Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Dramaturgy /ˈdraməˌtərjē,ˈdräməˌtərjē/

Our Antigone cast is roughly 1 month into blocking. That means, we’ve made a great deal of progress; the production is beginning to incorporate several aspects envisioned by our set, props and costumes departments. Not only are we accomplishing great amounts during rehearsal times, but during our Saturday morning workshops as well. One of the greatest aspects of teen shows at STC is that cast members design the set, props and costumes for the show all by themselves, the show is built by teens, for teens. However, one production team doesn’t take part in the physical aspects of the production, but rather the intellectual side… and that’s the dramaturgy team.
This is my third teen show being on the dramaturgy team, and each year I’m enthralled by the new things I learn and what we get to research. As the dramaturgs, it’s our job to study “the theory and practice of dramatic composition”. We dedicate ourselves to the analysis of the script, history, and language of the play. This year, we go all the way back to 440 B.C.E. when Sophocles first wrote Antigone. These past few weeks during workshops, our dramaturgy team has read, and interpreted the Oedipus Rex Series or the Theban plays, a trilogy written by Sophocles between 440 B.C.E., and 405 B.C.E. We’ve also read the story of The Seven Against Thebes written by Aeschylus in 467 B.C.E. In order, the plays goes like so: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, The Seven Against Thebes, and Antigone.
Antigone is last in the series, so it’s especially crucial for our cast to have information about their characters from the earlier plays. The best way for them to thoroughly understand their personal character development though, would be for them to read each of the plays. Sometimes, that’s not possible, and that is where the dramaturgy team comes in to help out. We provide a basis of knowledge about key plot points, and and summarize the series for our cast members. We are open to questions, and are happy to research. That right there, is what makes dramaturgy fun for me. We hope to extend our knowledge within the next month of workshops, and be prepared for another presentation soon into the future. Go Dramaturgs!!
“There is a point at which even justice does injury.” ~ Sophocles  
Jayna Wanamaker
Messenger/Tracy

Dramaturgy

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