Fall 2025

Wicked Stagewriting: From Plays to Musicals

The Wicked Stagewriting: From Plays to Musicals Journey is designed to help develop the skills and understanding needed to work as a writer in today’s theatre industry. This Journey provides insight into the work of a playwright – a deep understanding of live storytelling and professional scripts, plays vs musicals, professional working practices, and employment strategies. We will look to popular musicals such as Wicked for inspiration in creating original pieces.

Girls Write Now Collaboratory

This Journey is Closed, but You Can Apply for a Fall 2026 Journey Now!

Apply Now

Learning Objectives

Recognize Playwriting Conventions

Learn how plays and musicals are commonly structured, the roles that characters typically play, and the genres seen in the industry.

Construct a Compelling Stageplay

Practice writing a script using industry-standard stageplay formatting and layout conventions.

Identify Playwriting Resources

Explore tools, communities, and strategies for revising and workshopping a play-in-progress.

Understand Play Production

Gain insight into the steps involved in bringing a play from page to stage, including casting, rehearsals, and performance.

Wicked Stagewriting: From Plays to Musicals Community Experiences

Mentees and mentors in this Journey are required to attend the monthly Journey meetings during the cycle and the Play Showcase.

Journey Meeting Dates:

Monday, November 10, 2025, 7 pm ET
Monday, December 1, 2025, 7 pm ET
Monday, January 12, 2026, 7 pm ET

Play Showcase:

Saturday, January 31, 2026, 12 pm ET

In addition, all participants must attend at least one community event each month, with strong recommendations to join Exploratory Community Studios, College & Career Chats, or Salon Experiences.

Apply to Journeys Explore Community Experiences

Writing for the Stage: From Plays to Musicals Courses

Writing for the Stage: From Plays to Musicals
This course is designed to help develop the skills and understanding needed to work as a writer in today’s theatre industry. Writing for the Stage: From Plays to Musicals provides insight into the work of a scriptwriter – a deep understanding of live storytelling and professional scripts, short-form and full-length scripts, professional working practices, and employment strategies. Specific topics range from story structure to librettos to actually staging the play.

Apply to Journeys Explore Courses

Wicked Stagewriting: From Plays to Musicals Mentoring

Mentees and mentors in the Wicked Stagewriting Journey will be matched for one cycle. Pairs will meet for at least two hour-long sessions each month. Mentees will write a short play, while mentors will offer support and guidance throughout the process. This Journey is open to both mentor-mentee pairs and peer-to-peer pairs.

Apply to Journeys Explore Mentorship Opportunities

Journey Teaching Artist

Carmen Rivera

(she/her/ella)

Carmen Rivera holds an MA in Playwriting and Latin American Theatre from New York University. Her play, La Gringa, was part of the OBIE Award Winning Series New Voices in 1996 and recently celebrated its 29th year anniversary in repertory at Repertorio Español. It is now the longest running Spanish-language play in Off-Broadway history. It was published in both English and Spanish by Concord Theatrical Productions (Formerly Samuel French.)

Off-Broadway productions include: Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz (Co-Written with Cándido Tirado) – (HOLA Award, Outstanding Achievement in Playwriting); La Lupe: My Life, My Destiny (ACE Award – Best Production); Julia de Burgos: Child of Water; To Catch The Lightning (Nomination ACE Award – Best Production.)

La Caída De Rafael Trujillo (The Downfall of Rafael Trujillo) – (ATI Award for Best Production) has had 4 sold out productions at Teatro Círculo. It is now available at Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) in both English and in Spanish.

Carmen has been the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), ATT On-Stage and New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA). For more information on Carmen, check out www.carmenrivera-writer.com.

Visit Profile

Journeys in the Script 360 Adventure focus on writing for film, television, and the stage. It is recommended for mentees and mentors who would like to create their own plays, screenplays, or teleplays.

Wicked Stagewriting: From Plays to Musicals is a Journey in the Script 360 Adventure.

See All Adventures

Explore All Journeys

Area of Focus

Cycle

Duration

Time per Month

Explore All Journeys

Girls Write Now . 3 weeks ago

Everything Is a Story: Nonfiction that Reads like Fiction (Fall 2026)

In this Journey, mentees and mentors will explore the ways in which creative storytelling techniques can be applied to nonfiction writing of all kinds, from memoir and personal essay to op-ed and how-to articles. We will dive into what makes a story—from structural archetypes to writing that flows—and learn how to harness the power of story to make nonfiction compelling and transformative.

julia.andresakis.gwn . 3 weeks ago

Wild Ideas: Nature, Science & Creativity (Fall 2026)

Created in honor of Helen Ghiradella’s pioneering work at the intersection of science and creativity, this Journey invites mentees and mentors to explore the natural world through the complementary lenses of scientific inquiry and artistic expression. Inspired by Ghiradella’s legacy, and through close observation, research, and reflection, they will investigate the forms, patterns, and processes found in nature while creating an original project—through writing, visual art, media, performance, music or another creative form—that celebrates the connections between nature, science, and creativity.

Girls Write Now . 4 weeks ago

Hooked on Fiction: Story Structures for Plotters, Pantsers, & Plantsers (Fall 2026)

In this Journey, we’ll tackle one of the most daunting parts of novel writing: the opening chapter. Participants will explore how to hook readers while establishing character, setting, and stakes—asking big questions like where to begin and how to share key details without overload.

Girls Write Now . 4 weeks ago

Building Buzz: Publicity in the Publishing Industry (Fall 2026)

This Journey explores how social media—especially TikTok’s BookTok community—has transformed the publishing industry.

Girls Write Now . 4 weeks ago

The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Fall 2026)

In this Journey, mentors and mentees will explore the power of comedy as a tool for social change, with a special focus on stand-up comedy. From climate change and economic inequality to LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and mental health, participants will learn how to write and perform material that blends humor with meaningful social critique.

Girls Write Now . 4 weeks ago

Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion (Fall 2026)

In this Journey, mentors and mentees will develop essential skills in public speaking, argumentation, and critical thinking. Through engaging activities and interactive discussions, participants will learn to craft persuasive speeches, construct well-reasoned arguments, and present their ideas with confidence.

Girls Write Now . 4 weeks ago

Independent Study (Fall 2026)

Create your own experience with our Independent Study Journey. Mentors and mentees meet as a pair, attend events of interest, and use coursework to help plan creative projects and meet your goals.

Girls Write Now . 4 weeks ago

Lead Community Change (Fall 2026)

Lead Community Change is a dynamic two-cycle Journey that harnesses the transformative power of storytelling to drive social impact. Aspiring young leaders and activists will unleash their creativity to develop and implement innovative community-based social activism projects, supported by Girls Write Now’s rich storytelling resources.

Girls Write Now . 4 weeks ago

Dark Tales: A Horror Book Club (Fall 2026)

Step into the shadows of horror and explore what makes a story truly unsettling. Through three monthly book club meetings, participants will engage in close readings and lively discussions of selected horror works, examining how authors build suspense, create atmosphere, evoke fear, and use the genre to explore deeper social, psychological, and cultural themes. Together, we will analyze storytelling techniques, character development, and the many forms horror can take. By the end of the fall, you will have deepened your appreciation of the genre, sharpened your critical reading skills, and gathered inspiration and craft techniques to enrich your own writing.

Girls Write Now . 4 weeks ago

Explore Tour (Fall 2026)

Explore all of the creative and storytelling pathways Girls Write Now has to offer through a multimedia, multi-genre experience that includes mini courses, exploratory studios, and one-to-one pair sessions.

1 2 3 … 9