LMDA has many programs in place to encourage and promote Early Career Dramaturgs. Among these are travel grants, mentor matches, and special events. In addition, LMDA also publishes lists of internships and degree programs and guidelines for internships and employment. The Early Career group specifically serves students, interns, and dramaturgs in their first few years in the field.
ECD Programs
The Early Career Dramaturgs are now on Facebook! If you're an ECDer, or an ECD lover, come join the group and join in the conversation that is specifically oriented towards early career dramaturgs.
Just search: Early Career Dramaturgs/LMDA
[Traducido por//translated by\\ Brenda Muñoz]
The ECD Conference and Travel Grant
[Versión en Español debajo/ Spanish-language version below]
This is an opportunity now for an artist or dramaturg, who self-identifies as being early in their career, to apply for funding and attend the 2021 Annual LMDA Conference, which is currently scheduled to be held online on June 17-18 and in-person in Mexico City on June 26-29. The Early Career Dramaturg Conference and Travel Grant opens itself to all LMDA members regardless of age, education, social location, experience, and background (if membership cost is a barrier, please reach out to the LMDA President at President@lmda.org).
There is no application fee. Applications will be accepted from February 1, 2021, 12:00 AM through March 1, 2021, 11:59 PM PST. All applicants will be notified of their status by April 1, 2021.
Proposal Prompts:
1. How do you identify yourself as an early career dramaturg? (50 words)
2. What do you hope to gain from the conference? (50 words)
3. What do you hope to give to the conference? (50 words)
4. What are your larger career goals? (50 words)
5. Let us know which you need funding for: travel, housing, or both, or conference registration.
Application Guidelines
1. For the purposes of this application, if you self-identify as a dramaturg, you are a dramaturg. If you come from a culture that does not view dramaturgy as separate from other parts of the creative process, or does not have a word for dramaturgy, feel free to contact us at awards@lmda.org to have a conversation about how you and everyone around you commits acts of dramaturgy.
2. Only one application per person.
3. Although we welcome applicants from anywhere in the world, currently we can only process an application in English and Spanish. If you know another language, we are growing towards a system in which we can accept applications not in English, and we look forward to your application in the future.
4. You have up to 50 words to answer each question. There will be equal consideration for what and how you write, therefore feel free to be yourself. Within the previously stated boundaries, say as much or as little as you need to be clear.
5. At this time, we do not have the capability to review secondary materials such as videos or slideshows. Although their inclusion will not disqualify an application, they will not be reviewed. No letters of reference are needed - nor will they be read if sent.
6. Please be honest in your identification as early-career. We hold an inclusive space for individuals who present themselves as such, and trust each applicant to sincerely share their history.
7. Send in PDF form to awards@lmda.org with your contact information. Please name the file “lastname_firstname”.
Please note: due to the unpredictable nature of the current Covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 LMDA conference format may change, which may also affect the outcome of the 2021 ECD Conference and Travel Grant. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact Roxanne Ray, VP of Grants and Awards, at awards@lmda.org
If you don't receive an acknowledgement of your application within 48 hours, please contact admin@lmda.org.
We look forward to your application!
Contact Information Form:
Name of Applicant: ___________
Phone: ______________ Email: __________________
LMDA Member Status: ___________
[Traducido por//translated by\\ Brenda Muñoz]
Beca de Viajes
Esta es una oportunidad para un artista o dramaturgista que considere tener un estatus temprano en su carrera como dramaturgista (Early Career Dramaturg) para solicitar fondos para asistir a la Conferencia Anual LMDA 2021 que actualmente está programado para realizarse en línea del 17 al 18 de junio y en persona en la Ciudad de México del 26 al 29 de junio. La Beca de Viajes ECD está abierta para todos lxs miembros de LMDA, sin importar edad, nivel de educación, ubicación geográfica, experiencia o contexto.
No hay cuota monetaria para trámite de la solicitud. Las solicitudes serán recibidas desde el 1ro de Febrero a las 12:00 AM hasta el 1ro de Marzo de 2021 a las 11:59 PM PST. Todos los aplicantes serán notificados con la decisión del panel el 1ro de Abril de 2021.
Tu propuesta debe incluir:
- ¿Por qué te identificas como un ECD (Early Career Dramaturg)? (50 palabras)
- ¿Qué esperas obtener de la conferencia? (50 palabras)
- ¿Qué esperas aportar a la conferencia? (50 palabras)
- ¿Cuáles son las metas de tu carrera a largo plazo? (50 palabras)
- Haznos saber qué tipo de fondos necesitas: traslado, estadía o ambos.
Lineamientos para la solicitud:
- Para los fines de esta beca, si te identificas como dramaturgista, descríbete como tal. Si en la cultura de artes de tu país no existe la figura del dramaturgista en el proceso creativo o no existe la palabra para describir un puesto oficial, siéntete libre de contactarnos en awards@lmda.org para tener una conversación y una visión más clara acerca de tu potencial en el campo del dramaturgísmo.
- Sólo se acepta una aplicación por persona.
- Aunque recibimos solicitudes de cualquier parte del mundo, actualmente sólo podemos procesar solicitudes en Inglés o Español. Si tu lengua originaria es otra (aparte del Inglés o Español) estamos en proceso de crear un sistema en el que podamos aceptar solicitudes en idiomas que no sean Inglés o Español, y esperamos poder leer tu propuesta en un futuro, cuando tengamos los lectores y traductores necesarios para tu idioma.
- Tienes hasta 50 palabras para responder cada pregunta. Consideraremos de igual forma la información escrita y la forma de desarrollarla, así que siéntete libre de mostrarnos tu voz y tu personalidad. Tomando en cuenta los límites establecidos anteriormente, describe tanto o tan poco como sea necesario para que tu solicitud sea clara.
- Por el momento, no tenemos la capacidad de revisar material adicional como videos o presentaciones. Aunque su inclusión no descalificará ninguna solicitud, ese material no podrá ser revisado. No es necesario incluir cartas de referencia, éstas tampoco podrán ser revisadas.
- Por favor, sé honesto con tu identificación con un estatus temprano en su carrera como dramaturgista.
- Please be honest in your identification as early-career. Sustentamos un espacio inclusivo para quienes se presentan como tal y confiamos en cada applicante para que sea sincero al compartirnos su historia.
- Envía tu solicitud en formato PDF a awards@lmda.org con a tu información de contacto dentro del correo. Por favor nombra el archivo “Apellido_PrimerNombre”.
Tenga en cuenta: debido a la naturaleza impredecible de la pandemia actual de Covid-19, el formato de la conferencia LMDA de 2021 puede cambiar, y también puede afectar el resultado de la Conferencia de ECD y la Beca de viaje de 2021. Si tiene más preguntas, no dude en ponerse en contacto con Roxanne Ray, vicepresidenta de subvenciones y premios, en awards@lmda.org
Si tu solicitud no obtiene respuesta de recibido en los 7 días próximos a esta, por favor, ponte en contacto con admin@lmda.org.
¡Esperamos tu solicitud!
Información de Contacto:
Nombre del aplicante:
Teléfono:
Correo electrónico:
Membresía LMDA:
The money for this initiative is raised through efforts of the ECDs and LMDA through the annual Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Memorial Birthday Bake Sale and generous donations. We are always happy to accept more donations to fund a larger number of recipients. Contributions to this fund or other ECD and LMDA initiatives can be made online or sent to LMDA, P.O Box 604074, Bayside, NY 11360.
2020 recipients
- Victoria Hope
- Liam Gibbs
- Sarah Kiker
- Roweena Mackay
- Manuela Sosa
- Fernando Vieria
- Rocio Calvo
- Lily Shell
2019 recipients
- Daniela Atencia
- Sabine Decatur
- Jihye Kim
2018 recipients
- Sierra Carlson
- Teresa Kilzi
- Charissa Hurt
2017 recipients
- Vivian Chace
- Andrea Kovich
2016 recipients
- Jolene Noelle
- Gabriella Steinberg
- Fly Steffens
The Dramaturgy Focus Group for the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) sponsors a competitive DEBUT PANEL to showcase outstanding and innovative work by emerging dramaturgs in educational and professional theatre. If you are a graduate student, intern, or new professional dramaturg and have provided dramaturgy for a production or event during the past three years, you are eligible to apply. This panel is adjudicated by both academic and professional theatre dramaturgs in the Americas. Panelists selected will present overviews of their dramaturgical work at ATHE's annual conference.
A complete prospectus should include the following: 1) Overview of the production/collaboration, including work produced, location, dates, producing organization, production staff 2) 3-6 page exploration of the scope, focus, significance, and distinctive aspects of your dramaturgy 3) Supporting materials, e.g., production program, photos, slides, CD/DVD, web link, blog link. Your prospectus should be accompanied by one or more letters of support from an artistic director, stage director, literary manager, supervising faculty member, or other theatre professional involved in process. Letters should address the level, quality, and significance of your dramaturgy.
Prospectus materials, including digital photos, may be sent via email to Dr. Cynthia M. SoRelle, Debut Panel Coordinator.
LMDA is pleased to sponsor regular conversations on Twitter and Facebook that focus on the questions, topics and concerns facing our early career dramaturgs. You can join the conversation by following #ECDramaturg and checking the ECD Facebook page.
Conversation times and topics are announced on the ECD Facebook page.
Click below to see any of our previous conversations.
Chatting with Emerging Dramaturge
Vancouver Conference follow-up
Freelancing/Starting Your Own Career
Internship Applications and Interviews
Dramaturg's Role in Diversity and Audience Development
Internship Applications Strategies
Visit our Mentor Match page for more information.
NOTE: Please note that this opportunity is open to LMDA members only. To join LMDA, please go here.
On January 22, 1729, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing – the world’s first dramaturg -- was born. Every year, to celebrate his birthday, LMDA holds a big fundraiser during the last 2 weeks of January to fund our annual travel grants to help early career dramaturgs attend the LMDA international conference.
Interested in helping? There are a couple of ways to do so:
- Share the Lessing Facebook page and donation tab with your friends, family, and colleagues.
- The Lessing Memorial Bake Sale
Raise money in your local community through a bake sale or other event (People have sold crafts, other homemade food items like hot fudge, and we’re always open to new ideas). A bake sale can sound small – but the combined fundraising power is huge! Dramaturgs have usually been able to raise anywhere from $50 to $125 a piece through one-day sales at their theatres, schools, or workplaces. This is a great way to support the organization with little to no out-of-pocket cost. Megan Monaghan Rivas' students at CMU held a really successful bake sale last year that raised over $100
Let me know if you want to hold an event in your area. I've attached a poster template, and will add files to the group that include an e-blast template and a sheet with some tips and tricks that we created with dramaturg/bake sale genius Molly FitzMaurice
- The 32 for 32 campaign
Many people have asked in the past “Can I just give money if I don’t want to bake?” Of course you can! Two years ago, Brian Quirt started the $30 for 30 campaign to celebrate LMDA’s 30th anniversary -- and this year we're suggesting donations of either $32 for LMDA's 32 years or $16 if that fits your budget better -- every gift is meaningful. We encourage you to make a gift to the organization in honor of a mentor who shaped your career as a dramaturg.
If you have further questions, or are interesting in participating, e-mail VP of Programs, Jessica Kahkoska at programs@lmda.org.
2020 recipients
- Victoria Hope
- Liam Gibbs
- Sarah Kiker
- Roweena Mackay
- Manuela Sosa
- Fernando Vieria
- Rocio Calvo
- Lily Shell
2019 recipients
- Daniela Atencia
- Sabine Decatur
- Jihye Kim
2018 recipients
- Sierra Carlson
- Teresa Kilzi
- Charissa Hurt
2017 recipients
- Vivian Chace
- Andrea Kovich
2016 recipients
- Jolene Noelle
- Gabriella Steinberg
- Fly Steffens