Workshops / Residencies

Workshops - Residencies & Classes

Mike has taught classes and facilitated workshops on playwrighting in many settings. He currently teaches classes and facilitates workshops and public readings of new plays for the Ohio Playwrights Circle.

Mike was a Teaching Artist and Visiting Artist for the Ohio Arts Council's Arts-in-Education Program for over 20 years. He was a Guest Professor in playwrighting for Otterbein University and taught playwrighting for The Human Race Theatre Company's Education Program for many years.

The Inside Story Seminar

This seminar is a guide to the work of Dr. Dara Marks and her acclaimed book, The Inside Story: The Power of the Transformational Arc. This learning session is focused on the structure of a story and how examining the layers of Plot, Motivation, and Theme are critical to creating a deep resonate story. This book is an important tool for analyzing your work or for creating intentionality in your writing. If you want to invigorate your writing with depth and resonance, renew with this seminar.

This seminar is for playwrights, screen writers, fiction and short story writers and more.

You can get a copy of this book by going to this link: https://daramarks.com/purchase.php
or check with you local bookstore.

The Driving Point Seminar
This seminar is focused on the understanding and the use of the Driving Point in classic story telling. It is that unique point in the story which propels the story forward with an inevitable energy. It is a formula that has been used for centuries. We will see how it was used in Romeo and Juliet as well as the Godfather and classic adventure comedy like Back to the Future. It is an important tool to have in your writer’s toolbox.

Acknowledgements

       We all encounter many professionals in our careers and some have a significant impact on our perspectives, our understanding of storytelling, teaching and writing. Their influence is such that they affect our work.

        Many years ago I came across the Playwrights Guidebook by Stuart Spenser. I had many books on playwrighting, but this was the first that offered so much basic information in an accessible style and format that I could offer it singularly to students in a class without having to insist on their using a variety of other books for reference and understanding. It is the most usable book for me as I am teaching to a wide range of students over the years. So, I offer my many thanks to Stuart who has made my teaching life easier.

        I first met Dara Marks when we were both teaching at an Antioch Writer's Workshop Seminar. I had only a passing familiarity with her work prior to that meeting. But since that lucky happenstance, I have been greatly influenced by her work. Dara is the author of The Inside Story: The Power of the Transformational Arc.
        It is a phenomenal book on storytelling, especially for screen writers. This book and her work have been a substantial and valued help to me as a teacher. Her effect on my own writing has been immeasurable. Dara has not only shared her brilliance and understanding of storytelling, but she has often shared her kindness and generosity of spirit with many writers and teachers. I'm thankful that I have been one of those.

Ivan Levene is the course director for Screenwriting at Royal Holloway, University of London, UK. Ivan is an inspiration. His knowledge of screenwriting and storytelling runs very deep, so there is much to learn. However, if you are a teaching artist, you not only learn about the art but you will learn about teaching. Just pay attention and watch his skillful methods. To study with him is a blessing. Many thanks to Ivan.

        Sharon Short is a novelist and the author of My One Square Inch of Alaska and at least 15 other novels. She is the former director of the Antioch Writers Workshop and I am lucky to have met her and worked with her. Sharon is a writer that understands the value of a writing community, the value of communing, commiserating, encouraging and learning with other writers. She understands that what can often be a very solo act of creating doesn't have to be a lonely life. Sharon is the Literary Life columnist for the Dayton Daily News. She shares with her community and brings writers together. I'm glad to have been on the receiving end of her very kind nature.