Faculty Sponsor(s)
Janet Gupton
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Subject Area
Theatre Arts
Description
This research notebook (also known as a dramaturgy notebook) was created as a class project for an advanced Theatre History course. We were asked to choose one play to study throughout the semester with the ultimate goal of creating a dramaturgy notebook that would be usable for a production team were we to produce our show of choice. Having a great interest in Christopher Durang and his work, I chose to study Beyond Therapy. We were asked specifically to write a biography on our chosen playwright, a historical context essay, an essay about themes present in the show, and an essay commenting on published criticisms on various performances of the show. Beyond that, we were also asked to write two supplements that might be found in a dramaturgy notebook. For this portion of the assignment I chose to write a press release covering the fictional Linfield production, and to create a question and answer section culminating in some interview questions published on Durang’s website. While the notebook as a whole serves to provide context for a production team, each section of the notebook has its own stand-alone function. In 2014, this research was presented at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (Region VII) in Boise, Idaho and was awarded first runner-up in the dramaturgy category.
Recommended Citation
Layton, Jennifer, "Beyond Therapy: A Dramaturgical Look at Christopher Durang's Absurdist Play" (2014). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 51.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2014/all/51
Beyond Therapy: A Dramaturgical Look at Christopher Durang's Absurdist Play
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
This research notebook (also known as a dramaturgy notebook) was created as a class project for an advanced Theatre History course. We were asked to choose one play to study throughout the semester with the ultimate goal of creating a dramaturgy notebook that would be usable for a production team were we to produce our show of choice. Having a great interest in Christopher Durang and his work, I chose to study Beyond Therapy. We were asked specifically to write a biography on our chosen playwright, a historical context essay, an essay about themes present in the show, and an essay commenting on published criticisms on various performances of the show. Beyond that, we were also asked to write two supplements that might be found in a dramaturgy notebook. For this portion of the assignment I chose to write a press release covering the fictional Linfield production, and to create a question and answer section culminating in some interview questions published on Durang’s website. While the notebook as a whole serves to provide context for a production team, each section of the notebook has its own stand-alone function. In 2014, this research was presented at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (Region VII) in Boise, Idaho and was awarded first runner-up in the dramaturgy category.
