New Work Development

Dramaturgy for world premiere productions, workshops, and play readings 

Laurel has over a decade of experience in the creation, development, and production of new work in multiple genres and intersections of practice. Her relationship with playwrights and performance creators begins during the first phase of an idea. Every project is different, and she co-designs processes that are collaborative, rigorous, and responsive.  Generous and community-focused, these processes include research, exploration, and reflection. She continuously returns to the core values of a project and lets those guide her.  

Dramaturgy is a practice-based and practice-led discipline that defies a fixed definition. Uniquely-positioned as a catalyst for change, dramaturgs work in vital intersections where they are shifting the cultural landscape, evolving storytelling forms, and yielding more equitable curatorial models. The dramaturg is a creative instigator and artistic leader, working inside and outside of institutions, across performance disciplines, through digital and analog platforms, and deeply embedded in communities. 

Laurel is a long-time member of the LMDA (Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas) and helped launch the International Dramaturgy Lab.  

Selected Dramaturgy Projects: 

New Play Development at Alberta Theatre Projects 

Over seven seasons on the artistic team at Alberta Theatre Projects, Laurel grew her role from Assistant Dramaturg to Artistic Associate, to Director of Artistic Programming leading new play development. As production dramaturg, she has worked on the development and world premiere of new plays, and contributed to the workshop of projects during all stages of their creation process. She launched a national Playwrights Unit; led casting, directed play readings, managed multiple budgets, selected projects, wrote major grants, and ran an audience engagement program to events that explored the work onstage through opportunities to go inside the play development process. Implementing a new play mentorship program, an emerging artist weekend called Raucous Caucus, and designing industry events and publications to activate a national network around these new works, Laurel has contributed to the launch of new works from playwrights across the country.  

Selected Dramaturgy at ATP:

*Production Dramaturg for world premiere