How To Playwright

Fall of Freedom - Special

In community with Fall of Freedom - a nationwide cultural mobilization and movement uniting artists, cultural institutions, and communities across the United States in cr

Thee List

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

Dialogue!

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

Explosive Midpoints!!

We discuss understanding, creating and perfecting the midpoints of our plays. Big stakes, big shifts, no turning back. Intro music by Joriah Kwame!

How to Begin

We talk about getting through the beginnings of your new play, how to start writing, getting through the first 30 pages, writers block, inspiration, and keeping things mo

Season Opener! Q + A with Lauren

Welcome back for Season 2 of HOW TO PLAYWRIGHT. We start with a Q+A before the launch of full episodes coming soon. Hosted by Lauren Gunderson Theme song by the brilli

Behold the Body Theatric: Theatre, Theology and My Dad

A special guest - my dad, Rev. Dr. Gary Gunderson - joins the podcast to discuss the powerful truths of theatre, theology, activism, art, public health, hope and healing.

Two Handers - Double Double

Lauren talks about writing two handers and how this efficient form of dramatic writing tests your craft and technique as a playwright, while also preparing you to hone th

Theatre As Thought Experiment

This episode is my lecture "Theatre as Thought Experiment" as given at Southern Utah University in 2024 and discusses the intersection of science and theatre, dramatic st

Life Cycle of a New Play

We discuss the steps from First Draft to Opening Night and beyond in this episode all about a new play's journey through premiere to publishing and on and on. This one go

Character as Contrast, Compliment, Battle

Let's talk about writing and developing and deepening characters in your plays. We explore main characters as well as side/supporting characters, and how the web of chara

Endings Beget Beginnings

Lauren discusses starting plays at their endings - climactic endings, denoument, flavors of endings and more.

Muse of Fire: Shakespeare's Prologue Schools and Inspires

Lauren explores the "Muse of Fire" prologue from Shakespeare's HENRY V as a swift but inspiring lesson in theatre-making. Pro tips and beautiful poetry from William Shake

Questions and Answers: Rewrites, Process, Career, Success!

Lauren answers listener questions and covers rewriting, editing, career beginnings, how to define success and more. Hosted by Lauren M Gunderson Music by Joriah Kwamé

Scene Structure: Change, Roller Coasters and Fractals

We discuss scene writing through dramatic structure but at the scenic level. Macro-structure, micro-structure, Mandelbrot, and musicals help us unpack how to write succes

Main Characters: Fervent, Urgent, Flawed

A discussion of how to create compelling, energetic main characters that can fuel a great play with fervent and urgent wants, needs, complexities, and antagonistic forces

First Read: What We Learn From A Very First Reading

I take you with me before and after my favorite moment in any new play's life: the very first table reading of a never-before-heard new play. What do I listen for, what c

Dramatic Structure: Beginning, Midpoint, Ending

We dive right into a simplified discussion of ye olde dramatic structure, covering the general concepts of beginning/midpoint/ending in playwriting. We talk dramatic stru

Prologue: Write or Wright?

Welcome! This is the first outing for "How To Playwright," in which I tell you a little of the why and the what of this podcast, as well as the "who is this for." To play