When citing a play in APA style, the goal is to give readers enough information to locate the exact source while maintaining the concise, author‑date format that defines the American Psychological Association’s guidelines. Still, whether you are referencing a classic work by Shakespeare, a contemporary drama, or a translated version of a foreign‑language piece, the same core principles apply: include the playwright’s name, the year of the specific edition you used, the title of the play (italicized), and publication details. Below is a step‑by‑step guide that walks you through in‑text citations, reference‑list entries, and special situations you might encounter when working with plays.
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Understanding APA Style Basics for Dramatic Works
APA treats a play much like any other book: the playwright is considered the author, and the work itself is the title. The 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association introduced a few simplifications—most notably, the removal of the requirement to include “Retrieved from” for most online sources—but the fundamental structure remains unchanged.
Key elements to remember
- Author: The playwright’s surname followed by initials.
- Year: The publication year of the edition you consulted (not necessarily the original premiere date).
- Title: Italicized, sentence‑case (only the first word and proper nouns capitalized).
- Source: Publisher information; for plays found in anthologies or edited collections, include the editor(s) and page range.
- Medium: If you accessed a digital version, note the format (e.g., PDF, e‑book) only if it affects retrieval; otherwise, treat it like a print source.
In‑Text Citations for a Play
APA uses the author‑date system inside parentheses. When you quote or paraphrase a specific line, act, or scene, you should also provide a locator (act, scene, line numbers) to help readers pinpoint the passage.
Basic Format
(Playwright, Year, Act.Scene.Line)
- If the play does not use act/scene/line numbering (e.g., some modern dramas), you can use page numbers instead:
(Playwright, Year, p. xx)
Examples
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Quoting a single line
“To be, or not to be: that is the question” (Shakespeare, 1603/2020, Act 3, Scene 1, Line 64) That's the whole idea..
-
Paraphrasing a longer passage
Recent scholars argue that Hamlet’s soliloquy reflects early modern anxieties about mortality (Shakespeare, 1603/2020). -
When the play lacks traditional divisions
The protagonist’s hesitation is evident when she delays signing the contract (Miller, 1949, p. 112).
Note: If you mention the playwright’s name in the narrative, only the year and locator go in parentheses:
Shakespeare (1603/2020) observes that “the play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king” (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 603).
Reference‑List Entries
The reference list provides full bibliographic details. The format varies slightly depending on whether the play appears as a standalone book, within an anthology, or as a translated work Small thing, real impact..
1. Standalone Play (Published as a Single Volume)
Playwright, A. A. (Year). *Title of play* (Translator, Trans.). Publisher.
- If there is no translator, omit that part.
- Use the year of the edition you consulted; if the work was originally published much earlier, you can include the original year as a note:
Playwright, A. A. (Year). *Title of play*. Publisher. (Original work published YYYY)
Example
Shakespeare, W. (2020). *Hamlet* (A. Thompson, Trans.). Penguin Classics. (Original work published 1603)
2. Play in an Anthology or Edited Collection
Playwright, A. A. (Year). Title of play. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), *Title of anthology* (pp. xx‑xx). Publisher.
- Use sentence case for the play title; italicize the anthology title.
- Include the page range where the play appears.
Example
Miller, A. (1949). Death of a salesman. In H. Bloom (Ed.), *Modern American Drama* (pp. 45‑112). Chelsea House.
3. Translated Play (When the Translation Is the Primary Source)
Playwright, A. A. (Year). *Title of play* (T. Translator, Trans.). Publisher.
- Place the translator’s name in parentheses after the title, followed by “Trans.”
- If you also want to credit the original language, you can add a note:
(Original work published YYYY)
Example
Ibsen, H. (2018). *A Doll’s House* (R. F. Johnston, Trans.). Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1879)
4. Play Accessed Online (e.g., PDF from a University Repository)
If the online version is a faithful reproduction of a print edition, cite it as you would the print version. Only add a URL or DOI if the source is exclusively digital and lacks a print counterpart And it works..
Playwright, A. A. (Year). *Title of play*. Publisher. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/xxxx
- APA 7th edition does not require “Retrieved from” unless the content is likely to change (e.g., a wiki).
5. Unpublished or Archival Play (e.g., Manuscript)
Playwright, A. A. (Year). *Title of play* [Unpublished manuscript]. Archive Name, Location.
- Use brackets to describe the format.
Special Situations
Multiple Authors
Some modern plays are devised collaboratively. In real terms, list up to 20 authors in the reference list, using an ampersand before the final name. In‑text citations follow the same author‑date rule, using “et al.” after the first author when there are three or more authors.
Example (three authors)
- In‑text:
(Smith, Jones, & Lee, 2021, Act 1, Scene 2) - First citation
6. Adapted Play
When citing a play that has been significantly adapted by a different playwright, credit the adapter as the author of the specific version you consulted. The original playwright is acknowledged in a note Less friction, more output..
Adapter, A. A. (Year). *Title of adapted play* (Original work by Original Playwright, Year). Publisher.
- The title of the play reflects the adaptation.
- Use parentheses to provide credit to the original work and its publication date.
Example
Parker, S. (2022). *The Taming of the Shrew: A Reimagining* (Original work by W. Shakespeare, 1590). New Directions.
7. Play from a Performance Program or Prompt Script
For a script used in a theatrical production, often called a “prompt book,” cite the performance program or the published script if available. If you are referencing the performance itself, the citation format differs slightly.
For a published script used in a production:
Playwright, A. A. (Year). *Title of play*. Publisher.
Then, in your text, you can note the production details: (Playwright, Year, production directed by Director’s Name).
Example (in-text):
The production’s minimalist staging emphasized the play’s themes of isolation (Orwell, 1949, production directed by J. Smith).
Conclusion
Navigating the citation of dramatic works requires attention to the specific format and source of the text you are referencing—whether it is a standard print edition, a translation, an excerpt in an anthology, or a digital archive. This guide provides a structured approach to ensure accuracy and consistency in academic writing, reflecting the diverse ways in which plays are published and accessed. By adhering to these conventions, scholars can maintain clarity and rigor in their research, properly crediting playwrights, translators, editors, and adapters.
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8. Digital Archive or Online Database
When accessing a play through a digital repository, such as a university archive, a playwright's personal website, or a database like the Internet Archive, the citation format is similar to that of an unpublished manuscript, but it must include the URL or DOI.
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Playwright, A. A. (Year). *Title of play* [Unpublished manuscript]. Archive Name. URL
- The description in brackets should accurately reflect the format (e.g., [PDF], [HTML]).
- If the document has a persistent URL (like a DOI), use that instead of a generic link.
Example
Williams, T. (1947). *A Streetcar Named Desire* [PDF]. The Tennessee Williams Collection, University of the South. https://archive.org/details/streetcar1947
9. Audio or Video Recording of a Performance
Citing a recorded performance requires acknowledging the medium, the production details, and the distributor or platform where the recording is available.
Playwright, A. A. (Year of original play). *Title of play* [Video recording of a performance directed by Director’s Name, Year of performance]. Distributor or Platform. URL
- The year of the original play is often included for context, but the key date is the year of the specific performance being cited.
- Specify the medium ([Video recording], [Audio recording]).
Example
Shakespeare, W. (1603). *Hamlet* [Video recording of a performance directed by Laurence Olivier, 1948]. British Film Institute. https://bfi player.bfi.org.uk/hamlet-1948
Conclusion
This guide has outlined the essential conventions for citing dramatic works across a wide spectrum of formats, from traditional print editions and anthologies to unpublished manuscripts, adaptations, and modern digital and recorded performances. The core principle remains consistent: provide enough specific information for a reader to locate the exact version of the text or performance you used. By following these detailed protocols, researchers and writers can ensure their citations are precise, credible, and adaptable to the evolving landscape of how plays are preserved, published, and accessed. This rigor upholds the integrity of scholarly discourse and gives proper credit to the creators and contributors behind the dramatic works we study.
