Perfect 10: Writing and Producing the 10-Minute Play [Paperback]

Gary Garrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 19, 2001

With sharp wit and wise, conversational voice, Gary Garrison demystifies the process of writing and producing the ten-minute play by breaking it down structurally, dramaturgically, and theatrically--for the most novice to the most experienced playwright, director, or producer.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gary Garrison is a published and produced playwright fearlessly slugging it out in New York City. His plays include Old Soles, Oh Messiah Me, Cherry Reds, An Angel in the Early Bird Special, The Big Fat Naked Truth, and When a Diva Dreams. He is Artistic Director and Division Head of Playwriting for the Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, National Chair of Playwriting for the Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival, and the recipient of the 2005 Outstanding Teacher of Playwriting for the Association of Theatre in Higher Education.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann Drama (April 19, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0325003122
• ISBN-13: 978-0325003122
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #996,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Simple and Straightforward, December 5, 2002

By 

Kevin L. Nenstiel "omnivore" (Kearney, Nebraska) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Perfect 10: Writing and Producing the 10-Minute Play (Paperback)

Most how-to-write guides are completely worthless. Once you've learned your grammar and have the concepts of conflict and resolution mastered, the writer's ard lapses into something some people can do and some people can't, and no one really knows why. I keep buying how-to-write books, like this one by Gary Garrison, hoping one will eventually deliver more.

Well, this one delivers. By assuming the reader has already tried at least some writing, the paradigm shifts from simple instruction to specific points that green writers often need fine-tuned. Garrison seems more like a copy editor at times, making suggestions for clarity and story efficiency, than a mere how-to writer.

The book is slim, little more than a pamphlet, and the conversational tone sometimes comes across as flippant, so not everyone will enjoy working with it. Also, there's only about so much you can learn from reading a book; if you expect your work to be magically transformed by Garrison's charisma and ability, you're in for a sore disappointment.

However, this book is more useful than not. The two most useful chapters are Five and Seven. In Chapter Five, Garrison interviews experienced ten-minute play producers, who make some actual nuts-and-bolts suggestions to improve the average young playwright's style. In Seven, Garrison reprints five whole ten-minute plays and asks astute study questions about them.

This book is no magic bullet. Writing remains hard work, and plenty of it. However, for a new writer looking to expand skill and depth in writing, this book helps you avoid the pitfalls that beleaguer those who insist on going it alone.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well done!, May 31, 2005

By 

wordsmith "carolina girl" (Aiken, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Perfect 10: Writing and Producing the 10-Minute Play (Paperback)

I was very pleased with the way this book was written and organized. As a fledgling author of ten minute plays, I found Mr. Garrison's book to be very helpful, witty and professionally done. His experience as director of ten minute play festivals is invaluable to anyone planning on doing the same. As a member of a community theater looking to include ten minute plays in their repetoire over the next few years, Mr. Garrison's book has given me a good idea of what I'm in for. Well worth the price of the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the Perfect 1: Writing and producing the 10 minute play, March 26, 2009

By 

R. J. McKenzieSullivan - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Perfect 10: Writing and Producing the 10-Minute Play (Paperback)

I have used this book with my beginning playwriting students for several years now. It gives excellent parameters for beginning playwrights to keep in mind. In educationalese, you might call the book a set of rubrics for the young wrtier.