An Ever-Changing Job

The Dramaturgy Team, in any show, can be a valuable resource for the cast. They can provide insight into the world of the play, or necessary context for the other production teams. I have been one of the dramaturgs for the past three teen shows now, and the experience has never been the same twice. Each show adds a new and exciting layer to the process, so the job never ceases to be fun for the team.

In Almost,Maine, our research consisted of looking into what cliches the script was centered around (not to mention a lot of the Aurora Borealis), while for Our Antigone, we read through the ancient Greek plays for backstory of the plot. And in this show, we’ve been thrusted into a whole new world of legal terminology and 1950s history. Additionally, everytime we give a presentation to the cast, it never feels like we are repeating ourselves or shoveling to them the same information over and over again.

The dramaturgy for this show is especially important, as it is, inherently, a period piece. Therefore, collecting information from this time period is vital for both the production teams-- as their work needs to look time-accurate, otherwise, certain aspects will feel a bit anachronous, and leave the audience feeling disoriented in space and time--as well as for the actors themselves, so they can know more about the world their characters inhabit, and thus, be able to make more honest decisions as they act. For instance, recently we presented a large chunk of information about the social environment of the time period. We thought this information would be useful for certain characters in identifying their circumstances and how others would react to them.

As a part of the Dramaturgy Team, one never finds themselves in a dull or boring moment. It’s such an important job, that varies from not just show to show, but week to week, as we tackle new questions and assignments. To be a dramaturg is to be stepping stone. A jumping off point to help the other members of the company in their own personal jobs.

Zander Reed

Foreman/Dramaturgy