LMDA/KCACTF Student Dramaturgy Award Information and Guidelines

The LMDA/KCACTF Student Dramaturgy Award is the result of a unique collaboration between Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA), the professional association of dramaturgs and literary managers working in North America, and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), a national program dedicated to improving the quality of college and university theater in the United States. The award recognizes contributions by student dramaturgs to the conception, development, and production of theater within their colleges and universities, or to educational projects in dramaturgy.

The philosophical foundation of this award – like that of dramaturgy itself – rests in the belief that art benefits from examination on the parts of both artist and audience, and that creative inspiration accompanied by analysis and reflection will most likely lead to productions and projects that fulfill the spiritual, social and personal potential of the theatrical event. Also inherent in this initiative is the belief that the dramaturg should participate fully and uniquely in the collaborative act of making theater and promoting social discourse around the theatrical event.

Who is eligible?

Undergraduate and graduate students who work specifically as dramaturgs on productions or workshops from schools that participate actively in KCACTF. If the project is a workshop or production, the student must be credited as the dramaturg. A student who also writes, directs, designs, performs in, or otherwise collaborates on a project will be responsible for articulating the boundaries of the dramaturgical work and speaking on its behalf. Dramaturgs should send in their materials by December 1 (or a different date determined by the region)to be eligible.

What happens at the regional festival?

Each interested dramaturg should contact the Regional Chair to locate the name and address of the Dramaturgy Coordinator; the Coordinator will answer questions about the application packet and the specific regional activity (which may vary from region to region).

Student dramaturgs in most regions are strongly encouraged to attend the regional festival, where their work will be responded to by a professional, guest dramaturg. They will also have the opportunity to attend a variety of interesting workshops that address dramaturgy, either with new works and/or with more established plays. In some regions, students do not have to be present to be advanced, but this varies, so please check with your coordinator. Those who do attend their regional festival have the opportunity to learn more about their craft, and have their specific process responded to in great detail.

What does the award entail?

Most regions give the winner of the LMDA/KCACTF Student Dramaturgy Award a $200 cash prize, and one year's membership in LMDA paid for by KCACTF. Different regions may offer a variety of awards, including membership to ATHE, a co-sponsor of regional dramaturgy programming. And each region will choose a nominee to be sent to the Kennedy Center National Festival in Washington, D.C. in April, where he or she will study with professional dramaturgs and literary managers from around the country. From the eight dramaturgs, one will be awarded a fellowship in the Literary Office of the Eugene O’Neill Playwrights’ Conference, another on the dramaturgy staff of Midwest PlayLabs at the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis.

How do you apply?

1. Fill out the application form on the regional websites, identifying the dramaturg and the project and including a statement written by the dramaturg that details his or her process. This statement should include a journal/log that traces and explains the process, and includes as much detail as possible about how the dramaturg used his or her skills on a daily basis. This can be in journal/diary format, or any format that best represents the process as specifically as possible.
2. Enclose a letter of nomination from a faculty mentor. If you wish, you may include more letters of support from persons directly related to the project – collaborating artists or audience members for a workshop or production, or fellow students/teachers in a classroom project.
3. Put together an application packet that represents your project as fully as possible. You do not need to reproduce all articles used, but your specific work on the project—your summaries of materials; your dramaturg notes; emails that trace correspondence between you and the director/cast; materials distributed to the cast and/or crew; any outreach work accomplished; any websites created; and any lobby displays put together, among other items. This does not have to be lengthy but it should represent the dramaturgical work completely.
4. Submit the application packet to the regional coordinator. Please check the regional website to find the coordinator in your area, and to see if the application forms differs slightly from region to region. If you have questions about the National Award, please contact Mark Charney at cmark@clemson.edu or 864-356-2150.

Award Criteria:

* Distinctiveness: what is creative about the dramaturg's approach and/or analysis?
* Contextualization: how is the production or project enhanced by dramaturgical analysis or research; alternatively, how is the academic project in dramaturgy imaginatively projected into a larger social, political, academic or artistic setting?
* Impact: in what way are the audience, artists or institution enriched by dramaturgical ideas and execution?
* Ethics: how are issues that might be raised by the terms of the collaboration or changing responsibilities dealt with and/or resolved?
* Significance: how does this project inform, challenge or advance the field of dramaturgy, in general and/or within the student's school?

Award Presentation:

The LMDA/KCACTF Student Award in Dramaturgy will usually be presented on the closing night of each Regional Conference, but check regional websites for details specific to each region and for application forms.