Romeo and Juliet by Ford Madox Brown. A play or stageplay, written by a playwright, is a form of literature, almost always consisting of dialogue between characters, intended for performance rather than reading. The term is often used in contrast to "musical," which refers to a play with singing. Many people (especially scholars) simply read and study plays in an academic manner. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed or read. So, the term play refers both to the written works of playwrights and to their complete theatrical performance.[1] [edit] See also Closet drama Drama Playwright Theatre Screenplay Musical Theatre [edit] References ^ "Play": Dictionary.com website. Retrieved on January 3, 2008.  This theatre-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.