Dramaturgy as Public Criticism – ATHE 2019

CFP: Dramaturgy as Public Criticism

ATHE 2019 in Orlando (August 7-11)

A multi-disciplinary panel to be submitted to Theory & Criticism and Dramaturgy Focus Groups

Public theatre criticism is disappearing from traditional outlets (periodicals) at the same as dramaturgs and education/audience development associates are increasingly developing initiatives and programming to help audiences make meaning out of their theatrical experiences. Program notes, audience study guides, interviews, talk backs, lobby displays, reading groups, pre/post show lectures, and interactive experiences are now regular features of theatre-going across theatres of various sizes, budgets, and missions. These dramaturgical efforts function to contextualize and offer frameworks for interpretation. In doing so, they overlap with the missions and activities of the public humanities, public history, and museum studies.

This panel aims to explore how public-focused dramaturgy (as opposed to production-focused dramaturgy) produces and teaches theatre criticism. Potential topics include:

• The place of theory in public-oriented dramaturgical practice (i.e. a Foucauldian or Althusserian lobby display)
• Comparative explorations between classroom/academic criticism and public dramaturgy
• Canons and vocabularies of interpretation and aesthetics for the public
• The place and problems of affect in audience development
• Best (and worst) practices for public criticism
• Public dramaturgy as public pedagogy

Interested scholars and dramaturgs should send a brief abstract (250 words) and CV or bio to Dan Smith (dansmith_251@yahoo.com) and Gina Di Salvo (gina.disalvo@gmail.com) by Sept 30 in preparation for panel submission in advance of ATHE’s deadline.