Product Review

Playwrights Teach Playwriting, edited by Joan Herrington and Crystal Brian, is a collection unique in the realm of "how-to" playwriting books. These essays by such well-known playwrights as Chris Durang, Marsha Norman, Tina Howe, Tony Kushner, David Henry Hwang, Marie Irene Fornes, Jos© Rivera, Romulus Linney, Mac Wellman, Donald Margulies explore the pedagogy of playwriting, offering fascinating and valuable insights into the way established playwrights communicate their own creative methods to young writers. Each of the playwrights included in the book has extensive experience as a teacher in a variety of venues. Their chapters offer insight into the unique vision of each playwright and provide practical and tested advice, exercises, and course structures for both students and teachers of playwriting. A concluding essay by dramaturg and literary manager, Mead Hunter, offers career advice for beginning as well as emerging playwrights.