How to cite a play in MLA
When citing a play, the MLA parenthetical citation should include the author name, act, scene and line number(s) (if available). When quoting, you must include the character names, in all capitals, and pay attention to indentation.
Example of quoting and citing a play
Citing plays in MLA
The in-text citation for a play includes the author name, act, scene and line(s).
Example of a play citation in MLA
If the play is not divided into numbered acts, scenes and lines, it’s acceptable to cite the page number instead.
In papers focusing on one particular playwright (for example, the works of Shakespeare), use the italicized play name rather than the author name in each citation.
Example of a play citation in a paper on one playwright
Format for line numbers
When citing multiple line numbers in your citation, any figure below 100 should appear in its standard and complete numerical form (e.g. 21-35). When indicating more than one line above 100, include the first number only once (e.g. 165-8).
Abbreviating play names
To avoid repeating play names throughout your dissertation, the MLA style guide recommends writing the full name in the first citation, then using abbreviations for subsequent mentions.
If your research is focused on Shakespeare, there are universally accepted play name abbreviations you can use. Do not devise your own, as your supervisor will be expecting these standard abbreviations.
Example of introducing an abbreviated play name
How to quote a play
When quoting dialogue from a play or screenplay:
- Start the quote with the character’s name
- Write the character name in all capitals and follow the name with a period
- Indent the entire quote half an inch from the left margin
- After the first line, indent each line that does not include a character name further
- Add the citation at the end, with the period after the close parenthesis
Example of quoting one character
The character Banquo was the first to draw attention to the perception of the three witches:
BANQUO. How far is’t call’d to Forres? What are these
So wither’d and so wild in their attire,
That look not like the inhabitants o’ the earth (Shakespeare 1.3.139-41).
If there is another character included in the quote you wish to use, start a new line for their dialogue using the original indentation.
Example of quoting multiple characters
MACBETH. Your children shall be kings.
BANQUO. You shall be king.
MACBETH. And thane of Cawdor too: went it not so? (Shakespeare 1.3.188-90)
Plays in an MLA Works Cited list
The Works Cited section is where you list the full references for sources cited in the text. Generally, references for plays include:
- Author name(s)
- Play name
- Publisher name
- Year of publication
The guidelines for citing plays differ depending on whether the play is a whole book, a work in a collection, or a live performance.
Book
| Format | Author surname, Author first name. Play Name, Publisher, year of publication. |
| Example | McCarter, Jeremy and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Hamilton: The Revolution, Little, Brown Book Group, 2016. |
In MLA, the number of authors affects how you cite the source. To learn about arranging author names correctly, read our MLA Citation Quick Guide.
eBook
Follow the same format as an MLA book citation, but add the database or website name and the permanent link to the book following the year of publication.
| Format | Author surname, Author first name. Play Name, Publisher, year of publication. Database or Website Name, URL. |
| Example | Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. MIT, 1993. MIT: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, shakespeare.mit.edu/hamlet/full.html. |
In a collection or anthology
| Format | Author surname, Author first name. “Play Name.” Collection or Anthology Name, Editor name, Publisher, year of publication, page numbers. |
| Example | Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” William Shakespeare: The Complete Works, edited by Stanley Wells, Gary Taylor, John Jowett, and William Montgomery, Oxford University Press, 1998, pp. 2501-2565. |
If there is no editor, simply omit this part and proceed straight from the anthology name to the publisher information.
Live performance
| Format | Play Name. Author first name, Author surname, directed by Director first name, Director surname, date of performance, Theatre, City of performance. Performance. |
| Example | The Book of Mormon. By Robert Lopez, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, co-directed by Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, 20 Feb. 2019, The Prince of Wales Theatre, London. Performance. |
2 comments
angela
October 24, 2019 at 8:30 AMHello,
How do you cite stage directions within a play?
Shona McCombes (Scribbr-team)
October 24, 2019 at 6:01 PMHi Angela,
This post on the MLA style blog answers your question. Hope that helps!