Script Length

[sweeneytodd2]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 4:00pm

For musicals, how many pages is a script typically. I know in movies the rule is one minute per page. Is that the same in musicals?

[Jon]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 4:03pm

For musicals, it can be much less, since you can fit a lot of song lyrics on a page. You caould fit the lyrics for a three minute song on one page. Most muscal scripts are under a hundred pages. I've don completely sung-through shows with scripts under 60 pages.
Updated On: 12/30/05 at 04:03 PM

[sweeneytodd2]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 4:09pm

Thanks
Also, does any one know what the traditional format is?

[Jon]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 4:27pm

Musical script format is the same as straight plays, except that song lyrics are typed in ALL UPPER CASE.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 4:28pm

You can't really compare the two...if you have a slow song, it can last three minutes and still only take up one page.

[jv92]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 5:42pm

I've noticed that the longest musicals take the least amount of pages. For example, "Camelot" which is 3 hours long, takes about 98-100 pages. (Not sure). "Gypsy" which is also lenghty takes about 100 too. However, City of Angels and The Producers which are very fast, funny musicals take about 150 pages.

[hateobnoxiousteens]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 5:46pm

Being a film narrative screenwriter and director, this is very interesting, thanks for the info.

[jv92]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 2:05pm

Actually Jon, sometimes the lyric format varries. Sometimes they are in italics or in formal text.

[QMAN03]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 2:14pm

I always wondered about this. Because I have read super short plays but when I saw them, they lasted around 2 hours. But this makes sense.

[lamentingenvelope]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 2:39pm

This is something that's always interested me - but I don't know why. I wrote a play intending for it to run about half an hour. It's 36 pages in Standard Format and in a reading was about twenty five minutes but onstage was about forty five.

I think the best idea is to just not worry about it - if you're thinking about 'How long is this scene going to take? How much more do I have left to write?' when you're writing is very distracting, and honestly, though there are rules of thumb like 'A minute a page', you really can't tell until you get some actors together and do a run-through. What I try to do is just write and worry about the length later - it's hard though! Just get it out and don't worry about that stuff, you can always trim it down or flesh it out later if you need more or less.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 2:43pm

I have a finished 60 page play thats entirely dialogue shooting back and forth. Any idea how long it would be?

[lamentingenvelope]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 2:51pm

Having not read any of the play nor knowing how you formatted it (not mention how different actors play it/how different directors would set it up)... (i.e. don't necessarily trust this answer!) I'd say probably around 45 minutes.

But really, it'd probably be wiser to get some actors together and do a reading. Or even just a bunch of friends at your local Starbucks. It still wouldn't be exact, but it's at least it'd give you some sort of idea... Updated On: 1/1/06 at 02:51 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 4:03pm

What is considered standard format of a straight play?

[lamentingenvelope]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 4:17pm

http://www.citytheatrecompany.org/education/yp/contest.html

If you scroll down a bit there is a PDF style guide you can use - this is the one I use, at least, I know there are different variations on this (mostly in the size of the indentations of the stage directions and such. If you're submitting it to a certain contest or theatre or whatever check and see if they have certain guidelines for you - if not, then I think this is a pretty good general setup.)

Also, if you haven't centered characters names yet, USE TABS (if you are using MS Word... I don't know if you can do it in other programs.) Set your first tab to whatever you are supposed to indent stage directions to (I use .5) and set it to left and then set a second tab at 3 inches and center. That way you only have to hit tab twice instead of highlighting and hitting center.
Updated On: 1/1/06 at 04:17 PM

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 4:21pm

oooh very interesting thread, yes i dont think you can determine the length of a play based on how long it is. I think direction and the actors really determine the length. Your 60 page play could range from 45minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes. I'd really like to read it!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 4:24pm

thanks for the help, lamentingenvelope. Broadwaybelter, I'm not ready to show it to anyone yet, but it'll be ready soon enough. Just keep reminding me.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 4:27pm

sweet will do