Dramaturgy in the broadest sense means giving feedback about how to improve a script. A dramaturg per se is to a playwright what an editor is to a novelist. However, unlike novels or poetry, theatrical scripts are written to be spoken aloud by actors and interpreted by directors and designers. As a consequence, the dramaturgical process--the process of making better scripts to create better theatre--usually involves many different theatre artists.

According to the old Webster's dictionary, etymologically, a "wright" is a person who makes, constructs or repairs, as in a "wheelwright" or "shipwright." This definition emphasizes the hands-on nature of writing for the theatre.

In the building of a ship, although the blueprint for construction is important, ultimately the ship has to get onto water. Once this happens, the shipwright sees how well a captain and crew might navigate the helm, how beautifully the sails will billow in the wind, and fundamentally, whether the ship will sink or sail.

Mr. Welch of Welch's bookstore on The Main:

"Good question. Well what the hell is it_"

Katie, Artist:

"I have no idea."

Joanne George, office assistant,
Theatre 1774:

"No. I can't define dramaturgy. No."

Photos by Sean O'Hara.