Dramaturgy Coordinator, David Lane dramaturgy@kcactf5.org
Dramaturgy Initiatives
“Going in, I thought, if I had to explain dramaturgy to somebody who’s never heard of it before, has no context for what the role is, how would I boil it down in a way that would make sense for a broader audience? So I came up with a little script for what I was gonna say. I said that while the role can differ depending on whether you’re working on new-play development or in production, the role of a dramaturg, generally speaking, refers to someone who works in the capacity of a researcher or advisor on a theatrical production. My little line was: I’m there to ask questions and help answer them, which I think is really a useful way of thinking through ways to be useful in the room."
Madison Mae Williams, a dramaturg who recently appeared on Jeopardy, as quoted in a profile in American Theatre Magazine, October 28, 2021
Madison Mae Williams, a dramaturg who recently appeared on Jeopardy, as quoted in a profile in American Theatre Magazine, October 28, 2021
The contextual and research-based lifeblood of any production, the dramaturg’s work exists in any number of guises and functions, which include workshop support in new play development; pre-production research preparation; company enrichment; pre- and post-show audience engagement; data collection; and community outreach, amongst many others. Today, traditional modes of dramaturgy expand into and adapt technological innovation, new approaches to text, and fresh foundations for methods of production support, all based on a core value of seeking a deeper understanding of the work at hand.
In 2022, the eight Regions will join forces to present centralized Dramaturgy programming which will include workshops, master classes, and discussions curated by all of KCACTF’s Dramaturgy Coordinators, National Dramaturgy Advisor, dramaturg Mark Bly, and the leadership of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA). Regional Festivals will still host dramaturgy workshops and opportunities, but the selection process for the LMDA/KCACTF Student Dramaturgy Award will take place through the centralized program.
Students interested in dramaturgy and literary management are encouraged to register for this program. The 2022 Festival Season offers us the opportunity to connect with fellow theatre artists and dramaturgs from across the country.
There are two ways of engaging:
In 2022, the eight Regions will join forces to present centralized Dramaturgy programming which will include workshops, master classes, and discussions curated by all of KCACTF’s Dramaturgy Coordinators, National Dramaturgy Advisor, dramaturg Mark Bly, and the leadership of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA). Regional Festivals will still host dramaturgy workshops and opportunities, but the selection process for the LMDA/KCACTF Student Dramaturgy Award will take place through the centralized program.
Students interested in dramaturgy and literary management are encouraged to register for this program. The 2022 Festival Season offers us the opportunity to connect with fellow theatre artists and dramaturgs from across the country.
There are two ways of engaging:
- Participation with Consideration for the LMDA/KCACTF Student Dramaturgy Award – Submit a project (details below) to receive responses from faculty and professional dramaturgs, and be considered for selection for the National Festival.
- Participation Only– Register to participate in the workshops, master classes, and discussions.
What to Expect
The 2022 Dramaturgy program will include a total of nine hours of gatherings on Zoom spread out over six weeks in January and February.
Two hours every other Monday will include master classes and workshops with professional dramaturgs. The third hour is a “homeroom” that will be scheduled and hosted by Regional Dramaturgy Coordinators during the week.
Week One
Programming – Monday, January 10 from 7:00 to 9:00PM Central
Regional Homeroom – TBD
Week Two
Programming – Monday, January 24 from 7:00 to 9:00PM Central
Regional Homeroom – TBD
Week Three
Programming – Monday, February 7 from 7:00 to 9:00PM Central
Regional Response Session – TBD
Two hours every other Monday will include master classes and workshops with professional dramaturgs. The third hour is a “homeroom” that will be scheduled and hosted by Regional Dramaturgy Coordinators during the week.
Week One
Programming – Monday, January 10 from 7:00 to 9:00PM Central
Regional Homeroom – TBD
Week Two
Programming – Monday, January 24 from 7:00 to 9:00PM Central
Regional Homeroom – TBD
Week Three
Programming – Monday, February 7 from 7:00 to 9:00PM Central
Regional Response Session – TBD
Attendance
Attendance at the sessions will be taken into consideration during the selection process, though participants may arrange for an “excused absence” with their Region’s Dramaturgy Coordinator (in advance, if at all possible) and watch the recording of the session.
Submission Details
Dramaturgs should submit:
- A title page, identifying the dramaturg, the project, and the school. Include your address, phone number, email address, and date of the project.
- Two statements written by the dramaturg, one describing the breadth and scope of the project and its challenges, the other detailing the process from start to finish.
- As much documentation of process as possible. Unrealized projects should reflect thoroughness in forethought and planning rather than documentation of the production process Realized projects should reflect thoroughness in forethought and planning as well as documentation of the production process.
- All materials that seem relevant, but do not exceed 100 pages. This may include information from websites created; questions asked during the process; and information gathered for individual packets. We are not interested in you scanning everything that you researched, but in your analysis and compilation of materials researched.
- All materials must be in .pdf format.
Recognition Criteria
- Distinctiveness – What is creative about the dramaturg’s approach and/or analysis?
- Contextualization – How is the production or project enhanced by dramaturgical analysis or research; alternatively, how is the academic project in dramaturgy imaginatively projected into a larger social, political, academic or artistic setting?
- Impact – In what way are the audience, artists or institution enriched by dramaturgical ideas and execution?
- Ethics – How are issues that might be raised by the terms of the collaboration or changing responsibilities dealt with and/or resolved?
- Significance – How does this project inform, challenge or advance the field of dramaturgy, in general and/or within the student’s school?
Recognition Eligibility
Undergraduate and graduate students who work specifically as the dramaturg on a production or workshop, or who submit work created for a dramaturgy class. If the project is a workshop or production, the student must be credited as the dramaturg. The student does not need to be enrolled full-time to apply.
Program Eligibility
Students will need a computer or tablet and an internet connection. If you encounter any difficulty in securing access to these, please contact your Regional Dramaturgy Coordinator so that we can assist you.
To be eligible to participate, students must be:
To be eligible to participate, students must be:
- Attending an institution that has entered either an associate or participating production during the year in which the nomination occurs; and
- A bona fide student at the time of the Regional Festival.
Event Entry
Entry will open on Monday, November 15. You do not need to be nominated by a faculty member to participate.
There is no registration fee to participate in this program. Additionally, when you sign up for Kennedy Center Dramaturgy, you will automatically be registered for your Regional Festival for participation in other regional programming, at no additional cost.
There is no registration fee to participate in this program. Additionally, when you sign up for Kennedy Center Dramaturgy, you will automatically be registered for your Regional Festival for participation in other regional programming, at no additional cost.
Entry for This Event has Closed
Region 5 Events
Digital Lobby Displays
Once again we are welcoming submissions in the digital lobby display category. In recent years, more and more theatres have been using digital displays in their lobbies as a form of audience outreach. In our response to the need to maintain safety and distance many theatres (and theatre departments) have been creating virtual lobby displays – taking the digital display folx have been developing around the country and bringing it online.
In response to this trend we are inviting dramaturgs to submit a digital lobby display for a regional award. Submissions should include: Eight dramaturgical slides formatted in Google Slides. Be sure to remove the name of your home institution from all materials.
To enter, you must be either an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at least part-time (6 semester hours) at the time of the creation/completion of the project that is being submitted for the award.
In response to this trend we are inviting dramaturgs to submit a digital lobby display for a regional award. Submissions should include: Eight dramaturgical slides formatted in Google Slides. Be sure to remove the name of your home institution from all materials.
To enter, you must be either an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at least part-time (6 semester hours) at the time of the creation/completion of the project that is being submitted for the award.
Entries are due January 7th, 2022
Entry for This Event Has Closed
Please remember, in order to participate in this event you must register for the festival.
