Dramaturgy
Every play needs an audience. And every playwright needs a dramaturg—someone to listen, ask questions, and help the author make the script as good as it can be. If you're writing a new play, I'd love to help you edit, strengthen, and energize your work.
“Gwen’s script analysis has been an invaluable resource for me as a playwright. She truly honors the playwright’s voice and intentions when providing feedback. She strikes just the right balance of encouraging and honest, which is necessary for script improvement. Gwen’s coaching is always focused on assisting me to tell the story I want to tell in the best possible way. I cannot recommend her highly enough!”
What can I do for you as a dramaturg?
Read your play thoughtfully and respond with questions about the structure, story, characters, and objectives.
Help sharpen the arc of each character.
Suggest areas of the play that could be expanded or edited.
Look for parallels, word repetitions, themes that intersect, and map vital moments of conversation between characters.
Make sure the story makes sense.
Identify production challenges and make suggestions for stage directions that will clarify your vision.
Do research to inform the specifics of the time and place of the plays’ setting.
Help your story have the greatest impact theatrically.
What else?
I can copyedit your draft, standardize the format, and check for spelling errors and continuity issues.
Write taglines, a synopsis, and marketing copy to promote the play.
List key words for search on your own webpage or on NPX.
Provide research documents with links to give your play historical context.
Give new playwrights an overview of contests, retreats and production opportunities, and where to find them. Also provide helpful hints for submissions, as a veteran judge of contests, ten minute plays, musicals, and straight plays.
I can also coordinate a reading of your work with professional actors, lead a talkback, and help you process the feedback.
How does this work?
If you think your play could benefit from my expertise, you can choose one of the pre-packaged options below:
Read and Respond
$200
I will read your script in preparation for a conversation with you. Then I will meet with you for one hour by phone, Skype, or in person to discuss the script with you.
Read and Respond and Re-write
$250
We’ll schedule an additional discussion of your revisions. After our initial meeting, you’ll have three months to revise the script. After I read the revision I can meet with you for 30 minutes by phone, Skype or in person to discuss the script’s progress with you.
If you’d like us to work together but the scope of your project doesn’t fall in these categories, drop me a line! We can talk about what you’d like to accomplish and I can give you an estimate for the cost and timeline of my services.
What are my qualifications, exactly?
I have an MA in Literature, History, and Criticism of the Theatre from UW Madison
I’ve taught playwriting to young people and adults through Renaissance Theaterworks, the Milwaukee Rep, First Stage Milwaukee Children’s Theater, Children’s Theatre of Madison, and the Greater Madison Writing Project.
I’ve judged many fiction, musical, and playwriting competitions.
I’m a produced playwright, and have developed new plays with professional theaters, at conferences, and through readings across the country.
I’ve worked in arts administration, and have helped choose and promote mainstage seasons and developmental readings.
I’m a professional theater critic, and was a fellow at the National Critics’ Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in 2017.
I’m have been a member of Chicago Dramatists, the Dramatists Guild, the American Theater Critics Association, and the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas.