Q: I can't figure out a good title for my play.  You probably read lots of plays and see lots of good titles.  How do you pick a good title?
          from a Padua Academy student, asked during a classroom visit

A: A good title can be the cherry on top of a great play.  Don't feel like you have to have the title of the play right now.  Playwrights often have "working titles" of their plays, a kind of place holder until they really figure out what they want to call their play.  Sometimes you can't really come up with a title until you are all the way done with your play and have a better idea what it's all about. 

One way to think about a title is giving an audience member an idea of the theme of the play.  For instance, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman was originally called The Inside of His Head.  Which title gives a better clue that this is a play criticizing the American dream of getting to a better place in life by earning more money?

Another way to think about a title is as a way to get the audience in the mood that you want them to be in when they sit down to watch your play.  The title might be the only preparation an audience member has before the play begins.  What do you want them thinking about?  How do you want them to feel?  How can you use your title to start helping your play have the impact you want it to have?

One final hint - titling your play Untitled doesn't really do much for your play.  You should use every avenue you have to help tell your story, help create the mood.  So, unless the mood you want to create is that of an absolute blank slate, try to stay away from Untitled.