Re: RAT ticket expiration and dramaturgs

[Michael Wright <myquagga@yahoo.com>]

perhaps, but i also think you have a fundamental
misunderstanding of what a dramaturg is or does.  the
notion of dramaturg as "play-fixin'-person" may exist
in some quarters, but i can assure you that this is
not always the case.  dramaturgs who know how to work
with new plays are wonderful helpers in areas of
research, knowledge of playwriting history, structure,
and often serve as intermediaries between directors
and playwrights.  i've worked with some fine
dramaturgs in new play development workshops as well,
and their expertise is in helping the playwright stay
true to their vision, and not get lost in the
rewriting process.  

anyway, you might want to read some quality works on
the subject, such as THE PRODUCTION NOTEBOOKS edited
by mark bly, DRAMATURGY IN AMERICAN THEATRE: A
SOURCEBOOK, edited by susan jonas, geoff proehl, and
michael lupu, or the aptly-titled WHAT IS DRAMATURGY?
by burt cardullo.  

take this all for what it's worth--i mean, we can only
make better theatre if we respect all its citizens.

michael



--- MFarkash@aol.com wrote:
> Perhaps I was misunderstood. My notion of a
> dramaturg is someone who may (or 
> may not) be foisted upon a playwright by the big
> regional theatres who need 
> to pound a play into "shape" so that it appeals to
> their subscription masses.
> 
> I am not against a play going through a development
> process (mine do) in the 
> sense of reading them for fellow (male and female)
> playwrights, maybe doing a 
> reading at a theatre one is associated with, and
> soliciting comments from a 
> trusted director. I supposed you could say that all
> those people function as 
> "dramaturgs," but a playwright is free, one hopes,
> to have the final say. 
> That's why theatre is often magical -- the writer
> has the final word, even if 
> it's not always the most overpolished, overdeveloped
> word. We've got to trust 
> our instincts and not be pressured to bring in yet
> another body whose sole 
> purpose is to remake the play. 
>     The "remake" is a process that happens in
> screenwriting or journalism, in 
> which change and editing occurs simply for the sake
> of a producer or editor 
> to justify their "artistic" existence.
> 
> Michael Farkash
> 
> 


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