Cost should never be a barrier to learning. Learn More About Financial Aid.
The New Canon: Plays by Visionary Women
From Churchill to Parks—study women playwrights who revolutionize story, structure, and stage.
Class Description
Instructor: Pandora Scooter (Playwright) Former DGI Title: Architecture of Plays (A Canon of Women Playwrights) Take a deep dive into six groundbreaking plays by visionary playwrights who are expanding the possibilities of theatrical storytelling. This class examines work that use incentives structures, fresh approaches to content, and powerful thematic depth. You'll study "Far Away" by Caryl Churchill alongside Paula Vogel's response play"...And Baby Makes Seven", exploring how playwrights can engage across texts. Analyze structural innovation in Suzan-Lori Parks' "The Death of the Last Black Man in Whole Entire World" and Lisa Kron's "Well". Consider unique approaches to subject matter in Diana Son's "R.A.W. ("Cause I'm Woman)" and engage with socially charges writing of Maria Irene Fornés through "The Conduct of Life". Together, these works offer a rich opportunity to rethink how plays are written, what stories they tell, and how they resonate on stage. Requirements for this Class: Students must obtain the required texts before the course begins; a detailed list with costs will be provided in advance. Expectations for this Class: We ask that students attend each session, read the assigned plays with enough time to process the content and structure, and then to participate in class discussion. After Completion of Class: Students will emerge from this class with a broader and deeper understanding of how plays can be written, how they succeed and how different playwrights utilize structure to tell their stories. All of this is in service to learning how to better write or support theatrical work as a theatre maker. PlayPenn Summer Classes Starts July 23: Mondays * Summer of Sondheim – Starts July 28, 2025 Tuesdays * Writing Disability on Stage – Starts July 29, 2025 * Crafting Dialogue – Starts July 29, 2025 Wednesdays * Submissions Intensive – Starts July 23, 2025 * The New Canon: Plays by Visionary Women – Starts July 30, 2025 Thursdays * Script Rewrite Lab – Starts July 31, 2025 Fridays * Song Dramaturgy Intensive – Starts August 1, 2025
Enrollment Policies (Time Zones, Payment Plans, and Refunds)
ONLINE SCHEDULES & TIME ZONES: Most of our classes are offered online and open to participants worldwide. Our website automatically displays class start times based on your device’s current location, so you will always see the correct time no matter where you are. If you are traveling for work or personal reasons, please verify the local time shown on your device on this registration page before joining the class. For example, if a class begins at 7:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time (ET), it will appear as 4:00 PM PT when viewed from the U.S. West Coast, or 11:00 AM the next day if you are in Sydney, Australia. Many of our instructors are based in the U.S. Eastern Time (ET) zone, but not all. Once again, please double-check the local time shown on your device on this registration page before joining the class if you are traveling. IN-PERSON SCHEDULES & TIME ZONES: If the class is held in person, please note that the start time is based on the time zone of the city where the class takes place. If you book the class while traveling, be sure to use the class’s local time zone rather than the time zone of your current location. TRAVEL FOR HYBRID CLASSES: Many of our classes are held online but for time to time we offer hybrid classes where a portion of the class takes places online and a portion of the class takes place in-person. Please note the cost of the class does not include travel or housing for students to attend the in-person sessions. As well, PlayPenn cannot cover the cost of travel or housing. CLASS LINK: The hyperlink to join your respective online class(es) will be emailed to you separately from your class registration confirmation, closer to the first session. PAYMENT PLANS: PlayPenn believes that cost should never be a barrier to learning. Flexible payment plans are available, and we’re happy to work with students to find a solution that fits your needs. To inquire about setting up a payment plan, please email using the form on the Upcoming Class main page. REFUND POLICY: In order to offer a small-group class experience and pay our professional instructors consistently, please note all sales are final and tuition is not refundable. PlayPenn is not able to offer a voucher/credits towards a future purchase. Please consider this before making your purchase. Please visit our Refund Policy webpage to learn more about our other policies.
Learn More About Your Instructor
Our teaching artists are all working professional writers—award-winning playwrights and musical theatre creators—who bring real-world experience, insight, and passion to every session.
Get to know our artists by clicking a name below to read their full bio.
Summer 2026 Classes
Read MoreDevelop a singular directing style and expand your command of the director’s creative toolkit.
Read MoreExplore how myths, fables, & modern classics can be re-contextualized to write compelling new work.
Read MoreLearn the technique of writing genre plays and how to spur your own creativity to build new worlds.
