I think dramatist makes the editing of a drama much easiear…
\sebspeaks{…}
\gonspeaks{…}
for example, would have this result:
SEBASTIANO {…}
GONZALO {…}
I also need to set all stage directions in the same form, and this is quite easy with the \StageDir and \direct commands. And I use \drama* and \drama to set the verse and the prose parts of the play… I find it very easy…
*Edit
MWE (hope it works!):
`\documentclass[12pt, a4paper]{book}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage[english, italian]{babel}
\usepackage{footnote}
\usepackage[lnps]{dramatist}
\usepackage{paracol}
\usepackage[right,modulo]{lineno}
\usepackage{verse}
\makeatletter
\renewcommand\@openact{%
\thispagestyle{plain}
\refstepcounter{act}
\if@lnpa
\setcounter{storelineno}{0}
\if@poemscol
\setcounter{storeprintlineindex}{0}
\else
\refstepcounter{storelineno}
\fi
\fi
}
\makeatother
\renewcommand{\printactname}{}
\renewcommand{\printactnum}{}
\renewcommand{\printacttitle}[1]{\centering\acttitlefont\ #1}
\renewcommand{\printscenename}{}
\renewcommand{\printscenenum}{}
\renewcommand{\printscenetitle}[1]{\centering\scenetitlefont\ #1}
\title{La Tempesta}
\author{}
\date{}
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\begin{paracol}[1]{2}
\selectlanguage{italian}
\Character{Alonso}{alo}
\Character{Sebastiano}{seb}
\Character{Prospero}{pro}
\Character{Antonio}{ant}
\Character{Ferdinando}{fer}
\Character{Gonzalo}{gon}
\Character{Adriano}{adr}
\Character{Francisco}{fra}
\Character{Calibano}{cal}
\Character{Trinculo}{tri}
\Character{Stefano}{ste}
\Character{Capitano}{master}
\Character{Nostromo}{boa}
\Character{Marinai}{mariners}
\Character{Miranda}{mir}
\Character{Ariele}{ari}
\Character{Iride}{iris}
\Character{Cerere}{ceres}
\Character{Giunone}{juno}
\Character{Ninfe}{nymphs}
\Character{Mietitori}{reapers}
\Character{Voci interne}{other}
\Act{Atto Primo}
\Scene{Scena Prima}
\StageDir{In mare, su un veliero; tempesta: lampi, tuoni e fragore del mare.
Entrano il \master e il \boa}
\begin{drama}
\linenumbers
\masterspeaks{Nostromo!}
\boaspeaks{\direct{Entra di corsa} A lli cumanne vuoste, Capitanio! Mal'aria e b\`a!\footnote{{\itshape Mal'aria e b\`a}: va male, non c'\`e speranza.}}
\masterspeaks{Tiempo ’a perdere nun ce n'\`e. Sotto \`e una massa de scuoglie. Cumme s'\`e miso lu mare, o ncagliate rumanimmo\footnote{{\itshape rumanimmo}: rimaniamo.} o da nu mumento all'auto se spacca la rota de poppa. D\`atte da fare. \direct{Esce in fretta}}
\end{drama}
\switchcolumn
\selectlanguage{english}
\nolinenumbers
\Character{Alonso}{alo}
\Character{Sebastian}{seb}
\Character{Prospero}{pro}
\Character{Antonio}{ant}
\Character{Ferdinand}{fer}
\Character{Gonzalo}{gon}
\Character{Adriano}{adr}
\Character{Francisco}{fra}
\Character{Caliban}{cal}
\Character{Trinculo}{tri}
\Character{Stephano}{ste}
\Character{Master}{master}
\Character{Boatswain}{boa}
\Character{Mariners}{mariners}
\Character{Miranda}{mir}
\Character{Ariel}{ari}
\Character{Iris}{iris}
\Character{Ceres}{ceres}
\Character{Juno}{juno}
\Character{Nymphs}{nymphs}
\Character{Reapers}{reapers}
\Act{Act First}
\Scene{Scene First}
\StageDir{A tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard.
Enter a Ship-\master and a \boa}
\begin{drama}
\masterspeaks{Boatswain!}
\boaspeaks{Here, master. What cheer?}
\masterspeaks{Good –- speak to th’ mariners. Fall to’t yarely, or we run ourselves aground. Bestir, bestir! \direct{Exit}}
\end{drama}
\end{paracol}
\end{document}
`