Department of Fine and Performing Arts Production Staff Job Descriptions
The role of a dramaturg is to ensure the production is unified from concept to staging while opening the world of the play for constituents, artists, and audiences. Although it requires excellent collaboration skills, dramaturgy is highly self-driven, necessitating discipline, commitment, and initiative.
GENERAL:
Schedule weekly meetings with the Dramaturg Mentor.
Check daily rehearsal reports and respond if necessary.
Attend the first day of rehearsals and present an overview of the dramaturgy site and current research.
Support creative team members by supplying additional research.
Respond promptly to all production-related communications when necessary. (The Dramaturgy Mentor should be cc’d on all communications.)
Attend a mandatory post-show discussion workshop.
PRE-PRODUCTION:
Analyze the structure of the play.
Research criticism of the play, production history, and the playwright’s biography.
Read other plays and criticism to understand the playwright and their works better.
Research the play's historical/social/political/cultural circumstances and the period/place it was written.
Share research information with the director, creative team, and actors to create a coherent production concept and support the actors’ character development.
Research any additional information to support the director's interpretation/analysis.
REHEARSAL PERIOD:
Attend production meetings and conceptual/design presentations.
Attend production rehearsals during early table work and conceptual/design presentations.
Consult with the director on staging, interpretation, and other rehearsal concerns about analytical and conceptual issues.
Research for additional interpretative questions that develop in the rehearsal process.
Consult with the director and/or playwright on script cuts and revisions when appropriate.
Compiles research, as appropriate, for program notes
DRESS REHEARSAL/PERFORMANCE PERIOD:
Attend technical or dress rehearsals once technical elements have been incorporated.
Discuss conceptual concerns with the director. (Include the Dramaturgy Mentor in the conversation.)
When appropriate, consult with the director, playwright, and other production team members on final cuts/revisions.
POST-PRODUCTION PERIOD:
Attend post-production critique sessions and aid in the analysis/discussion of the conceptual strengths and weaknesses of production in theory and application.
INFORMATION DESIGN & PUBLIC CONTENT AND ENGAGEMENT:
A critical element of dramaturgy—although not standardized across theatres—is preparing public content that further contextualizes the play for greater understanding. Therefore, the Dramaturg is responsible for producing a Dramaturgy Website, Dramaturgy Program Note, and Digital Lobby Display (if there is an Assistant Dramaturg on the production, you do not have to complete the Digital Lobby Display, as it would be their responsibility.) Additionally, the dramaturg will facilitate at least one post-show discussion.
**Click on the links below to see full descriptions of the assignments**
A dramaturgy website is a valuable resource for actors, creative team members, and other stakeholders involved in a production. Firstly, it provides comprehensive access to essential information about the play, its historical context, and thematic elements, allowing actors to understand their characters and their world better. Creative team members, including directors, designers, and dramaturgs, can use the website to collaborate effectively, share research findings, and develop a unified vision for the production.
Furthermore, the website can serve as a promotional tool, allowing theaters to engage with audiences by providing behind-the-scenes insights, interviews with cast and crew, and interactive features that enrich the audience's theatergoing experience. This builds anticipation for the production and fosters a deeper connection between the audience and the work.
This position is ideal for those students who HAVE NOT taken HIS/LIT II, freshmen and sophomore students, and/or those who would like dramaturgical experience without taking on all the responsibility required as lead.
A Dramaturgy Program Note is a written commentary or analysis covering various topics, including historical background, thematic analysis, character motivations, textual analysis, and cultural context for a theatrical production. These notes deepen the understanding of the play or performance, providing audiences with information or other supplementary materials to enhance their experience.
Although program notes can be challenging to write, they should be accessible to professional artists and first-time theatergoers. It should be free of spoilers but highlight conceptual, historical, textual, and/or production-based points of view to give audience members helpful context for understanding this play.
Dramaturgy Digital Lobby Display
Create a digital display for a public audience. The digital lobby display is helpful because it provides audience members with valuable context, background information, and insights into the production they are about to experience. These displays can include multimedia elements such as images, videos, and text, which help to enhance the audience's understanding and appreciation of the performance while offering them a deeper immersion into the world of the play, providing historical context, character backgrounds, thematic analyses, and behind-the-scenes glimpses, ultimately enriching their overall theatergoing experience and fostering a deeper connection with the production.
Post-Show Discussion Facilitation
Post-show discussions provide a crucial space for reflective analysis and interpretation of theatrical productions. These discussions allow audience members, including student dramaturgs, to engage in a dialogue that deepens their understanding of the creative choices made in the performance, fostering a more profound appreciation for the art form. For student dramaturgs, facilitating these discussions offers practical training by honing their analytical and communication skills, enabling them to articulate insights into the production's historical, cultural, and literary context, thus enhancing their ability to contribute meaningfully to the broader theatrical discourse.
As a part of your experience, you must attend a public discussion training session conducted by our Dramaturgy Post-Show Discussions Trainer, Dr. Kelly Howe. This training, coordinated directly with Kelly and scheduled separately from your weekly dramaturgy mentoring meetings, will expose you to diverse techniques for facilitating public conversations. During this session, you will be able to organize the structure and premise of the conversation and gain insights into the different facilitation formats and how to guide post-show discussions effectively.
Department of Fine and Performing Arts Production Staff Job Descriptions
The role of a dramaturg is to ensure the production is unified from concept to staging while opening the world of the play for constituents, artists, and audiences. Although it requires excellent collaboration skills, dramaturgy is highly self-driven, necessitating discipline, commitment, and initiative. The Assistant Dramaturg plays a crucial role in supporting the lead dramaturg by conducting research, analyzing texts, and providing valuable insights that enrich the production's artistic vision. Their collaboration enhances the depth and authenticity of the theatrical work, as well as a thorough exploration of themes, historical context, and textual interpretation, enriching the storytelling and deepening the audience's engagement with the work.
The primary tenant of this position is to assist students with developing their dramaturgical skills in preparation for serving as future lead dramaturgs. The Assistant Dramaturg will collaborate and support the lead dramaturg in developing and executing their various tasks.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Assist with the research and analysis of the play's playwright, production history, play criticism, and the historical/social/political/cultural period/place in which it was written.
Schedule weekly meetings with the Dramaturg and Dramaturg Mentor.
Share research information with the director, creative team, and actors to create a coherent production concept and support the actors’ character development.
Attend production meetings and conceptual/design presentations and rehearsals.
Consult with the director and/or playwright on script cuts and revisions when appropriate.
Compile research, as appropriate, for dramaturgical websites, program notes, blog posts, etc.
Check daily rehearsal reports and respond if necessary.
Attend the first day of rehearsals and assist with presenting an overview of the dramaturgy site and current research.
Support creative team members by supplying additional research.
Respond promptly to all production-related communications when necessary. (The Dramaturgy Mentor should be cc’d on all communications.)
Attend a mandatory post-show discussion workshop.
Other duties as assigned by the Dramaturgy Mentor
INFORMATION DESIGN & PUBLIC CONTENT AND ENGAGEMENT:
A critical element of dramaturgy—although not standardized across theatres—is preparing public content that further contextualizes the play for greater understanding. Therefore, the Assistant Dramaturg is responsible for producing a Digital Lobby Display and assisting the lead dramaturg with developing the Dramaturgy Website and a Program Note. Additionally, the assistant dramaturg will help prepare for the post-show discussion.
**Click on the links below to see full descriptions of the assignments**
A dramaturgy website is a valuable resource for actors, creative team members, and other stakeholders involved in a production. Firstly, it provides comprehensive access to essential information about the play, its historical context, and thematic elements, allowing actors to understand their characters and their world better. Creative team members, including directors, designers, and dramaturgs, can use the website to collaborate effectively, share research findings, and develop a unified vision for the production.
Furthermore, the website can serve as a promotional tool, allowing theaters to engage with audiences by providing behind-the-scenes insights, interviews with cast and crew, and interactive features that enrich the audience's theatergoing experience. This builds anticipation for the production and fosters a deeper connection between the audience and the work.
A Dramaturgy Program Note is a written commentary or analysis covering various topics, including historical background, thematic analysis, character motivations, textual analysis, and cultural context for a theatrical production. These notes deepen the understanding of the play or performance, providing audiences with information or other supplementary materials to enhance their experience.
Although program notes can be challenging to write, they should be accessible to professional artists and first-time theatergoers. It should be free of spoilers but highlight conceptual, historical, textual, and/or production-based points of view to give audience members helpful context for understanding this play.
Dramaturgy Digital Lobby Display
Create a digital display for a public audience. The digital lobby display is helpful because it provides audience members with valuable context, background information, and insights into the production they are about to experience. These displays can include multimedia elements such as images, videos, and text, which help to enhance the audience's understanding and appreciation of the performance while offering them a deeper immersion into the world of the play, providing historical context, character backgrounds, thematic analyses, and behind-the-scenes glimpses, ultimately enriching their overall theatergoing experience and fostering a deeper connection with the production.
Post-Show Discussion Facilitation
Post-show discussions provide a crucial space for reflective analysis and interpretation of theatrical productions. These discussions allow audience members, including student dramaturgs, to engage in a dialogue that deepens their understanding of the creative choices made in the performance, fostering a more profound appreciation for the art form. For student dramaturgs, facilitating these discussions offers practical training by honing their analytical and communication skills, enabling them to articulate insights into the production's historical, cultural, and literary context, thus enhancing their ability to contribute meaningfully to the broader theatrical discourse.
As a part of your experience, you must attend a public discussion training session conducted by our Dramaturgy Post-Show Discussions Trainer, Dr. Kelly Howe. This training, coordinated directly with Kelly and scheduled separately from your weekly dramaturgy mentoring meetings, will expose you to diverse techniques for facilitating public conversations. During this session, you will be able to organize the structure and premise of the conversation and gain insights into the different facilitation formats and how to guide post-show discussions effectively.