Overview

In a theatrical production, the “play” is the roadmap. This class is designed to help you take full advantage of each of the elements the playwright has provided. Learn to decode a play’s structure (acts & scenes), characters, setting (time and place), story chronology, beats (small units of action), themes, and style. Knowing what to look for in a play is a necessary skill to all actors and theatre makers. Students will be assigned one play per week for discussion under the guidance of one of Washington’s premier directors and producers. 

“The play’s the thing.”
— Hamlet

Additional Class Details

No Class: 4/4/2026

Class Size*

6-12 

* Note: Small class sizes are a fundamental part of our training philosophy at The Theatre Lab. Classes are intentionally kept small to ensure every person receives extensive personalized feedback from instructors and meaningful collaboration with other students. If a class is full, we encourage you to join the waitlist, and we will contact you if a spot becomes available.

Prerequisites or Prior Experience

No formal prerequisites are necessary. Students who take this class typically have some background experience in acting and/or have taken both of the following classes at The Theatre Lab: 

• Intro to Acting*
• Beginning Scene Study*

* Note: For new students with no prior acting experience, we recommend starting with Intro to Acting, and then taking Beginning Scene Study, for our essential training in the basics of acting. 

Recommended Next Steps

Students who complete this class often continue with:

• The Stanislavski Method
• Meisner Technique I, II and III
• Creating a Role

Class availability depends on the session. Return to our course catalogue to explore what is currently open for enrollment.

Tuition Discount

Theatre Lab members receive a 10% discount off of class tuition, automatically applied at checkout. Annual memberships cost only $70 per year and also include discounted tickets to all Theatre Lab performances. Read more about becoming a member here.

For our early bird specials and other exclusive discounts on class tuition, subscribe to our emails and follow us @theatrelabdc on social media for updates. 

Class Policies

We encourage all students to review our Adult Class Policies prior to enrolling.