DRAMATURGY
I am a new play dramaturg prioritizing
artist-first collaboration and accessible audience entry points.
I desire clarity of story and enriched context for any literary project I take on. I am an artist-first dramaturg, always questioning what is needed for the work to be deep, true, and resonant in line with the playwright's vision. I prioritize actionable feedback when working in collaboration. I believe that anyone has the capacity to be a playwright, and I want to support artists at all levels of engagement with their craft.
I have a deep love for research that manifests itself in my passion for audience engagement tools. Research dramaturgy allows me to delve fully into the world of the play, creating a wealth of contextual knowledge for the team and the audience to take: program notes, rehearsal guides, research packets, lobby displays, participatory talks, and more.
NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT
I have worked on long-term script development processes with writers in residencies and workshops, as well as individual consultations with writers. I have a love of script reading, and enjoy being part of team curatorial processes!
SELECT COLLABORATIONS
Eight-Hand Jig by MC Crosby
Conventuais by Christian Mendonça
The Moss Maidens by S. Dylan Zwickel
Pietà by Brynn Hambley
the pigeon. by Jonathan V. Edmondson
The Incels by Ruth Zamoyta
Dramaturgical mentor to The Storyteller Studio participants.
READER POSITIONS
National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center
Premiere Stages Play Festival
Austin Film Festival
The Playwright's Foundation / Bay Area Playwrights Festival
1319 Press
Garden State Play Festival
SheNYC Arts
LITERARY POSITIONS
Literary Associate, Premiere Stages Play Festival (2022-present)
Dramaturg, Art House Productions' Historical Play Commission (2023-present)
Collective Dramaturg + Program Director, The New Jersey Play Lab (2019-present)
LMDA 2021 Conference Programming Committee Member
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT
Whether creating lobby displays, study guides, or production websites, I believe in providing rich entry points for any audience member. I craft my materials leading with values of accessibility of use and clarity of language.
COLLABORATIONS
Walden, Premiere Stages
Diversion, Premiere Stages
Selling Kabul, Premiere Stages
Pipeline, Mile Square Theatre
The Immigrant, George Street Playhouse
Midwives, George Street Playhouse
High School Musical and Love (Awkwardly) + (Virtually), Union Catholic High School
The Odyssey, George Street Playhouse Summer Theater Academy
4320p: IMMERSION, Drew University
PRODUCTION RESEARCH
I love going into research rabbit holes for a play! I have collaborated with production teams to develop contextual resources to use in the rehearsal process. This research adapts very well into lobby displays and program notes.
COLLABORATIONS
Walden, Premiere Stages
Diversion, Premiere Stages
Selling Kabul, Premiere Stages
the pigeon., The Strides Collective
Much Ado About Nothing, Izabella Louk + Bokkie Robertson (Sydney, AUS)
The Immigrant, George Street Playhouse
Edge of the World, George Street Playhouse Summer Theater Academy
4320p: IMMERSION, Drew University
RESEARCH and PUBLICATION
Reimagining the Path: The Storyteller Studio as a New Model for
Artistic Professional Development
In her article, Emily Dzioba outlines the formation and structure of the Storyteller Studio at the New Jersey Play Lab, a program of her own design for early-career dramaturgs and playwrights. Through poignant personal narrative, Dzioba reflects on the struggles facing emerging dramaturgs and theatre artists today and advocates for the importance of accessible, process-focused opportunities for those entering the field. By offering the Storyteller Studio as a successful model for unconventional professional development, she encourages us to consider new, innovative ways of supporting the dramaturgs of both today and tomorrow.
"Review is the peer-reviewed journal of dramaturgy published annually by Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas. The mission of the journal is to provide a venue for the exploration of dramaturgy and to foster ongoing conversation about the work of the dramaturg and the literary manager and their relationship to all stages of theatre and performance-making."
Devising Form and Content: The Dramaturg as Performance Curator
In 2018, I published my undergraduate thesis in Theatre Arts. My research explores the role of the dramaturg in devised theatre, defined as an essential curator. By examining the theatre-making process of the devising theatre company Tectonic Theater Project, Moment Work, this thesis seeks to comment on where an individual dramaturg should best work in the devising room.
I was honored to share my research and experiences from my thesis and dramaturging the devised play 4320p: IMMERSION on the 2019 ATHE Conference's Dramaturgy Debut Panel. The Association for Theatre in Higher Education's Dramaturgy Focus Group put out a call for papers, and my project was chosen. I will always have the deepest gratitude to Dr. Shelley Orr and the entire panel of judges for their belief in my work.