What makes a play different from a short story, a movie or a TV show? What does theatricality mean? How can a playwright really utilize the form to heighten story? How do genre and style impact theme? And what can the layout of a play tell us about tone? This is a class for playwrights and directors. We will be exploring the different kinds of stage magic — from big, grand gestures to magical realism, from metatheatricality to stripped-down intimacy, simplicity and transparency. And we will be looking at the role of the audience in giving meaning and lending their imagination to shared, unforgettable ephemeral moments.