Job Opportunity

Memo

Date: February 25, 2025

To: Upper Level Students in Dramatic Art

From: Ridge Kennedy 

Re: Professional Dramaturg Assignment and Possibly More

Dear Students,

Hello, my name is Ridge. I’m a writer and somewhere in my bones, I’m still a theatre person. I have an M.F. A. in Dramatic Art and spent several years working in academic theatre, including gigs on the faculty at Hiram College and Bucknell University. 

Since then, I’ve mostly been a writer (lots of newspapers, advertising, and P.R.) and an IT professional, working with databases, desktop support, and other similar tasks. But I had this idea that has, over the years, evolved into the script for a play.

Theatre, unfortunately for me, is a quintessentially co-creative art. Any theatre artist needs other people to work with, co-conspirators trying to pull off the next great theatrical revolution. 

I have this script. It’s a riff on Shakespeare hosted by an emcee and a D.J. It’s a rom-com. It’s a story about our modern times. It’s about the perils of entrepreneurship. It’s about being crushed. And it’s about what happens next.

What if . . . maybe . . . just possibly .. this could be the seed for a terrific theatrical experience? What if this script is an idea that a group of creative artists could nurture into something wonderfully entertaining and inspiring?

I’m looking for creative people who may be able to see the potential in this script and help me make it—maybe, just maybe—something truly special.

 Here’s my pitch.

 Interest Level 1

I’m willing to pay as many as three people to serve as dramaturgs. I want to retain their services as theatre professionals to assess the script. Is it interesting? Will it engage with audiences as the author suggests? Does the comedy work? Will the more serious themes resonate with the audience? 

What I would expect for the assignments—the deliverable in proposal-speak—would be 1) a conversation in which you tell me what you think based on your reading and 2) if you have any positive thoughts and want to share them in a paragraph or two, I’d want to be able to share them with other people.

Interest Level 2

If, through the dramaturgs or people they know, there is an interest in the script, I’m willing to underwrite the cost of a reasonably well-rehearsed reading. I will provide scripts, pay rent if it’s required for a performance space, and pay stipends for participants (the company). Participants can keep any proceeds if they decide to charge an admission fee.

If there is further interest in workshopping the script at any time, I’m 1) a professional writer and 2) available to work with you to improve the script. I’d sure like to talk about the possibilities.

Interest Level 3

Finally, should there be interest in staging a production of MuchAdo, I wouldn’t ask for any royalties. Additionally, I will apply the Miranda Rule to the project. I will make a contractual agreement with the company to give them equity in the script and a share of future profits. While an interest in an as-yet-unproduced script might not seem to have much value, I believe there are elements in the script that might increase its commercial prospects if agents and producers get involved.

Are You Interested?

 If you are interested in being a dramaturg for me, I hope that you are an upper-level theatre major, have a strong interest in directing and producing, and are willing to share a brief artistic resume and do a quick phone interview. If you’re selected for the job, we will agree on your fee and I will send you a copy of the script. 

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

 Ridge