What kind of Turg are you?

In my dramturgy class our first assignment was to define ourselves as a Dramaturg. It was to figure out how our personality, capabilities, and work ethictis lent to how we did our work as dramaturgs. The assignment we did "Defining Yourself" was like a contract to the director we were working with, telling them what they can expect from us while we work together. This is how I started my journey, this what kind of dramaturg I thought I was.

The Adventurer

     Do you remember Choose Your Own Adventure, it is a series of children's game books where each story is written from a second-person point of view, with the reader assuming the role of the protagonist and making choices that determine the main character's actions and the plot's outcome.  Well that’s my style of dramaturgy. I am what I like to call “The Adventurer”. My focus is solving the social problems, mainly of today’s youth. I want to create open-ended plays that force children to not only pay attention but also make a decision about how the play should end, or what would happen if the characters made different decisions. I help children learn how to make the right decision and to seek out all paths in their own lives.

     As a dramaturge I will work closely with you the director, helping to research whatever topic is placed before us. I will help to find the plays for the season, bringing in new plays and helping to develop plays. I will be working with community finding out what subject matter they are interested in seeing, and I will be working with the PA’s to get out season out there to the people. Finally I will work to get new classes open and advertise to the rightful age group in order to maximize productivity. 

Tips for Dramaturgy

6 Tips for the amateur dramaturg:

      1. Go to KCACTF

      2. Write, Write, Write
           - learn to ask great questions

      3. Submit to conferences

      4. Learn as much as you can outside of the theatre bubble.
           - learn all the graphic software and jargon

     5. Be prepared for jobs you don't love

     6. Have a professional website


5 Things needed to be a Dramaturg

     1. Build a portfolio

     2. Start networking

     3. See shows

     4. Volunteer

     5. Get involved with LMDA.org

The Competing Dramaturg

Here are a few great tips that were passed around during KCACTF 2012

Five Things Good Dramaturgs DO

1.       Make connections to “why today?”

2.       Work across the institution (your school)

3.       Work within the community and get the community to “reach back”

4.       Use multimedia, digital media, and social networking

5.       Show how connections come back to the text

Basic info

Application from, recommendation letter

PDF packet: show narrative, use selection of items, give rationale

Board and presentation binder

5-10 minute presentation, 5-10 minute response/questions

The display

Make sure to include evidence of biggest elements

Board, binder, other items

Options: displaying process, concept, mimicking lobby display

Consider using power point

Have a comprehensive aesthetic to your materials.

Tips for Presentations

PLAN and PRACTICE

Don’t ramble!

Don’t include something that didn’t work unless you

worked on a solution.

Don’t be too confident, or dismissive of your own work.

Be cautious and clear discussing things you didn’t do.

Explain why.

It’s okay if it’s you first time! Be prepared and invested and it will be fine.

Be specific about your historical research, show

expertise.

Philosophy, introduce  show/concept, explain board,

overview of process/timeline/goals, 2-3 big projects with

examples,  take-away.

Mention what might be unique about your experience

and in what ways you practiced traditional dramaturgy.

Clearly speak about what sources informed your research.

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Behavior and Protocol

Behavior with:	General Etiquette (My answers)	Teachers Answers
Director	Speak when spoken to. Take notes and bring them up later. Schedule times you want to meet with them.	Communicate, communicate, communicate. Make your process clear NEVER EVER interrupt a rehearsal. Send all information through them.
Actors	Make yourself available. Give ideas never suggestions.	Make sure everything they ask goes through the director before you answer.
Designers	Schedule time. Buffer between Director and designer. Keep everyone focused on the original concept.	Make yourself available. Ask to give research packet.
Protocol in:
Auditions	Not the realm of the Dramaturg	Been seen not herd. Being in auditions helps to solidify you in everyone’s mind, including the actors.
Early Rehearsals	Actor’s packets. Dramaturg’s rehearsal. Cross cultural refrences. Be there full-time for the   1st-2nd week	Have all relevant materials. Wait for breaks to speak. Have a plan ahead of time. Answer questions within 1 rehearsal. Slow down on new info after a week. ALWAYS WATCH
Late Rehearsals	Shaping informative talk - backs.	Take extensive notes.

During all rehearsals have:

-           backup materials

-          images to share

-          quick click websites (for answering questions)

-          the text

-          pen/ paper (incase technology fails you)

Duties of a Dramaturg

We made a outline trying to define the duties for the Dramturgs:

I. Pre-Production Tasks

   a. Get Production Deadline list and Dramaturgy calendar

   b. Attend Director's concept meeting

   c. Read play several times

            i. Determine type of play and type of production/concept

   d. Meet with the Director and go over what your duties can/will be. (At least 4 weeks before the first rehearsal)

   e. Develop a system of communication and decide how you will answer questions.

   f. review and update content guide

   g. Put notes from director's meeting and content guide in binder.

   h. Develop the Director's Packet

             i. A letter with your ideas about dramturgy, special skills, etc

             ii. Articulate "Why This Play Now"

             iii. Production History

             iv. Structure graphs and analysis

             v. Character map and analysis
             vi. Visual and written research

   i. Begin diary/blog to document process.

   j. Extend packet to designers

   k. Attend production meetings

   l. Develop Actor's Packet

          i. Add to director's Packet:

                1. Glossary of unfamillar terms, places, figures, etc
                2. Refine and present reseach (visual and writen) in a comprehensive, concise way.

                3. Refine dramaturg's statment and WTPN

                4. Sometimes: list of plays contemporary to piece

                5. List of further reading with access to that reading
                6. Youtube channel of relvant clips (consult Drirector)

               7. Add anything else the director requests

      m. Start thinking about, and if nessasary planing outreach

            i. Determine education options for outreach

II. Production Tasks

     a. Attending auditions

     b. Attend first week of rehearsals

            i. Dramturgical presentation and Actor's Packets

     c. Update notes/ develop production joural/blog

     d. Develop system with director for answering actor's questions

     e. Begin writing a program note/ reform research

     f. Finalize outreach projects

     g. Proof the Program note

     h.  Develop research blurbs and program note for Learning/ Teaching stages (if applicable)

     i. Create lobby Display
     j. Consider Pre and Post show talk-backs (if applicable)

III. Post-Production Tasks
    a. Finalize binder and finalize blog/notes/diary
    b. Attend Postmortem
    c. Submit to competition

What is/isn't a dramaturg

I am so fortunate to have my first dramaturgy class ever with the coolest, nerdiest, funniest most passionate teacher ever at Utah Valley University, Lisa Hagen. Our first class consisted of us trying to define what a dramaturgs are and what they aren't.

Are classes working definition - metaphor - for a dramaturg was:

"The connective tissue that connects and holds everything together."

We then sort of broke down what dramaturgy is or isn't. For example:

What it isn't:

• it an unnecessary entity
• it's not frivolous
• it isn't being a book nerd or un-artistic
• we aren't know it all's
• new or a fad
• elite
• a slave to the director
• or gophers 

What it is:

• it is interpersonal
• used in every aspect in theatre
• emotional and artistic
• socially relevant
• fun
• here to protect and serve the:
• play
• writer
• directors concept

     

Intros

Hello Theatre world,


Welcome to my dramaturgy blog. My name is Amber Cummings and I am a student at Utah Valley University.  I am double major, Theatre- Performance and Behavioral Science- Psychology. In my studies I also dabble in: script writing, TYA, and a new passion of mine Dramaturgy.


I am very excited to share my journey into dramaturgy. This semester I start with our school's first every dramaturgy class, In the summer my blog will split into two blogs: this blog and the show blog I will be working on for Androcles and the Lion adapted by Aurdan Harris.




I would like to start up a professional network so I have made a professional facebook page, I would love to have you friend me.


http://www.facebook.com/amateurstudent