What is Dramaturgy?

"Every word uttered on the stage is dramaturgy." Peter Handke

1.Dramaturgy is 'the art or technique of dramatic composition and theatrical representation.'
http://www.usq.edu.au/performancecentre/schoolresources/fivewomen/dramaturgy.htm

2.dram·a·tur·gy
Audio Help /ˈdræməˌtɜrdʒi, ˈdrɑmə-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[dram-uh-tur-jee, drah-muh-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
the craft or the techniques of dramatic composition.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dramaturgy

3.A production dramaturg is a consultant and an advocate for the playwright's intentions.
http://www.geocities.com/amylynnhess76/whatsadramaturg.html


4.German dramatist, critic, and writer on philosophy and aesthetics. He helped free German drama from the influence of classical and French models and wrote plays of lasting importance. His critical essays greatly stimulated German letters and combated conservative dogmatism and cant while affirming religious and intellectual tolerance and the unbiased search for truth.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/337309/Gotthold-Ephraim-Lessing/4174/Rising-reputation-as-dramatist-and-critic#ref=ref242388&tab=active~checked%2Citems~checked&title=Gotthold%20Ephraim%20Lessing%20%3A%3A%20Rising%20reputation%20as%20dramatist%20and%20critic.%20--%20Britannica%20Online%20Encyclopedia

5.Dramaturgy can be general and academic, or dramaturgy can be related to a specific production. Production dramaturgy seems to be the most cryptic function a dramaturg performs. This includes historical and cultural knowledge, efficient research and writing skills, patient and objective observation skills, playwrighting experience, structural analysis skills, assertive and tactful communication skills, an ability to work in collaboration with others.
http://www.geocities.com/amylynnhess76/whatsadramaturg.html
"treatment of time and space, the configuration of characters in the dramatic universe, the sequential organization of the episodes of the Story. . . . action, story, fable, catastrophy, rules, unities, etc."
http://www2.ups.edu/professionalorgs/dramaturgy/dramaturgy_northwest/definitions/beginningpoints.htm

6. I think 'Dramaturgy' is the study of the background of all the historical elements of a production, ensuring that they are all accurate. For instance if you are presenting a production of a play set in the 1700's you will need to know the styles, customs and habbits of that time period. A dramaturg is there to help interperet meaning and style of a playwrite.