Dramaturgy 101 - Part Zero

I've decided to write a multi-piece article about my dramaturgical process.

What's that you say? Your dramaturgical process. Why would I want to read about your dramaturgical process?

• Dramaturgy is contested territory in terms of a strict definition.

• Each dramaturg's process will inevitably be different, and therefore useful for:

  • Someone looking for how someone could approach dramaturgy if they've never done it before.

  • A director intrigued by the idea of dramaturgy and wanting answers about what a dramaturg might do during the course of a production.

  • A working dramaturg interested in finding new ideas, applications, processes, or anything else having to do with someone else's definition of dramaturgy (inevitably implied within their process.

• I learned that I've been a student of dramaturgy ever since my first involvement with the theatre and if you're reading this initial post in the series than you'll probably find that you are interested in many of the same things that make you a dramaturg without appearing in any program or carrying the title to your name.

What will follow in this series are my ideas about dramaturgy “so far.” I stress the “so far” because it is evident to me that the field of dramaturgy is a broad one. I do not claim, in any way, to have all of the knowledge about the field and its potentials. In fact, I claim the opposite: I do not have all the knowledge. If this is enough to drive you away from reading further then dramaturgy is not for you. Devoting yourself to a problem which, perhaps, has no single correct answer, seems to be at the very heart of dramaturgy as it is devoted to the service of an ever evolving collaborational artistic craft. If, however, you're still interested, read on. I hope that you do.