If you're writing an essay, research paper, or academic assignment, knowing how to cite from a play is essential for giving credit to the playwright and maintaining scholarly integrity. Consider this: this guide covers the main citation styles—MLA, APA, and Chicago—and provides step‑by‑step instructions for formatting in‑text citations and the works‑cited or reference list entries. By following these guidelines, you’ll avoid common pitfalls and ensure your citations are both accurate and consistent.
MLA Style
The Modern Language Association (MLA) is the most widely used style for literature and the humanities. Plus, when citing a play, MLA requires you to include the playwright’s last name, the play’s title in italics, the edition, the publisher, and the year. In‑text citations typically reference act, scene, and line numbers.
1. Works‑Cited Entry
- Play published in a book
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Barbara A. Mowat, Folger Shakespeare Library, 1992. - Play published in a collection
Miller, Arthur. “The Crucible.” The Collected Plays of Arthur Miller, Viking, 1995, pp. 1‑150. - Play from an online database
Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot. Translated by Samuel Beckett, Grove Press, 1954. Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/waitingforgodot. Accessed 12 Oct. 2023.
2. In‑Text Citation
- Print version
(Shakespeare 3.1.56‑58) – indicates Act 3, Scene 1, lines 56‑58. - Multiple authors
(Miller and Smith 45) – for collaborative works. - No page numbers
(Shakespeare 3.1.56‑58) – when only act/scene/line numbers are available.
APA Style
The American Psychological Association (APA) style is common in social sciences. For a play, APA citations include the playwright’s name, year of publication, title in sentence case, and source information And it works..
1. Reference List Entry
- Play published by a publisher
Miller, A. (1953). Death of a salesman. New York: New Directions Publishing. - Play in an edited collection
Beckett, S. (1954). Waiting for Godot. In Samuel Beckett: The Collected Plays (pp. 1‑120). New York: Grove Press. - Online play
Shakespeare, W. (1603). Hamlet. Retrieved from https://www.shakespeareonline.com/plays/hamlet/ (Original work published 1603).
2. In‑Text Citation
- Author‑date format
(Miller, 1953) – for a single work. - Multiple authors
(Shakespeare & Johnson, 2000) – for co‑authored editions. - Direct quotes
(Miller, 1953, p. 45) – include page number if available; otherwise, use line numbers.
Chicago Style
Chicago citation has two systems: author‑date and notes‑bibliography. For literature, the notes‑bibliography system is most common.
1. Bibliography Entry
- Standard play
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by David Bevington, 2nd ed., Hackett Publishing, 2014. - Play in an anthology
Miller, Arthur. “The Crucible.” In The Collected Plays of Arthur Miller, pp. 1‑150, Viking, 1995. - Digital version
Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot. Translated by Samuel Beckett, Grove Press, 1954. Digital edition, Project Gutenberg, 2020, https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1942.
2. Footnotes/Endnotes
- First citation
^1 William Shakespeare, Hamlet, ed. David Bevington (New York: Hackett, 2014), 3.1.56‑58. - Subsequent citations
^2 Shakespeare, Hamlet, 3.2.12.
3. Bibliography vs. References
Chicago uses a “Bibliography” section rather than “References.” All works cited in notes must appear in the bibliography, and vice versa.
Citing Digital and Online Plays
With the rise of digital texts, citing online versions requires extra detail to ensure readers can locate the source.
1. Include Access Date and URL
- MLA – Add the access date and URL after the standard citation.
- APA – List the retrieval date before the URL.
- Chicago – Provide the URL and access date in the note or bibliography.
2. Use Stable Identifiers
Whenever possible, cite a DOI or an archived version (e.g., Internet Archive) to guarantee long‑term accessibility Most people skip this — try not to..
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing citation styles – Consistency is crucial; do not blend MLA and APA within the same paper.
- Omitting line numbers – In MLA, always include act, scene, and line numbers when page numbers are unavailable.
- Incorrect punctuation – Use commas, periods, and semicolons exactly as each style dictates.
- Forgetting the title format – Plays should be italicized in MLA and Chicago, while APA uses sentence case.
- Neglecting translator or editor credits – If you used a translated edition, list the translator’s name after the title.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to cite a play if I only mention the title?
A: Yes. Even a brief reference should include a citation to give proper credit and allow readers to locate the source Simple as that..
Q: What if the play is in the public domain?
A: Public‑domain works (e.g., Shakespeare’s plays) still require citation. Include the edition details and publication information.
Q: How do I cite a short excerpt from a play?
A: Use the same in‑text citation format as for longer quotes, but limit the parenthetical reference to the specific line numbers.
Q: Can I use “op. cit.” or “ibid.”?
A: These Latin terms (op. cit. = “in the work cited,” ibid. = “in the same place”) are acceptable in Chicago style but are rarely needed
4. Citing Plays from Digital Archives and Databases
When a play is hosted on a specialized scholarly platform—such as the Internet Shakespeare Editions, the Folger Shakespeare Library’s digital texts, or the Perseus Digital Library—add the platform name and its URL to the citation. If the database provides a stable DOI, include it in place of the URL.
Example (Chicago footnote):
^3 Hamlet, ed. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, Folger Shakespeare Library Digital Text, https://digital.folger.edu/… (accessed April 12, 2024).
Example (Bibliography):
Mowat, Barbara A., and Paul Werstine, eds. Hamlet. Folger Shakespeare Library Digital Text. https://digital.folger.edu/… (accessed April 12, 2024).
5. Citing Live‑Performance Recordings
If you reference a recorded performance (e.g., a video of a theater production), treat the recording as a separate source. Include the director, performers, and production company, as well as the streaming platform and access date Not complicated — just consistent..
Example (Chicago note):
^4 Hamlet (2021), directed by Simon McBurney, performed by Ben Whishaw, Royal Shakespeare Company, video, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=…, accessed March 5, 2024 Simple, but easy to overlook. That alone is useful..
6. Citing Adaptations and Translations
An adaptation (e., a novelization, graphic novel, or film) or a translation should be credited separately from the original play. g.List the translator, adapter, or director after the title, and specify the medium Turns out it matters..
Example (Chicago bibliography):
Brown, John, translator. Waiting for Godot. Grove Press, 1954.
Smith, Alice, adapter. Waiting for Godot: A Graphic Novel. Illustrated by Maya Patel, Dark Horse Comics, 2020.
7. Tools and Resources for Play Citation
- Citation managers (Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley) often include built‑in templates for plays; ensure you customize them for digital and performance sources.
- Style guides such as the Chicago Manual of Style Online and the MLA Style Center provide searchable examples for theatrical works.
- Institutional libraries may host citation workshops specific to performing arts; take advantage of these to refine your technique.
Conclusion
Accurately citing plays—whether in print, digital, archival, or performance form—ensures that scholars can trace the origins of ideas and gives credit to the many contributors who bring a text to life. By consistently applying the conventions of your chosen style guide, using stable identifiers whenever possible, and paying close attention to details such as line numbers, translators, and access dates, you will produce citations that are both rigorous and reader‑friendly. Mastery of these practices not only upholds academic integrity but also enriches the scholarly conversation surrounding theatrical literature.
