The Process of Dramaturgy - Focus Publishing

Introduction xiiiJudith Rudakoff and Lynn Thomson, and What is Dramaturgy? editedby Bert Cardullo. While quite informative and useful in theirown right, the target audience for these particular compilations seemsto be established professionals and seasoned academics. In contrast,our intention is to broaden the scope of inquiry to meet the needs ofproduction dramaturgs whatever their education level or professionalstanding. Additionally, What is Dramaturgy (though in its third reprinting)is fourteen years old, Between the Lines is over five years old,and Dramaturgy in the American Theatre is more than ten years old.In the time since these editions were first released there has been aconsistent critical reappraisal of production dramaturgy and the role ofthe production dramaturg (and literary manager for that matter). Thistrend is best exemplified by Dramaturgy and Performance by CathyTurner and Synne Behrndt in which the authors review a variety ofperspectives on the term “production dramaturgy”. Other recent examplesinclude Dramaturgy: A Revolution in Theatre in which MaryLuckhurst covers the history of the origins of production dramaturgs,literary managers and play doctors, as well as Andrew Hartley’s TheShakespearean Dramaturg: A Theoretical and Practical Guide. While offeringsome practical tips in handbook format much like The Processof Dramaturgy, Hartley’s work, as the title indicates, is limited by itsperiod-specific content and scope. Additionally, Geoffrey S. Proehl’sToward a Dramaturgical Sensibility: Landscape and Journey wrestleswith similar issues, though the author’s highly reflective tone distinguishesit from the others. While there is little by way of explicit “howto” for the neophyte production dramaturg, Proehl’s work does furtherthe discussion about dramaturgy, the production dramaturg andthe necessity of each in theatre and live performance in a unique andworthwhile way. Because the field of production dramaturgy is so expansiveboth in practice and in definition, a broad range of texts arenecessary for coursework regarding production dramaturgy, its historyand the role(s) of the production dramaturg. We recommend any com-