The Facts: Basics

Scenes from an Execution

Written by: Howard Barker

Language: English, no adaptation or translation.

Year of original publication: 1984

Genre: Drama

Structure: 20 scenes

Royalty Fees: $75.00 per performance

Cast breakdown: 15 males, 3 females, various extras.

Time and Setting: Post Battle of Lepanto (1571) in Venice.

Brief author bio: the son of Sydney Charles and Georgina Irene Carter Barker, was born in Dulwich, London. Between 1958 and 1964 he attended Battersea Grammar School, before going to Sussex University where he took an M.A. in history in 1968. Four years later he married Sandra Mary Law.
http://www.bookrags.com/biography/howard-barker-dlb/
Barker has coined the term 'Theatre of Catastrophe' to describe his work. His plays often explore violence, sexuality, the desire for power, and human motivation.
Rejecting the widespread notion that an audience should share a single response to the events onstage, Barker works to fragment response, forcing each viewer to wrestle with the play alone. "We must overcome the urge to do things in unison" he writes. "To chant together, to hum banal tunes together, is not collectivity."[1] Where other playwrights might clarify a scene, Barker seeks to render it more complex, ambiguous, and unstable.
Opposing the predominance of comedy in the contemporary culture, which unifies us through the banality of a shared response, he argues for the rebirth of a tragic theatre, which will force us to recognize our differences. Only through a tragic renaissance, Barker argues, will beauty and poetry return to the stage. "Tragedy liberates language from banality" he asserts. "It returns poetry to speech." [2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Barker

Brief plot summary: Glenda Jackson starred in this brilliant drama about a sixteenth century Venetian painter commissioned by the Doge to do a mural commemorating the naval victory at Lepanto. She is a woman, a realist, a rebel and a free spirit, so the government does not get the jingoistic celebration of political and military might it expects. Galactia reveals war in all its horror, cruelty and suffering and chooses prison over changing the mural. This fascinating parable raises issues of contemporary resonance. As the play unfolds, the paradoxical mystery of art is espoused: that works exist independently of their creators.
http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/2229

Graduate Degree Programs

1.University Of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Master of Fine Arts in Dramaturgy
64 credit hours
*Students are required to serve as dramaturgs in the Playwrights Workshop*

2.Roosevelt University
Chicago, IL
MFA in Directing/ Dramaturgy
*Fancy website, but minimal information. Every website I went to said that this university had this program and even the main Roosevelt page, but any further information was unavailable*

3.University of Hull
United Kingdom
Offers research degrees (PhD) in many areas including dramatrugy
*it's kind of a pick your own adventure college.*

4.University of Glasgow
United Kingdom
There appears to be a Masters in Dramaturgy and Playwrighting. It is described as an MLitt.
It is a one year program.
*A key feature of the Department, and of this programme, is its strong links with the vibrant and various theatre culture of Scotland including the Traverse Theatre, Citizens’/TAG Theatre, and Playwrights’ Studio Scotland.*

5.Texas State University- San Marcos
Offers a Graduate MFA
The history-criticism emphasis is especially recommended for students who plan to go into a doctoral program after completing their master's degree. A research thesis is part of the history-criticism degree plan. Some history-criticism students choose to specialize in production dramaturgy. Students who choose the dramaturgy specialization complete assignments as dramaturgs on Mainstage productions, and assemble a dramaturgical production book and production archive as part of their written thesis.
Two Year Program

6.The University of British Columbia
PhD
We are a small Graduate Program, and expect that applicants will be able to match their research interests to those of the Graduate Committee: Canadian Studies, Dramaturgy, Post-Colonial Theatre, and some aspects of 19th Century European and Modern British, American and Canadian Theatre.
Program is at least "two winter sessions." What a Canadian way of putting something...
This is a very interesting tid-bit:Doctoral candidates must demonstrate reading knowledge of one language (other than English) relevant to their research area and/or in which there exists a significant body of dramatic literature, performance history documents, or criticism. Where appropriate, this language may be a “language of the stage” including musical, choreographic, and gestural notation systems (e.g., Labanotation, American Sign Language). Special cases for examination in other language systems not covered here will be heard and evaluated individually.

7. Mary Baldwin College

You can receive an MFA with an emphasis in Dramaturgy at this college. It is 63 credit hours including the MLitt (still not quite sure what this is.)

Located in Stauton, VA

This is an interesting program because anything you find out about dramaturgy or their MFA in any sort of art is assocaited with the MFA in Shakespeare Studies, which is unusual. And it is also uncommon just because this is an all women's college. They say the stress both academics and stagecraft. This is what they say about their dramaturgy emphasis: DramaturgyDramaturgy, the art of writing for the theatre, is the discipline which unites scholarship and stagecraft. Dramaturgs use their knowledge of the Early Modern social, historical, and cultural context to contribute to choices made by actors, directors and designers in rehearsal and in production. The dramaturgy emphasis leaves little room for elective classes. The program advises MLitt dramaturgy students to begin taking MFA required courses during the two MLitt years because some of the required courses are offered every other year


Ones that only partially work:

-I thought it was interesting that one can get their BFA in dramaturgy at the University of Arizona and DePaul in Chicago and the University of Oklahoma and University of Nebraska, Lincoln (sort of).

-An MA in Critical Theory and Dramaturgy is available form the University of Ottawa

-Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
MFA in Pedagogy with specialization in Dramaturgy

-Vague description of a PhD program with emphasis in Dramaturgy at the University of Michigan.

-You can now win an award at KCACTF in Dramaturgy. That's new and exciting.

Dramaturgy as a Profession

Somehow my formatting on this piece became severely skewed.

1. Guthrie Theatre
Minneapolis, MN
LORT-yes (A,D)
Literary Manager-Michael Kinghorn
Senior Dramaturg-Michael Lupu


2.Hyde Park Theatre
Austin, TX
LORT: None
Peck Phillips, Literary Manager

3.La Jolla Playhouse

La Jolla, California

LORT: yes (B)

SHIRLEY FISHMANDirector of Play DevelopmentIn addition to her duties as Associate Artistic Director, Ms. Fishman has served as dramaturg on Carmen, The Deception, Most Wanted, The Wiz, Culture Clash's Zorro in Hell, The Scottish Play, Palm Beach, Eden Lane, When Grace Comes In, Adoration of the Old Woman, The Collected Works of Billy the Kid, Diva, I Am My Own Wife (2004 Pulitzer Prize) and Dracula, The Musical.

*I just thought she dramaturged interesting pieces*

4. American Conservatory Theatre

San Francisco, CA

LORT: Yes (A,D)

Michael Paller, Dramaturg

5. Aliance Theatre

Atlanta, GA

LORT: Yes (B,D)
Artistic Associate/Dramaturg
Celise Kalke

6. American Repertory Theatre

Cambridge, MA

LORT: Yes (B)

Arthur Holmberg, Literary Director

7. Arena Stage

Washington D.C.

LORT: Yes (B+, B, D)

Senior Dramaturg: Mark Bly

8. Aurora Theatre

Berekely, CA

LORT: None
Casting Director/Literary Manager -Jeanette Harrison

9. Blank Theatre Company

Los Angeles, CA

LORT: No

Literary Manager Serene Bynum

*Everything on their website ends with an exclamation mark!*

10. City Theatre

Miami, FL

LORT: No

Marco Ramirez (Literary Manager)

* Mr. Ramirez only has his BFA in dramatic writing*

What is Dramaturgy?

Online Definition- the art of writing and producing plays [syn: dramatic art, dramatics, theater, theatre]
http://dictionary.die.net/dramaturgy

Dictionary definition- The art of the theater, especially the writing of plays.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=dramaturgy- Dictionary.com

Most unusual or noteworthy definition- The most straightforward definition of dramaturgy is that it is the study of how human beings accomplish meaning in their lives.
http://books.google.com/books?id=-QVC0AREKUC&pg=PA2&lpg=PA2&dq=dramaturgy+definition&source=web&ots=PQMJazlwY-&sig=QneTeHlkfFcK8HtX3Y4BFx6yiCI&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=9&ct=result#PPA2,M1

Job Description- historical and cultural knowledge, efficient research and writing skills, patient and objective observation skills, playwrighting experience, structural analysis skills, assertive and tactful communication skills, an ability to work in collaboration with others.
http://www.geocities.com/amylynnhess76/whatsadramaturg.html


Yale Repertory TheatreYale Repertory Theatre (YRT) seeks Literary Manager to coordinate the activities of the YRT Literary office and new play development programs. The person in this position will oversee the day-to-day management of YRT’s literary office and supervise graduate student literary office staff. In concert with the YRT Associate Artistic Director and Managing Director, they will coordinate all aspects of YRT’s new play programs. This person will write a wide variety of institutional materials. S/he must be a strong self-starter with strong writing, communication, team building, and organizational skills. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and three years experience in dramaturgy/literary management, or artistic administration, or producing in the regional, international and/or commercial theater. Competitive salary with full benefits. Applications accepted until the position is filled. Apply online at www.yale.edu/jobs. Apply to requisition #4599BR. Men and women of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds and cultures are encouraged to apply. Yale University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

http://www.backstagejobs.com/jobs.php

Historical context- In 1767 Lessing became associated with a group of actors in Hamburg, at which place he wrote the justly celebrated Hamburg Dramaturgy, in which he explained to the world the principles underlying the art of the theater.


LESSING'S THEORY OF DRAMA
Interesting as are the plays of Lessing, especially Minna von Barnhelm and Nathan, yet it is by reason of his constructive criticism that he holds his high place. First, he did a much needed piece of work when he attacked the French theories of tragedy. Instead of merely denying their validity, he analyzed and explained genuine Greek classicism, and pointed out the differences between it and French classicism. He recognized the genius of Shakespeare, showing that only a perverted interpretation of Aristotle would exclude the English poets from the ranks of the great dramatists. Secondly, he pointed out that drama should aim at giving a first-hand representation of life; that tragic elements should flow from the character concerned, and should induce sympathy as well as surprise. And thirdly, he proved with his own work that vital stage creations should reflect all grades of common life and experience; that stilted, borrowed forms should be discarded, and that sincerity is of all things the first requisite. His own plays are well contrived and theatrical, in the good sense. His characters have the speech and motions of real men and women; they are interesting and vigorous.
Schiller considered Lessing the clearest and most liberal thinker concerning questions of dramatic art; and men of learning in every country today recognize him as the first reasonable European writer upon the principles and conditions which govern the modern stage. As a man, he can scarcely be too highly praised. What he taught, as the true basis of art, he incorporated into his own work and life. He was admirable not only in courage, but in patient tenacity of will, clever, cultured, unselfish. In his search for truth he was tireless, and remained charitable in the face of almost constant abuse and misunderstanding.
http://www.theatredatabase.com/18th_century/gotthold_ephraim_lessing_001.html

His theoretical writings Laocoon and Hamburgian Dramaturgy (Hamburgische Dramaturgie) set the standards for the discussion of aesthetic and literary theoretical principles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotthold_Ephraim_Lessing

My definition of dramaturgy based on ideas and thoughts that I have read from the internet is that it is a position of artistic overseeer. I think the director decides the vision for the show and the dramaturg decides the information necessary to create and fulfill that vision both artisticly and intelligently. I think the study of dramaturgy should include in literature (all types), history (specfically theatre), interpersonal communication, and art (in its general capacities). Personally, I feel that this type of study would enable a dramaturg to be a liason to a theatre in almost any facet.