DRAMATURGY - Selected Credits
COME FROM AWAY
Currently I am the dramaturg for this musical by David Hein & Irene Sankoff, which tells the story of the people in Gander, Newfoundland and surrounding towns who cared for over 7,000 passengers on September 11, 2001 and the days following when the US airspace closed to travel. The production will perform at the La Crosse Community Theatre in March 2026.
RESOURCES
THE GAME'S AFOOT or HOLMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Highlights of the work for this Ken Ludwig farce include the history of mystery, fashion and decor in the mid 1930s, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and William Gillette-- his contributions to the development of theatrical performance styles, his iconic home, his idiosyncrasies, and his contributions to the iconic images of Sherlock Holmes that last until this day.
The glossary was a fun blend of 1930s culture and Shakespearean quotes with some holiday traditions and legal terms mixed in.
RESOURCES
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME
Highlights of this project included creating resources to help students understand the Supreme Court, the history and structure of the US Constitution, and several complex legal battles including reproductive freedom and domestic violence.
The fact-based nature of the script also called for an extensive glossary.
For this production I introduced a new component to my sites--a Q&A page where I could provide answers to questions from rehearsal if they did not naturally fit on an existing page. I also wrote dramaturgy notes both for the November production at UWL and the January festival performance.
I received a Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival commendation for Distinguished Achievement in Dramaturgy for this work
RESOURCES
DOCTOR FAUSTUS
This production featured an original adaptation of Marlowe's script created by director Nic Barilar. I worked with him over the previous summer to develop research related to the representations of Marlowe's life in the script, including his Oxford education and time as a spy. I created the Latin incantation Faustus would recite onstage.
The production was set in the Gothic Revival era, necessitating companion research on politics, and religion. I also researched many aspects of Gothic architecture for the scenic designer.
During this show I mentored a student dramaturg as my assistant. She was responsible for the demonology research, which I incorporated into the site built for the actors and production team.
SEVERE CLEAR: SEPTEMBER 11 FROM MEMORY TO HISTORY
This extensive two-part project began in Summer 2019 when I conceived of the idea to create a documentary drama based on the events of September 11. 2001.
I partnered with colleague Greg Parmeter to teach a course in creating documentary drama in Fall 2020 where the script began. The first part of my dramaturgy work was creating a resource for our student collaborators.
The dramaturgy entered a second phases when Theatre & Dance chose to produce the completed script in Fall 2021.
ROMEO AND JULIET
For this project I supported the director's efforts to help the cast understand verse and took on a series of fun research projects including potions and mixology, ad lib Shakespearean insults to be used during fight scenes, and marriage & religion during the Elizabethan era. In addition to the traditional material in a lobby display for the audience, I researched the Juliet Letters and created an interactive activity for audience members to leave their own letters.
THE LARAMIE PROJECT
My dramaturgy on this production had several key components: working with the director to create casting tracks for each of the actors in our production, creating a research site for the actors and production team, and helping to produce a staged reading of the companion play, The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, on one of the dark nights during the run.
RESOURCES
Character/Scene Breakdown tracking roles and associations
Dramaturgy Site (password: UWLaramie)