  • Smart and Insight

    So enjoying and learning from each episode. Smart, snappy and informative filled episodes. Thanks for sharing your professional insights about creativity, craft and art.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JLCC03
    United States2 years ago
  • 🙏🏼

    So, so helpful - I particularly appreciate that you never talk down to the audience. Both technically illuminating and generally motivating. Whenever I’m in a writing rut, I turn to this podcast. thank you Lauren!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ryatteeyo
    United States2 years ago
  • The alchemy of theatre

    Simply the best advice and most wonderful insights on the craft of playwriting…or should that be playwrighting? Lauren Gunderson shares her joy, passion and deep, deep knowledge of what goes into writing a play in the most generous and open-hearted way - and the wellspring of her generosity is the undeniable belief in the power of stories and of theatre to change lives for the better.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    StuHalusz
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host's generosity with craft wisdom and clear, actionable guidance.
Many comment that the show inspires continuing work and reduces writer's block with thoughtful techniques.
Audiences appreciate practical, no-nonsense theatre craft instruction that stays accessible.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Season Opener! Q + A with Lauren
Q: How do you navigate the business aspects, like representation and publishing, as a playwright?
While I have an agent, you often start as your own agent, submitting work and building relationships; publishers typically preserve the playwright's words rather than revise them, focusing on licensing and clarity, while partnerships with licensing houses help disseminate the work to many theaters.
Season Opener! Q + A with Lauren
Q: What does pitching and an artist statement look like for you, and how do you approach it?
I create a two-page pitch with a strong header, a snapshot of scenes to show the arc, and a clear sense of tone, mood, and who's in it, followed by a brief process section outlining collaboration and development plans; the artist statement idea is looser for me, but the pitch itself serves as a concrete articulation of intent.
Season Opener! Q + A with Lauren
Q: What does your research process look like for historically based plays?
I dive in as much as I can, absorb details, and then when I feel the itch to write I sketch and start drafting, letting the research inform the specifics but not override the dramatic core; later I prune and extract the pivotal moments and decisions that drive the story.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About How To Playwright

What is How To Playwright about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program centers on the craft, practice, and philosophy of playwriting, with a strong emphasis on practical technique and artistic joy. Episodes commonly explore core skills—dialogue, beginnings, structure, and midpoints—paired with real-world insights about rejection, pitching, and collaboration. Across conversations, the host blends hands-on craft guidance with generosity, encouraging disciplined work, experimentation, and a community-minded view of theatre. Unique strengths include extended, theory-to-practice explorations, live-writing anecdotes, and a generous, mentor-like approach that makes advanced topics accessible for aspiring writers and theatre professionals alike.

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Which podcasts are similar to How To Playwright?

These podcasts share a similar audience with How To Playwright:

1. The Playwriting Podcast
2. Scriptnotes Podcast
3. Ologies with Alie Ward
4. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
5. Playwriting Real-life

How many episodes of How To Playwright are there?

How To Playwright launched 2 years ago and published 24 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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