Playwright Discovery Award Teacher's Guide - The John F. Kennedy ...
Playwright Discovery Award Teacher's Guide - The John F. Kennedy ...
Playwright Discovery Award Teacher's Guide - The John F. Kennedy ...
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ACT III: DRAMATURGY<br />
Shaping What You Have into<br />
What You Want<br />
What Does a Dramaturg Do?<br />
Because the word dramaturgy literally<br />
means the study of dramatic structures,<br />
it is the dramaturg’s responsibility to help<br />
focus the play’s form, how it unfolds, and how<br />
the story builds. <strong>The</strong>re are a number of dramatic<br />
structures writers study in school: the five-act<br />
structure Shakespeare follows; the well-made play<br />
form made famous by Henrik Ibsen; the two-act<br />
realistic play Tennessee Williams and <strong>John</strong> Belluso<br />
often followed; and the one-act expressionistic<br />
style Charles L. Mee and Adrienne <strong>Kennedy</strong><br />
use to the fullest. Ironically, these now-common<br />
forms were once revolutionary, which means<br />
they were not taught in school. During the rewrite<br />
and reflection process, the dramaturg helps a<br />
writer clarify how the structure of the play or story<br />
follows or works to help the writer discover a new<br />
dramatic form. Most important, a dramaturg helps<br />
clarify the play so that the story is easier to follow<br />
and the conflict leads effortlessly to the climactic<br />
moment.<br />
We’re All Dramaturgs<br />
When working on a new play, everyone—actors,<br />
directors, dramaturgs, and audience—has an<br />
opportunity to bring the play to life for the first<br />
time. This cooperation means that everyone has<br />
an opportunity to help the writer know what works<br />
well, what’s funny, what’s sad, and what is a bit<br />
confusing. If we embrace a few ideas, we can all<br />
be excellent dramaturgs and help the play become<br />
stronger than the writer initially imagined. •<br />
40 ACT III: DRAMATURGY