#dramaturg problems

[andmynewlymeltedheart]

wow i like almost started crying in rehearsal at a romantic scene i’m so soft i need to turn into a rock 

[adamsintheatre-blog]

I am NOT a Professional Googler

I take pride in my dramaturgy. I hold an abiding interest in the expansion and betterment of my field. When I commit to working on a theatrical production, I come on as an artist. Albeit my artistry is grounded in research, I operate on the production team as an advocate for the playwright, a historical and cultural resource, a friend to the production. NOT a professional googler. If the playwright of a show I have been invited to work on is still alive and the director wishes to make contact concerning alterations to the script, I as a dramaturg should be included in that communication. If the marketing team wants to create an interactive display before the opening week of the show that will be based on the playwright’s characters, but work as improv, I as a dramaturg should be included in that process. However, I do not always get treated as a dramaturg. In the case of some shows, I do, in fact, get treated as a professional googler. A professional googler is not included in communication or artistic processes. A professional googler compiles lots of complicated information on-demand, repeatedly. A professional googler is NOT a dramaturg. 

I am a dramaturg.

[mxtomituck]

Today’s Top Story:

I Swear I’m Not a Neo-Nazi, I’m just doing research for a play.

[bwaygirl17]

Sometimes when I’m giving someone notes on their work I just want to smack them on the head and yell “DO SOME RESEARCH GODDAMMIT”

[dramaturgyqandalyson]

Confessions of A Dramaturg, Pt. 1

The first step is admitting it.  So, I'm admitting today that, when asked to name the plays of Eugene O'Neill, my mind went completely blank. The American Playwright, the man behind the Center I have my heart on, the only American to win a Nobel FOR playwriting AND I COULDN'T LIST A SINGLE PLAY. Take a moment to let this sink in. I know it may be difficult. A senior theatre major, and I couldn't get my mind to scan for O'Neill (sidenote: none of my theatre courses have required an O'Neill play for reading. We have not done an O'Neill play. I've not familiarized myself with O'Neill scholarship. I'm making excuses, but also making myself feel better).  But rather than wallow in my incompetence, I did what any good dramaturg should: head to the library.  On my nightstand I have Long Days Journey into Night and The Iceman Cometh. Time to get educated. Time to get read.  Hey, that's what this process is all about, right?