Question

Describe how you would use effective stage directions in your play script. Explain why you would make the choices described. Be specific and detailed in your response, addressing all stage direction issues (for example: kinds of activities, purposes for directions, how they should be formatted). Use examples from scripts you have read to support your points.

Answer 1

Answer:

After the speaker name, type a tab and then begin the dialogue on the same line. Type stage directions in italics. Speaker names within stage directions should be typed in SMALL CAPS (not italic). Type speaker names in FULL CAPITAL letters, flush to the left margin (not centered).

Explanation:

Stage directions serve many functions, but their primary purpose is to guide actors' movements on the stage, called blocking. These notations in the script, written by the playwright and set aside with brackets, tell the actors where to sit, stand, move about, enter, and exit.