while this is a very detailed and okay rundown of the technical aspects of stage play script formatting, it must be noted that there is no such thing as a 'standard' stage play format... that is, no one
single one that is recognized by all playwrights and directors as 'the' way to write a script for the theater...
for example, some things done here are not what i do in writing for the stage or what i've seen done by the greats and near-greats... and some details are not entirely correct, such as the copyright notice... but the intent is good and the format used is probably acceptable...
unlike screenplays, where a standard format is mandated by the film industry, there is no governing body or industry-wide agreement in the theatrical community, setting forth rules 'n regs for what a stage play script should look like... check out plays by any dozen major playwrights and i'm sure you'll find at least several different formats being used...
so, although this is indeed a helpful link that we should thank selorian for posting, and despite it being an okay format guide for the medium, just don't take it as 'gospel' or think it has to be followed exactly, if you want to write plays... it was done up by a playwright member of a small theater company in minneapolis, so may not look like play scripts you'll find in more major theatrical centers like ny and london... look around and find styles used by other playwrights and if you still like this one best, by all means use it... for a quick and handy reference, get paul argentini's 'elements of style for screenwriters'... it has a section in the back for playwrights...
btw, here are the example pages mentioned in the above linked format guide:
http://chameleontheatre.org/newplay/....html#Examples
...this link includes the instructions contained in the pdf file [link provided by selorian], as well... so if, like me, you don't like pdf stuff, you can copy and/or print all the info from this page, instead, then go to the example pages that are linked here and print those out...
a good post to sticky, selorian...
bravo!
love and hugs, maia
