"Dramaturgy is a comprehensive exploration of the context in which the play resides. The dramaturg is the resident expert on the physical, social, political, and economic milieus in which the action takes place, the psychological underpinnings of the characters, the various metaphorical expressions in the play of thematic concerns; as well as on the technical consideration of the play as a piece of writing: structure, rhythm, flow, even individual word choices.
Institutional dramaturg's may participate in many phases of play production including casting of the play, offering inhouse criticism of productions-in-progress, and informing the director, the cast and the audience about a play’s past history and its current importance. They may files of materials about a plays history or social context, prepare program notes, lead postproduction discussions, write study guides for schools and groups. These actions can assist a director in integrating textual and acting criticism, performance theory, and historical research into a production before it opens."
Cardullo, Bert. What is Dramaturgy? New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 2005
Dramaturgical Research is an excellent page created by The University of Puget Sound that provides tips and search strategies for:
Use the College of Charleston Libraries resources to find similar information.