An Introduction to Dramatic Readings and Plays for New Readers
Welcome, new reader!
Dramatic projects (plays or dramatic readings) are great fun to do here at LibriVox -- it's a wonderful way of involving the wide range of voices our global membership can boast. However, the way they work is slightly different than other readings here.
Differences between Dramatic Projects and Other Projects
The main difference between a dramatic project and, say, a group project is that in a dramatic project, you claim a character instead of a chapter or section and you only read the lines of that character. You need to create a different file for each act or chapter they appear in, and you don't need to read a disclaimer (the standard intro/outro). Also, most individual parts in dramatic projects are much smaller than other types of readings, but the overall projects generally take longer to complete.
There are two types of dramatic project:
Plays
Well, plays are plays! They have a play script as the source and you read that script, linked under "Source text" in the first post (same as other group projects) unless it states otherwise.
Instead of claiming a section, you claim only a character. And you only record lines for that one character (unless you can claim more than one character). You don't need to read the stage directions or whatever's in brackets, you just read what an actor would perform if they were given the play to perform. It really is that straightforward. You start by saying [Character Name] read by [Your Name] (e.g., "Silvius, read by Charlotte Duckett"). You don't read the LibriVox disclaimer.
Then you record your lines. Generally you must leave 3-5 seconds room silence between each of your lines. This makes it easier for the editor to edit the final version together, as they need those spaces to be able to quickly see where each of your lines begins and ends. In the stage direction files, the editor will use those spaces to paste all the other parts in around the stage directions.
Dramatic Readings
For the narrator of a Dramatic Reading, it's like reading a solo except that they skip the dialogue; to all the other readers, it's a play, but with a searchable script split into a lot of short 'acts' (the chapters).
Most scripts prepared for these are now created as Google Docs (though some people may use PDFs.) You read these Google Docs (generally linked to from either the MW or the first post), instead of the text source. (While there will be a link to the source material in the first post, that is only for the use of the Dedicated Proof Listener [DPL].)
Other than that, it's almost exactly the same as a play. You only read what your character says, and you leave 3-5 seconds of room silence between each of your lines to allow the editor to spot the beginning and end of your lines. Insert those silences even if the text in between is only the narrator saying something like "she said."
In scripts that are color-coded, look at the top of the Google Doc to see which color your character is coded, and then look for that color throughout the script to find your lines. Easy. (However, not all scripts are color-coded, so you may have to search for your character’s name; the BC will have inserted it before each of your lines, if the script isn’t color-coded.)
How Do You Tell Which Is Which?
Well, this question is fairly easy to answer. It's in the title! In the Dramatic Works Forum, if it says Dramatic Reading, Dram. Reading, Dram. Read., or DR, it's a Dramatic Reading. If it doesn't, it's almost certainly a play! (Most plays will be labeled “Play” in the title.) Plus, there will be more than one script/source file linked to in every Dramatic Reading.
Cat's Top Tip
The best friend of every dramatist at LibriVox is the F3 key (or Ctrl-F; Command-F on a Mac). It allows you to search for a specific word or phrase in a piece of text. If you're looking at a script, use one of these options and type in your character's name to find your lines more easily!
Step-by-Step -- Your First Role in a Play
Here is my step-by-step guide to claiming a part, finding the text, recording and uploading your first part in a dramatic project:
Click on a Title in the Readers Wanted: Dramatic Works Forum
If it sounds simple -- it is! Before you try to claim a part, make sure it's still open (that there are parts left to claim). Most dramatic projects will have the word Open, Full, or Editing at the start of their title; for example, [OPEN] DR: Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery - rr (as opposed to [FULL] [DR] The Booker Washington Trilogy by Vachel Lindsay - rap). Pick one that’s labelled Open.
Please Read the First Post Carefully
If you are interested, the first post will tell you what you need to know. Like any other project, it contains notes about the tech settings and it tells you a bit about the dramatic work.
Still Interested?
Well then, take a look at the characters. Look at the script. Any stand out? You claim them in the same way as you claim a chapter. It's generally appreciated if you include the section number in your claim (e.g., "Can I please claim 03-Jill?" or "Can I please read Jill (03)?") Just remember to look for roles that are “Open.”
Nothing stand out? Why not ask "Can you suggest any role for me?" All dramatic project BCs are incredibly nice and helpful (not at all diva-ish!) people and know the work inside out, so most of the time, they'll be happy to suggest a part that would suit your voice! Please don't do this for very large dramatic projects, because they contain many parts, often quite small, so you should be able to choose something that appeals. You can always start small, then claim larger parts as you get more confident.
The BC Responds
After you've claimed a part, the BC puts your name into the Magic Window (MW) for that part, just like in a group recording. Don’t be surprised when your name in the MW moves to a different line after you’ve claimed a role or submitted a reading. The MWs for dramatic readings often change as the project progresses.
Usually, the BC will add a line to the MW for each chapter/act that each character appears in. That’s why these MWs get pretty long. The chapter/act number will appear either in the title or the notes for that character/line.
Now it's up to you to record your lines. Remember to look at the MW to see which acts/chapters your character appears in. It's easy to miss one, especially in longer works.
Recording Your Lines
You only need to read the lines that your character says. Leave about 3-5 seconds between each line, to allow the editor to see where your lines begin and end. You also need to remember to start your first chapter with [Character Name] recorded (or read) by [Your Name]; for example, “Silvius, read by Charlotte Duckett,” or “Frances, recorded by Charlotte Duckett.” Save your file as an MP3, just as in other projects. Always check the first post for these details.
Where Do I Find My Lines?
Scroll through the MW a few times to see how the BC has set up the project. Some will put all the characters to be claimed at the top, followed by the characters already submitted, and the final complete chapters (assigned to the editor) at the bottom. Others will follow a different order or divide things up even more, and it sometimes gets very complicated.
Some BC’s will include direct links to the individual chapters in the Notes section of the MW, that usually read "Link to Text" or something like that. Right-click (Command-click on a Mac) on the link and open it in a new tab. This is a Google Doc of your chapter with all of the characters separated and/or highlighted in different colors. This is your text.
Uploading
Well, you're almost done! You need to save your file using the file name format described in the first post; usually titleofwork_nameofcharacter_act/chapternumber (for example, asyoulikeit_silvius_4) and upload it to that MC's folder (again, listed in the first post).
Posting
Copy the link from the Uploader, and post it in a reply in the project thread with the file duration, just as you do in a group project. After this, it'll be put in the MW and PL'd.
PL Notes
These are generally about missed lines and too short/too long/missing silences. If you get PL notes you don't understand, just ask the DPL about them.
PL OK
Well, you've got a PL OK on your first file! Now you have to record and upload each of the other acts/chapters separately. Once they're all there and PL OK, congratulations. You've just read your first part in a dramatic project. Now you just need to sit back and listen to the applause! (If you’re one of the first to submit, that might take a while, as these projects generally take much longer than regular books.)
See Also
- How to Edit a Dramatic Work
- How to Create a Dramatic Reading Script
- An Introduction to Proof-listening a Dramatic Work
- How to Become a Dramatic Reading/Play Coordinator
Created by catrose; edited by Winnifred (October 2024)
