Examples of What Dramatugs Do - Part 6 - Designer Packet

Hopefully a dramaturg has been in on production meetings since day one. If this did not happen, a dramaturg may be left to do his or her own research which may not be what is wanted by the production team. However, they may also take great consideration into the information provided by the dramaturg.

The musical, Hairspray is set in the 1960s. It is likely that a dramaturg will help by look up many design elements of the 1960s. It is likely that these elements will be separated by the type of things that they are.

Items that would be in the designer packet would have headlines such as Architecture, Important Items, Clothing, and Hairdos. Each headline would have many pictures under it about how those things looked during the era (or the year) the play was set. If there isn't a certain year the play was set, the dramaturg may look up when the play was written, when it was published, and when it was first performed to a get a feel for the play. There may be certain elements in the play that point to the time for it.

Hopefully all of the design team will take everything the dramaturg has researched into consideration. A Designer Packet for hairspray would probably show a lot of blocks and primary colors in pictures of 1960 architecture. Then it would most likely have things like televisions from the 1960s, irons from the 1960s, ironing boards from the 1960s, and other items from that era that are important for the play. Clothing would most likely show dresses that came down to just above the knee and flared out starting at the waist. The clothing of that era would probably be suits on men. Hairdos would most likely show a lot of updos and beehives for women and crew cuts that are slicked back, mop tops, and afros for men. It is likely that each of this pictures would have at least an attribution of where it was found, but it would probably also have a short quote or sentence about what it is. The packet could be shared back and forth via e-mail or other ways while it is being made or it could be shared only after the dramaturg has finished it. That would be up tot he director and producer of the play.