Apr 30-May 6: Leah Hamos

Apr 30-May 6: Leah Hamos 

Focus: “This week I’ll be splitting my time between Denver – where I’ll muse on what it might be like to create theater in the mountains – and back at home in New York – where I’ll talk about my thoughts from the desk of Abrams Artists Agency, seeing opera and a few readings, and considering next steps for my current freelance project. I also have to read a lot, so I’ll try to procrastinate doing so by tweeting my thoughts and questions around those plays!”

Bio: Leah Hamos recently graduated from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study with her Master’s Degree in theater management and dramaturgy for new plays. Since moving to New York, she has worked with New York Theatre Workshop and the Lark Play Development Center in development and dramaturgy, respectively, and currently works at Abrams Artists Agency in the Literary Division. Leah is on the reading committees for the Lark Play Development Center’s Playwrights Week and Young Playwrights, Inc.’s National Competition. Her most recent dramaturgical credits include: The Capables (Lark Play Development Center, Judson Church’s Magic Time); Real Optimized Boyfriend (The Tank); Seiza No Ai (Gallatin); 1001 (Gallatin); Dead City (Rorschach Theatre, DC); Antebellum (World Premiere, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company); and Fever/Dream (World Premiere, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company).

Questions from LMDA:

What is your definition of dramaturgy?

“I’ve always been a fan of the dramaturgy as a compass-bearer; more of a spiritual guide and advocate in the process of creating a play/a work/a voice. And if you look at my graduate thesis (oy!), you’ll see I’m a proponent of dividing that guidance and support into three arena: (1) production dramaturgy,(2) new play development dramaturgy, and (3) institutional dramaturgy. “

What is your favorite project?

“The ones that build community and seem to have a continued energy around them from a variety of sources – actors, directors, audience members.  They sparkle. I happen to be working on one like that right now, that generally just excites me when I think about all of the other people who get excited about it and want to continue to be a part of its world.”

What is your dream project?

“Hard to say – since I’m not a writer (like, really not), I’m not necessarily in the position to be creating dream projects.  I’ll know the project and the person when it comes to me.”