Articles Skip to main content
4th Wall Dramaturgy

Articles

data-content-type="article"

Fed UP!

By Shelley Graham
April 10, 2025 01:41 PM
An exciting new musical by recent BYU graduate Joseph Phillips, directed by current BYU student Lydia Cox
8 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

All in This Together

By Audree Wells
March 31, 2025 09:39 AM
For many, High School Musical is a nostalgic film that brings back memories of our days in high school, of struggling to fit in, figuring out who we are, and developing friendships that shape and change us. It teaches us that “we are all in this together,” a theme we’ve embraced throughout this production.
1 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

The Comedy-Tragedy Debate in The Cherry Orchard

By Shelley Graham
March 27, 2025 09:44 PM
The debate over whether The Cherry Orchard is a comedy or a tragedy began with Chekhov himself and his director (and sometimes friend) Konstantin Stanislavsky.
1 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Contextual Resources for The Cherry Orchard

By Shelley Graham
March 27, 2025 09:29 PM
The creative team began working on this production a little more than a year ago. In my role as production dramaturg, I was happy to create a website of resources first for the creative team, and then when we went into rehearsals, for the cast. And now that we are opening the show, the resources offer valuable perspectives to our audiences as well.
1 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Moving to the Cherry Orchard

By Shelley Graham
March 20, 2025 08:14 PM
After months of rehearsing on a taped cement floor with acting blocks in place of benches and frames in place of doors, the company finally moves to the theatre space, to a stage with levels and furniture, working doors and chairs out in the audience. The beloved cherry orchard feels so much more real now.
1 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

“That’s How Things Are”: The Weight of Waiting in The Cherry Orchard

By Shelley Graham
March 20, 2025 03:10 PM
Near the end of his life, Anton Chekhov who had suffered from tuberculosis and depression throughout his life, decided to move to the seaside town of Yalta in order to heal. On January 18, 1904, he wrote to his wife, the actress Olga Knipper, “I’m writing The Cherry Orchard very slowly. Sometimes I feel it’s a success, sometimes a failure…It’s all very ordinary, but that’s how things are, unfortunately.”
2 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

The Story Behind Alabama Story

By Isaac Moss
February 26, 2025 03:14 PM
Alabama Story, playwright Kenneth Jones’ six-actor, one-set drama about censorship, book banning, Civil Rights and American characters in “the Deep South of the imagination,” had its world premiere by Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake City, Utah in January of 2015.
1 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Ten Interesting Facts about The Cherry Orchard

By Shelley Graham
February 25, 2025 07:50 PM
One of the wonderful things about being a dramaturg is discovering interesting bits of information here and there about the play and the playwright. These are often things that never make themselves visible in the production, but offer fascinating insights nonetheless. Here are ten of those interesting facts we've learned about Chekhov and The Cherry Orchard.
2 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Alabama Story: Educational Resources

By Shelley Graham
February 25, 2025 01:55 PM
As part of the Contemporary Voices Play Festival at BYU, Alabama Story is an example of an award winning playwright whose work we want our audiences and students to know. This play presents an opportunity to think deeply about censorship, racism, political power, and the importance of standing up for intellectual freedom.
1 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Book of Will: Educational Resources

By Shelley Graham
February 25, 2025 01:29 PM
The Contemporary Voices Play Festival at BYU celebrates award winning plays and playwrights whose work we think our audiences and students should know. These plays present an opportunity to think deeply and explore the art and the language of theatre.
1 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Shadow Puppetry Tips and Tricks

By Andrew Elijah Schindler
February 10, 2025 05:36 PM
In this production of Henry V we use shadow puppets to help us illustrate things like the Siege of Harfleur and the Battle of Agincourt.
3 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Interview with the Playwright(s)

By Andrew Elijah Schindler
February 10, 2025 04:54 PM
We have had the special privilege of interviewing Andrew-Elijah Schindler, one of the writers behind BYU Young Company’s production of Henry V.
3 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Babe the Sheep Pig Dramaturgy Website

By Audree Wells
November 12, 2024 03:29 PM
Fascinated by found object puppetry? Intrigued by sheepdog trials? Curious about the author of the book, Dick King-Smith, or want to know more about the author of the play, David Wood?
1 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Dramaturgy Interview with Babe Puppeteer

By Shelby Dickson
November 12, 2024 03:23 PM
As a dramaturg, I interviewed Dallin Blankenship, the puppet builder and co-designer (along with Production Designer, Kim Wright.)
3 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Finding Deadrock: Dramaturgy Boot Camp Part 2

By Aislin Dyer
November 05, 2024 07:13 PM
Crazy for You has two main settings: the bustle and shine of upper class New York City, and the dusty, dwindling mining town of Deadrock, Nevada. Just an hour south of Provo lies Mammoth, Utah, a ghost town that directly parallels Deadrock. So we loaded the cast into vans and went on a field trip!
2 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Campfires and Characters

By Alyssa Call
October 09, 2024 06:50 PM
Dramaturgy Workshop Day 5
1 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

River on a Football Field

By Alyssa Call
October 09, 2024 06:42 PM
Dramaturgy Workshop Day 4
1 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

How to Train Your Dog to Herd Sheep

By Shelby Dickson
October 08, 2024 11:16 AM
The following article excerpt is provided here, in case you're inspired by Babe the Sheep Pig to go home and train your own dog! Visit wagwalking.com for the full article and more information!
2 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
Next