Senior Stories

Lesson #3
Developing and Performing Short Original Plays
General Formatting
Guidelines
for
Stage Play Manuscripts
2008 by Samuel French, Inc
Senior Stories
Lesson #3
Developing and Performing Short Original Plays
F!"M#$$I%G G&I'()I%(S
These guidelines are designed for Microsoft Word or a similar word processing
program.
*o+er Page
Your play should have standard one-inch margins.
The cover page should only contain: Title and Subtitle, centered, approximately half-
way down the page.
Standard Format
The text of the play should be in standard play format, which looks professional, makes
reading easy, and provides our readers with an estimation of run-time. f you are using
screenwriting software, please note that its default settings are not necessarily standard
play format.
,asics !ll text should be single-spaced, in a readable font, such as "# point Times
$ew %oman. &hen separating characters' lines or longer stage directions, double
space. Song lyrics should be in !(( )!*S, with one indent. +$ote that one indent is "#
spaces in Times $ew %oman or , spaces in )ourier $ew.- &e prefer continuous
pagination +not resetting at the start of an act or scene-. The title page should never be
numbered. *age one should be the first page of the play. deally, the !cts and Scenes
will also be included in the pagination. .or example, if there is text for !ct , Scene "
on page ," of your script, it would read as follows:
/ " / ,"
*ast and Setting !fter your cover page, there should be a brief cast of characters, as
well as time and place notes. )haracter names, ages, genders, and any short but
important physical characteristics belong here. f doubling is possible, it should be
mentioned here, as well.
#cts and Scenes 0ach new act and1or scene should be started on a new page and be
center 2ustified. The act should be written in !(( )!*S and roman numerals, while the
scenes should be in capital and small letters, a double space below and underscored,
as follows:
!)T
Scene 3
You should include a description of the setting and activity at the beginning of each
scene. These can be simply designated by the terms 4Setting5 and 4!t %ise.5 !n act or
scene should be noted, with 46lackout,5 4)urtain,5 etc. The end of the play should also
be noted.
Senior Stories
Lesson #3
Developing and Performing Short Original Plays
'ialogue and 'irection &hen a character is speaking, his or her name should be
either centered or set 7.,5 from the (eft 0dge of the *aper in !(( )!*S. f continuing a
character's speech from a previous page, insert +)ont.- after the name on the same
line. !ny other brief direction +one-word- can also go on this line in parentheses. (onger
directions belong on the following line in parentheses, three indents in.
89:$ +laughing-
Text would go here. 0mphasis may be indicated by italics or underlining.
!"
89:$
+Tosses keys across room while laughing-
f you have longer directions, move to the next line and use three indents.
+8!$0 walks across room to pick up keys. She shakes some dust
from them and unlocks the door.-
Then continue dialogue after one space. $ote that characters' names in directions are
in !(( )!*S. Stage directions may either go to the right bound of the page or stop at
three indents from the right. They should always begin three indents from the left.
Simultaneous dialogue should be placed side-by-side, spaced to start and end at the
same place on the page. Trailing off should be indicated with ellipsis +;- whereas being
cut off should be indicated with a dash.
#n e-ample of a properly formatted co+er page and a play in standard play
formatting is included belo.
Senior Stories
Lesson #3
Developing and Performing Short Original Plays
$I$)(
Sub-Title
Senior Stories
Lesson #3
Developing and Performing Short Original Plays
)ast of )haracters
89:$ <90: =, years old, a university professor.
80$$.0% <90: =# years old, a caterer, 8ohn's wife.
8!$0 <90: #> years old, a student, 8ohn and 8ane's daughter.
*lace
The <oe :ome in ?aplewood, $ew 8ersey
Time
(ate .all
Senior Stories
Lesson #3
Developing and Performing Short Original Plays
/ " / "
!)T
Scene "
Setting: This is where you describe what is present on the stage, such as furniture,
doors, shape of the space, etc.
!t %ise: This is where you describe the action taking place when the lights are
brought up on the stage, such as: 8ohn is discovered sitting in a chair.
8ane is looking out the window.
89:$ +patiently.-
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+0nter 80$$.0%, left.-
80$$.0%
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xxxxx.
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89:$
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xxxxx.
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89:$
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+0xit 89:$, left.-
Senior Stories
Lesson #3
Developing and Performing Short Original Plays
/ " / #
8!$0
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80$$.0%
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8!$0
+(ooking at letter in 80$$.0%'s hand.-
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8!$0
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+(ooking off right.-
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8!$0 80$$.0%
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+They run off.-
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