A Night at the Theater
Describe your most profound live theater experience. Reflect on the performance, the ambiance of the theater, and how the event emotionally and intellectually impacted you. Delve into why this particular performance stands out in your memory.
Suggested length: An essay or article: 800 to 2,500 words
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- Use one example from your own life.
- Open with a specific story, then widen out to the big idea.
- Write for a curious friend, not an expert.
Writing essays
A mind at work, one subject at a time.
An essay collection gathers short nonfiction pieces: personal, critical, funny or all three. What ties them together is the writer's voice and way of seeing.
What readers expect
- A distinctive voice
- Personal stakes
- Surprising connections
- Pieces that stand alone
A tip before you start
Follow a question, not a thesis. The pleasure of an essay is watching someone think.
More Music, Film and Performing Arts prompts
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- The Changing Face of FilmExplore the evolution of a specific genre of film and its impact on popular culture. Select a genre, trace its history, and analyze key films that…
- Music and Cultural IdentityPen an article on the role of music, film, or theater in sustaining community and cultural identity in a specific region or culture. Include…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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