How do you start writing a play? In this workshop, students will use personal experience as a springboard for generating original characters, stories and imagery for the stage. Basic elements of playwriting will be explored through in-class writing exercises and weekly writing assignments. We will experiment with the possibilities of dramatic storytelling, with an emphasis on fictionalizing and transforming personal experiences and memories. Student writing will be read aloud and discussed in class, and we will read and discuss plays by various playwrights. By the end of the course, students will have completed a short one-act play. Open to all levels, this workshop is designed to be a safe, supportive environment for a hands-on exploration of playwriting.