Dramaturgy/Criticism FAQ

Dramaturgy (dramaturgs are the people)  has many different definitions. Information designer. Practical historian for the theater. Conscience of the theater. The person who remembers! Dramaturgs do a lot of different things. They research the world of the play and  participate in all aspects of the production—from the design meetings to auditions from rehearsals to performances. Student dramaturgs collaborate and discuss the production with everyone involved, build walls of dramaturgy (large idea/research boards), moderate post-show discussions, write study guides, create actor packets, cut plays, curate lobby displays/pre-show entertainment, write dramaturgy notes, and more.

Criticism is the art/practice of writing about the arts for general readers. Students write criticism in classes and for The Grappler (the program quarterly newsletter).

Dramaturgs do a lot more than Xerox, do research, and stay in the library... We get to participate in all aspects of the production—from the design meetings to auditions to rehearsals and performances. We collaborate and discuss the production with everyone involved, build walls of dramaturgy (large idea/research boards), moderate post-show discussions, write study guides, create actor packets, cut plays, curate lobby displays/pre-show entertainment, write dramaturgy notes, and more.

Dramaturgy is definitely something we do here at DePaul. Our classes focus on what you should or could do to help a production grow, helping you organize your thoughts and develop your own way of working. You then have production practices where you will get to work on shows and try your ideas out. The blend of classes and hands-on practice helps you develop your own style and dramaturgical philosophy, build a resume and portfolio, and do a lot more than just learn about dramaturgy.

Everyone who teaches at The Theatre School is a working artist and can talk about the profession and the work they have done.  Dramaturgy professors work in new-play development in Chicago and across the country, TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences), and write books and criticism.  If you are interested in dramaturgy, you should definitely learn more about Rachel Shteir, Head of Dramaturgy/Criticism.

Some of the main tasks of a dramaturg are discussing a play with an audience/playwright/production team and providing useful information to expand the thinking about the play for the designers/actors/director/audience. Dramaturgs do a lot to develop our research, critical thinking, and writing skills through script analysis, studying dramatic theory, and exploring the history of dramatic literature.

Because The Theatre School is a conservatory, any production you work on is graded as part of your curriculum. You will always have shows to work on while you're here!

Once the season is announced, students choose the plays they'd like to work on and then the head of Dramaturgy/Criticism helps pair you with the shows. Faculty work hard to engage students on shows they are excited about.  While at The Theatre School, Dramaturgy/Criticism majors work on at least one mainstage show and one Chicago Playworks (children's show) production. But know this: you can choose shows based on your interests…so, if you’re really into Theatre for Young Audiences, new plays, classical works, etc. there will be ample opportunity to get involved in that type of work.

You have a lot of options.  Right now, we have a partnership with the Raven Theater, but additional placements are plentiful.  Many students intern with a theatre’s literary management, dramaturgy, or new-play development department. Some of us spend time working with the education departments or editors at publishing houses. There’s a lot of flexibility.

Yes! We have a great TYA production program, Chicago Playworks. Dramaturgs, have the opportunity to work in this program and create the educational study guides used by audience members.  There are also TYA literature courses (TYA in the United States and International TYA).

We have a class that prepares students to work with writers, New Play Dramaturgy, and we also have some cool school events like The Wrights of Spring (a festival of new plays written by DePaul playwrights) and the New Playwrights Series, a new play produced as part of our mainstage season each year. We also have a course called New Play Workshop, which you can take as a dramaturg or writer.

Yes. Because you get to intern at great theatres in Chicago and around the country, work on productions here at The Theatre School and create your own dramaturgical materials including published program notes, the dramaturgs graduate with great resumes. And every fall we have Portfolio Day, which is when our work from the previous year is reviewed, and we get personal letters that help us focus on specific new things for the current year.

Dramaturgs spend a lot of time writing, analyzing, researching and helping connect ideas together. These skills translate into a lot of cool jobs. Dramaturgy students go on to be literary managers, production dramaturgs, write for magazines, theatre or arts critics, teachers, educational directors, arts administrators, artistic directors, casting directors, directors, playwrights, etc. Some dramaturgs even work as music/dance dramaturgs, develop new plays, or work for NPR… the possibilities are endless!

The Theatre School supports graduating seniors in a lot of ways.  By the time you’re a senior you will have made relationships with at least one Chicago theater. Probably more. Students often pivot from internships at a theater into a job. The program also helps students prepare for grad school in whatever field they’re interested in.  Additionally, students may choose to particiapte in Graduate Showcase. Showcase takes place in Chicago and Los Angeles. For non-actors, showcase includes a portfolio exhibition and opportunities to connect with regional theatres, production houses, and other arts related organizations. Our Showcase visits have included: Theatre Communications Group, Bret Adams, Ltd. (a theatrical agency), Playwrights Horizons, The Public Theatre, The Dramatists Guild, Sundance Theatre Institute, Disney Theme Parks division and Center Theater Group, among others.

YES! At DePaul the dramaturg is involved in design meetings and participates in all aspects of production. As part of the Dramaturgy major, we take literature, design, directing, and performance classes which help make us well-rounded theatre artists able to contribute to all aspects of the production.