Demystifying Dramaturgy
Anaïs Mitchell, the singer-songwriter who wrote the book, words, and music of the Tony-Award winning musical, Hadestown, said, “Nobody does this alone” during her 2019 Tony acceptance speech. I distinctly remember her thanking her Dramaturg, which was music to my ears.
As an MFA Playwriting student, I’m quite familiar with the fascinating and important art of Dramaturgy, but, for many, the work of a professional Dramaturg eludes them. I’m going to do my best to demystify Dramaturgy.
As an emerging Playwright, I’ve utilized the Dramaturgical services of the wonderful NJ Play Lab located in Orange, NJ. In simple terms, a Dramaturg is a literary advisor who researches, adapts, and interprets classical plays as well as new works.
Founded by theatre artists Cheryl Katz and Kaitlin Stilwell, The NJ Play Lab is “dedicated to developing production-ready plays through comprehensive, hands-on Dramaturgy. The Lab offers residencies, script consultations, events, and readings.”
I recently had the chance to speak with Emily Dzioba, Associate Dramaturg for NJ Play Lab, who is passionate, enthusiastic, and animated about her unique profession.
Kate: What excited you about Dramaturgical work?
Emily: ”Dramaturgy, at its core, is an invitation for the whole community to have a deeper connection with a play, and that’s something I really find electric. Dramaturgical acts make the play relevant and thoughtful; by collaborating with the artistic team, the product onstage has more layers; by working with a playwright, you are helping them reach the full potential of a draft; and by creating engagement tools for the audience, you’re opening the door and breaking down the world to be richer and more accessible.
I always describe Dramaturgical work as putting together pieces of a puzzle that never has a correct solution. You can dive into plays, research, and have conversations with a writer, and never hit the bottom of what can be explored-- there’s always something. That discovery and limitless possibility are magnetic to me.”
Kate: Where did you go to school and what was your course of study?
Emily: “I attended Drew University, located in Madison NJ. I received a BA in Theatre Arts, graduating with Specialized Honors. My thesis was investigating the process of Dramaturgy within devised work (specifically, Tectonic Theater Project’s Moment Work method.)
Over the course of my time there, I focused on directing: assisting faculty on Shakespeare and August Wilson and then directing my own work of a student-written play and a major musical. I also discovered Dramaturgy for the first time at Drew, my first project being a dramaturg for two ten-minute plays my sophomore year. Dr. Lisa Brenner is the wonderful professor guiding the Dramaturgs there, and has been a great mentor to me.”
Emily Dzioba, Associate Dramaturg for NJ Play Lab
Kate: Tell me about your role at the NJ Play Lab?
Emily: “The New Jersey Play Lab was founded by my collaborators, Cheryl Katz and Kaitlin Stilwell, with me joining them from the start!
Currently, I am an active Dramaturgical voice for our Residency Plays, and I occasionally do script consultations. I also am a Lead Dramaturg for our PlayGym classes. This winter, I began a first pilot year of The Storyteller Studio, a program for young NJ playwrights and Dramaturgs to explore their craft over the course of ten months. We are just getting started! The Play Lab has given me an incredible opportunity to devote time and space to hone my craft.”
Kate: You're a Dramaturg for Play Gym (as part of NJ Play Lab). What is Play Gym? Describe your role in assisting Playwrights of all career levels as they create new plays.
Emily: “PlayGym is a pretty unique program, truly. It is a space where playwrights can gather with their plays- scenes, one-acts, full-lengths- at any stage of development, and have the chance to hear their work aloud. We bring in professional actors to read, and the playwright has the opportunity to get feedback from the group of actors and writers, and then more personal Dramaturgical attention one-on-one from the lead Dramaturg.
As a PlayGym instructor, I work with 3-5 playwrights in any given session. Some plays come in with very few questions from the writer and are close to finishing, and others are sometimes the very first full draft! No matter where the script is, our ethos is always to focus on the writer. “What do you want from this experience?” No matter what, as a lead Dramaturg, I am there to guide the feedback and facilitate in the most productive way possible for the writer. I assess each script closely and provide thoughts of my own in our conferences.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers for a play, but by being a sounding board and providing some objective questioning and guidance, hopefully, the writers can take my thoughts and run with them in the direction they want.”
Theatre, at its best, is a collaborative art (whether virtual or live). Whether you’re an actor or director or a member of the artistic team, everyone plays a vital role. In my own writing, I’ve often worked with professional Dramaturgs, and every experience has been invaluable.
As Emily so articulately stated, the possibilities are limitless within a play. It is through true collaboration that discoveries and exciting nuances are found. If your particular play became stronger and deeper by collaborating with a Dramaturg, give them the accolades and praise they so deserve.