Dramaturgy in American Theater: A Source Book

Dramaturgy in American Theater: A Source Book Dramaturgy in American Theater: A Source Book. Edited by Susan Jonas, Geoff Proehl, and Michael Lupu. New York: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1997; pp. xii + 590. $44.50 paper.

Dramaturgy in American Theater: A Source Book begins with the question "What is a dramaturg?"; the rest of the book provides not one answer, but several that explore dramaturgy from historical, academic, theoretical, and practical perspectives. In fact, the scope of the anthology is a testament to the complexity and diversity of the field itself. Rather than offering a static definition or prescription, the book highlights differences of opinion, nuances, ambiguities, even contradictions, about the position of a dramaturg and introduces possible ways for the profession to grow and change. The wide range of articles expands the definition of dramaturgy and suggests how this relatively young field can impact both the arts and education in the years to come.

As editors Susan Jonas, Geoffrey S. Proehl, and Michael Lupu point out in the preface, dramaturgy in the United States is only as old as regional theatre, at most forty years. In that short time, it has encouraged dialogue between practice and theory, introduced significant resource materials into the production process, raised questions about models for the rehearsal process, and initiated educational programs and community outreach. This extensive collection of nearly fifty essays written by dramaturgs, literary managers, and scholars from the professional and academic theatre is divided into five thematic sections: "Precedents and New Beginnings," "Toward a Dramaturgical...