Online Workshop with Rick Toscan

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

The workshop will explore the elements of dramatic storytelling in writing for theatre, film,

series TV, and audio drama. We’ll look at the similarities and differences in story structures and

the ways the verbal storytelling techniques of playwriting contrast with the visual storytelling

typical of film, episodic TV and audio. The workshop will include how the application of story

structure principles can combine with your voice as a writer to encourage professionals to read

past page one of scripts. Key elements of plot structure will be examined including the impact of

theme. Slides used in Rick’s presentation will be sent to participants following the workshop,

providing a guide to the essentials of structure in the art and craft of dramatic writing.

ABOUT RICK TOSCAN

Rick is a writer-producer who has worked with Lucasfilm, the BBC, and major figures in theatre,

film, and television. Millions of listeners have heard his audio dramas on the BBC, ABC

(Australia), CBC (Canada), NPR and Pacifica (US). He was an Armstrong Award nominee for

his audio productions. His plays have been produced in Los Angeles and presented by New

Dramatists (New York) and other theatres. He’s been a reader and judge for play and screenplay

competitions and writers he’s coached have won the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowships in

Screenwriting. He was a founding member of First Stage, the Los Angeles new play

development program, and served as Dean of USC’s School of Theatre and Associate Dean of its

School of Cinema-Television. He’s the author of Playwriting Seminars 2.0: A Handbook on the

Art & Craft of Dramatic Writing with an Introduction to Screenwriting now in its revised 2nd

edition and Writing Audio Drama: Making Scripts that Work for Fiction & True Crime Podcasts.

Rick consults on story structure and dialogue with clients writing for theatre, film, series TV and

audio. RickWritersRoom@gmail.com