At the conference, students will discuss a recent dramaturgy project, participate in workshops, and explore the diverse landscape of dramaturgical practice with industry professionals. One student from each region can be nominated to attend the National Festival, earn a one-year Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas membership, and/or be considered for summer Dramaturgy Fellowships.
PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY KCACTF
Dramaturgy Programming begins with these principles: Dramaturgy is notoriously difficult to define (and that’s not necessarily a bad thing). Dramaturgical practices may include research and analysis, information design for production teams and audiences, support of collaborators during design and rehearsal processes, and more. The most effective professional dramaturgs tune their participation to the needs of each process, thus developing an ever-evolving sensibility rather than a rigid set of practices. All forms of participation are respected and valued.
ELIGIBILITY
Anyone who was enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at a college or university during the calendar year prior to the Region 1 conference is eligible to participate. These types of projects qualify for consideration: Work as a credited dramaturg on a full production or new-play workshop A class assignment with an explicitly dramaturgical focus
REGISTRATION GUIDELINES
Dramaturgy participants in each region will fill out a common registration form in Submittable. The form serves multiple purposes: As a starting point for conversations with respondents at each regional conference. As a place for a selection panel to access the materials of students whose regional respondents nominate them for attendance at the National Conference in Washington D.C.
REGIONAL CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES
Ten-Minute Play Dramaturgy: Work alongside student directors and actors to bring to life a staged reading of a ten-minute play by a student playwright during the festival. Students who wish to act as dramaturg for a ten-minute play must submit their play preferences by December 30th, 2025.
Focused Conversations with Dramaturgy Respondents around the Following Themes and Practices:
Creativity: What is unique or innovative about your approach to the work? Where is your dramaturgical sensibility visible?
Collaboration: How did the perspectives of your collaborators affect the choices you made throughout the process?
Contextualization: How did the play itself guide your research and analysis?
How does your ability to self-reflect help position you for continued dramaturgical work?
Professional Development Workshops: Opportunities to explore the diverse practice of professional dramaturgy and to consult with experts and practitioners in the field.
REGIONAL RECOGNITIONS
Students who demonstrate significant dramaturgical promise will be recognized with these awards at the end of the conference.
LMDA Early Career Student Dramaturgy Award
A complimentary one-year membership to the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA), providing access to the organization’s abundant resources for dramaturgs entering the field.
LMDA/KCACTF National Dramaturgy Nomination
A complimentary one-year membership to the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA) and a Regional Nomination for attendance at the National Conference in Washington D.C. Nominees will also be eligible for consideration as summer fellows with nationally recognized organizations such as the New Harmony Project, The O’Neill Theatre Conference, and the Playwrights’ Center.
Co-chairs Dr. Krysta Dennis and James Montaño
[email protected], [email protected]