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The Hyphenated Playwright: A Speculation On Opportunities For An Emerging Mfa, Terry Davis Jul 2009

The Hyphenated Playwright: A Speculation On Opportunities For An Emerging Mfa, Terry Davis

Theatre & Dance ETDs

Few playwrights in the history of theater have earned a living from their writing. Certainly contemporary playwrights append other theatrical duties to their title to make a living. How, then, will the current crop of MFAs function in today's theater with their newly-minted degrees in dramatic writing? The author suggests that finding suitable role models could help clarify the post-graduate path and, using himself as a model, compares his own work and theatrical history to two working playwrights, Steven Dietz and Emily Mann. In those two examples, he finds encouraging possibilities as a writer as well as potential models for …


Writing The Warrior: A Latina Writes Latinas, Patricia S. Crespin Jul 2009

Writing The Warrior: A Latina Writes Latinas, Patricia S. Crespin

Theatre & Dance ETDs

This paper discusses the relationship between Latina writer and her warrior woman character on the stage. It defines the warrior woman from an extrapolated viewpoint and it reveals the motivations behind the inspiration to create a Latina woman who has many distinct attributes and nuances. It investigates the idea of a silent warrior and a vixen/victim warrior and how she comes to the stage through the mind of the writer and challenges the idea that even writer's who are aware of the stereotypical identities given to Latina women, use these distinctive identities for the sake of drama.


Everymans Argot, Kamarie Chapman Jul 2009

Everymans Argot, Kamarie Chapman

Theatre & Dance ETDs

This paper discusses different methods and theories in playwriting, specifically the importance of dramatic structure and the value of cultural awareness as a playwright. Many of the theories discussed range from Aristotle to more contemporary feminist theorist such as Marie Irene Fornes. It is followed by the play Deception Pass: An American Story, one of the plays discussed within the essay.


Dramatis Pupae: The Special Agency Of Puppet Performances, Casey Mráz Jul 2009

Dramatis Pupae: The Special Agency Of Puppet Performances, Casey Mráz

Theatre & Dance ETDs

Puppets have been used in performance by many cultures for thousands of years. Their roles in performance are constantly changing and evolving. Throughout the twentieth century there has been much contention between performance theorists over what defines a puppet. I aim toward a definition that emphasizes the puppet/audience and puppet/puppeteer relationship: Puppet: Any performing object that mechanizes human facial/bodily structures and features through movement and animates emotion. Puppets make us laugh because they are larger than life, playful and tend to employ comic mannerisms. Therefore, performing their sexuality, gender or race and placing them in violent situations magnifies their comic …


Theatre/Games: The Poetics, Ludology & Narrative In Video Game And Dramatic Structure, Matt Diel Jan 2009

Theatre/Games: The Poetics, Ludology & Narrative In Video Game And Dramatic Structure, Matt Diel

Theatre & Dance ETDs

This paper discusses the potential avenues of relationship between interactive media, particularly video games, and more traditional forms of theatrical production. It looks at the major theoretical paradigms of game structure in comparison to Aristotle's Poetics to find points of overlap between these two seemingly divergent entities, video games and theatre. As a specific point of reference, it also examines how my own artistic work has roots in both these worlds, and how the deepened understanding of their structures might contribute to my own artistic development.