Essential Dramaturgy

Essential Dramaturgy: The Mindset and Skillset provides a concrete way to approach the work of a dramaturg. It explores ways to refine the process of defining, evaluating, and communicating that is essential to effective dramaturgical work. It then looks at how this outlook enhances the practical skills of production and new play dramaturgy. The book explains what a dramaturg does, what the role can be, and how best to refine and teach the skillset and mindset.

Theresa Lang is a teacher, director, and dramaturg. She holds a BA in Drama from the University of Dallas, an MA in Theatre from Brown University, and a PhD in Drama from Tufts University. A theatre historian, her areas of specialty include popular entertainment, the censorship of urban space, and the development of the American theatre. As a practitioner she is particularly interested in the development and production of new work and under-represented voices. She is the dramaturg of Come on Over Ensemble Theatre and is on the faculty at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and at Boston College. Theresa is the Chair of Dramaturgy and the Coordinator of Devised Theatre for Region 1 of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, and was the Associate Director of the inaugural New Play Dramaturgy Intensive at the Kennedy Center.

Chapter 1 - Introduction Part One: The Mindset Chapter 2 - Unpacking the Question Chapter 3 - The Forest and the Trees Chapter 4 - Timing Chapter 5 - Why This, Here, Now? Part Two: The Skillset Chapter 6 - What You Need Chapter 7 - How You Apply It Chapter 8 - When It Works