Before graduation, one senior will be able to share her year-long study with the University community.

Wendy Scola, a University Fellows Scholar, will present a public lecture on “Dramaturgy in the American Theater” on May 3.

It will focus on the question, “Is there a place for a dramaturg in the American Theater?”

Scola is a double major in psychology and visual and performing arts with an emphasis on theatre. She hails from Oxford, Conn.

“A dramaturg can fulfill many functions as part of a production team but in general engages in the major research, including presentation of that research to actors and director,” Scola said. “The theoretical idea behind the dramaturg is that ideally they serve as the ‘conscience of the theater.'”

According to Scola, the dramaturg helps to protect the integrity of the production and the director’s vision. A dramaturg’s first and most important job is to ask questions. It is the questioning spirit of the dramaturg that seeks the answer to major questions such as, “Why this piece, why now, why here or even why should we do theater at all?”

As part of the University Fellows Scholarship, Scola received a $1,000 research stipend. She used this stipend to travel to New York and see professional theatre pieces that employed dramaturges or which reconstructed classical works.

Scola also had the opportunity to serve as a dramaturg in Theatre Fairfield’s production of “As You Like It.” Scola invited a group of professors to put “As You Like It” on their syllabi. She then set up an educational outreach program where she created an educational packet, taught classes and led talk-backs after the show.

“I really think it is important that theater is seen. Shakespeare is not meant to be read, and what a fabulous opportunity for English classes here at Fairfield to be able to read the play in class and then see it performed,” Scola said.

The term associated with the stipend is that the recipient must either write a paper detailing his/her research or present his/her findings orally.

“My thesis was inspired by the Theater Library Association’s Symposium on ‘Performance Reclamation’ that was held in February,” said Scola. “This symposium jumpstarted my exploration into ‘Dramaturgy in the American Theater,’ and I really just wanted a chance to step outside the walls of Fairfield University and see the work of dramaturgs in the ‘real world.'”

“Dramaturgs are not often used here in America by comparison to the majority of theater in Europe, and it was my mission to find out whether or not a dramaturg can find a more secure place in the American theater and what would have to change in order for that to happen,” said Scola.

Scola’s lecture will share some of her research and experiences studying in New York with professional dramaturgs and productions which have used them.

The lecture will also be based on her own work as the Production Dramaturg in Theatre Fairfield’s recent production of “As You Like It.”

Scola said she is very grateful for all those who participate in and support the various campus theatre productions, which has been a large and significant part of her Fairfield experience.

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