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Theatre and Performance: Dramaturgy

Doing Dramaturgy: Online Resources

Use the resources below as a starting point to learn more about a play's setting and time period. You might also like to check out the resources linked on the Background Research for Performers and Designers for additional databases that can be used when researching a play's context. 

What is Dramatury?

Dramaturgy is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as "the art or technique of dramatic composition or theatrical representation." But what exactly does a dramaturge do? While it is hard to come up with a short and universally agreed upon statement, generally dramaturges support the development of a production by providing research to inform the play's context in order to enrich the world of the play. 

To learn more about the work of a dramaturge, check out this article, "What is Dramaturgy?" from Dramatics, as well as Educational Theatre Association's "Dramaturgy 101."