Introduction to Dramaturgy

This course provides an introduction to major schools of thought about play structure and the practice of dramaturgy in the western theatre. Through directed readings and an ongoing practical project centered around one play, students will develop a deeper understanding of how dramatic writing functions as a blueprint for a life on the stage, and a refined vocabulary to describe story structures and dramatic writing techniques. By learning to view and question a play from a kaleidoscopic range of angles, students will enhance their abilities to take a printed text onto the live stage.