Dramaturgy
dramaturgy is a “transformative artistic practice that bridges ideas, themes and politics”
— Peter Eckersall, “On Dramaturgy to Make Visible” (Performance Research, 2018)
Dr. Chloë’s Notes on Dramaturgy
Defining “dramaturgy” is a perennial challenge for many theatre artists and venues. In a university setting, dramaturgy’s multitudinous and fluctuating functionalities can produce confusion or resistance. In many departments, the roles of theatre students, faculty, and staff are fortified and perpetuated by institutional history. While “that’s just how things are done” is a powerful doctrine, it is not insurmountable. So, where to begin? How do we integrate dramaturgy into programs that lack a defined tradition of dramaturgy practice? How can existing dramaturgy programs facilitate open dialogues between artists, audiences, and communities?
How can dramaturgy take part in collective problem-solving and the transformative healing of our communities?
Recent Projects
New Play Development Workshop
Dramaturg for Patti Veconi’s ten-minute play, No Police Presents (Summer 2023)
Dramaturg for John Mabey’s ten-minute play, True Skies (Summer 2023)
Dramaturg for Patti Veconi’s ten-minute play, Guestbook (Summer 2022)
Dramaturg for Kathy Coudle-King’s ten-minute play, Clothespins (Summer 2021)
Invited Talks
How To Stand Out
Mentor and Webinar Presenter on Careers in Dramaturgy. (Online, July 2021)
Shanghai Theatre Academy
Guest Lecturer, “Immersive Theatre and Popular Entertainments in New York City.” Symposium on Contemporary Western Theatre. (May 23, 2021)
Archivists Round Table
Guest Scholar, “Discovering the ‘Aristocrats of Harlem in the Archive.” Annual Winter Gala. (December 11, 2020)
Booth Award Ceremony (Doctoral Theatre Students’ Association)
Invited interviewer of award recipient Young Jean Lee (Pictured at right, May 21, 2018)
Rikers Island Correctional Facility
Guest Speaker on Admissions, Campus Life, and Professionalization, for the College Way Program (February 7, 2017)
“Demystifying Dramaturgy” Talk
This is a short presentation I’ve designed for university students. Originally conceived and presented to Kristina Tollefson’s Theatre Survey Class (UCF, November 11, 2020). Send me an email if you’d like me to visit your class with a version of this talk!
My starstruck interview with playwright Young Jean Lee (recording below)
Performance Collabs
Richard Schechner’s Dark Yes
Ensemble member and collaborator on a devised theatre piece based on Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and James Joyce’s Ulysses. New York University. (February 1-May 19).
University Dramaturgy
Talkbacks - post-show debriefs with the cast and crew of UCF productions
Mojada, directed by Ana Martinez Medina (October 11, 2020)
Kill Move Paradise, directed by Be Boyd (October 26, 2020)
“Dramaturgy Chats” - conversations with industry professionals on dramaturgy’s various functions
Moderator, “Playwriting and Dramaturgy: A conversation with Playwright Ingrid DeSanctis” (September 4, 2020)
Co-moderator, “Dramaturgy + Social Justice” event with Professor Holly McDonald (October 22)
Organizer, “Dramaturgy and Theatre for Young Audiences” event with Orlando Rep’s Emily Freeman (October 19)
Open Classrooms - live-streamed lectures with theatre history scholars
Host, Professor Bhargav Rani on “The Ramlila of Ramnagar” for my Theatre History 2 class (October 7, 2020)
Host, Professor Donatella Galella on “Nationalism, Multiculturalism, and Hamilton,” for my Theatre History 3 class (November 4, 2020)
Other Experiments
Dramaturg, Black Acting Methods Empowerment Lab led by student Matthew Zenon (October 9, 2020)
Organizer, Dramaturgy and Literary Management internship selection committee in partnership with the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre (October 2020)
Co-moderator, the Community Roundtable “Salon” for Theatre UCF’s production of Blood at the Root (March 27, 2020)
Writer and designer, program insert on “Restoration Character Types,” Theatre UCF’s production of The Rover (January 23-February 2, 2020).
Recorded Events
Here’s a gallery of some of my favorite speaking engagements.
Interview with Young Jean Lee
Talkback for Theatre UCF’s 2020 production of James Ijames’s Kill Move Paradise
Graduate Center dissertation showcase 2018
Talkback for UCF’s production of Luis Alfaro’s Mojada
Open classroom on Hamilton with UC Riverside Professor Donatella Galella