Growing up, I was always a "nerd." I loved reading, writing, and more than anything, analyzing. This led me to really love dramaturgy because it allows me to overthink everything (in the best way possible)! When I serve as a dramaturg, I can really sink into the research and literature and serve as the expert and advocate for the production. I ensure that the director's vision is realized, that the actors and crew understand the production's context, goals, and meaning, and to reinforce the message to the audience.
Below is a few examples of productions I've served as the dramaturg on:
Below is a few examples of productions I've served as the dramaturg on:
Anon(ymous) by Naomi Iizuka; directed by Ruben Carrazana at James Madison University
I tend to create a website for the cast to serve as an interactive, adaptable, and media-based source of information pertaining to the show's context, themes, and playwright. I believe that a website is more user-friendly and engaging than a traditional actor's packet, thus enticing the actors to explore. I also value my cast members' individual learning strategies, so I am always sure to provide different types of sources for them to learn from (video, audio, academic, statistical, etc.).
For this specific production, I was asked by the producer to create a grand, expansive, and immersive lobby display. I chose to make it interactive in order to engage the audience by prompting them to reflect on the performance's presence, meaning, and impact in their own lives. Below are pictures of the display:
When the audience entered the lobby, they were immersed in a sea of clothes and fabric hanging from above, and a few informational and explanatory boards on the display, production, and process
View from other side
On their way into the theatre, I handed them a piece of fabric and asked them to just hold onto it. On their way out, I prompted them with a reflective question and asked them to write a short response on the fabric
Just a very happy, but tired, me with my display on the final night of instillation after several days of several hours each
Every night after they all left, I hung them all up in the lobby for others to view
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View from entrance
View from balcony
View from above
The 2 other boards. The one on the left documented a community engagement workshop we did with the cast and some local immigrants, and the one on the right is about the playwright
The audience writing their responses :)
I got over 500 responses, but here is one of my favorites
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Rent by Jonathan Larson; directed by Kate Lumpkin at James Madison University
Due to the historical significance and weight of the subject matter in this production, my main role as dramaturg was to educate the cast and ensure that all contextual references were understood, respected, and honored. To do so, I created an interactive website (similar to with Anon(ymous)). Same as above, you'll notice that I include several different types of the sources for the cast to explore to accommodate different learning styles:
If you would like an in-depth breakdown and reflection on this process. Below is a link to my casebook documenting my lengthy research and rehearsal process.
Once by Enda Walls; directed by Kate Lumpkin at James Madison University
For this production, I crafted an interactive "living museum" style lobby display to provide historical, social, and economic context of 1990's Ireland to the audience.
the informative board
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the "museum" of items that explained the context of the production and corresponding explanations
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Just for fun! A Clockwork Orange Project
Just for fun I decided to dramaturg the movie, novel, and staged version of A Clockwork Orange because I'm crazy. It was a personal study of adaptions and how they function. Once again, I made a website. Have fun!