All right, now what

What does a dramaturg do?

Dramaturgy refers to “the art or technique of dramatic composition and theatrical presentation.” The dramaturg is therefore the person who, in the context of preparing and rehearsing for a performance project, takes a special responsibility for thinking about matters related to dramaturgy.

Traditionally, dramaturgs work their magic within the context of scripted theatrical productions. They do historical and other forms of research to support the director, the actors, and other members of the creative production team.

But dramaturgs have also begun to play an increasingly important role in the creation of original performance work, including movement-based performance and devised theater. In works like these, the dramaturg collaborates closely with the director on any number of creative and practical matters related to the material under investigation.

That’s all pretty expansive and vague, I know. But then again, I’ve learned that dramaturgy itself is an expansive practice, the particular parameters of which often remain vaguely defined in order that they may expand or contract according to the needs of the work at hand.

If you’re interested in learning more about the peculiar art of dramaturgy, I’d highly recommend Katherine Profeta’s incomparably good book, Dramaturgy in Motion: At Work on Dance and Movement Performance (University of Wisconsin Press, 2015).