Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Type
Submission
Keywords
History, World War II, Verbatim Theater, Interviews
Department
Theater Arts
Major
Theater Arts, Directing emphasis
Abstract
This presentation reflects in-depth dramaturgical research and archival curation developed in support of Pepperdine University’s fall production of “The Good War.” Adapted from Studs Terkel’s oral history of World War II, the production uses verbatim theatre to stage lived experience with historical and ethical complexity. Grounded in Terkel’s interview-based methodology, the project examines not only wartime testimony but also the post-war trajectories of the individuals represented in the script, revealing the long aftermath of conflict and its enduring effects on personal and collective memory. A key component of the project involved compiling biographical information for each interview subject and transforming that research into a lobby slideshow displayed during the run of the show. This supplementary material extended the production’s narrative frame beyond the confines of the stage and offered audiences a shared deeper understanding of the historical figures behind the testimonies being portrayed. By connecting oral history, performance, and public-facing archival presentation, this project demonstrates how dramaturgy can function as both interpretive scholarship and a form of social engagement.
Faculty Mentor
Nanci Carol Ruby
Funding Source or Research Program
Not Identified
Start Date
10-4-2026 1:00 PM
End Date
10-4-2026 2:00 PM
Included in
Dramaturgical Research on Studs Terkel's “The Good War”
This presentation reflects in-depth dramaturgical research and archival curation developed in support of Pepperdine University’s fall production of “The Good War.” Adapted from Studs Terkel’s oral history of World War II, the production uses verbatim theatre to stage lived experience with historical and ethical complexity. Grounded in Terkel’s interview-based methodology, the project examines not only wartime testimony but also the post-war trajectories of the individuals represented in the script, revealing the long aftermath of conflict and its enduring effects on personal and collective memory. A key component of the project involved compiling biographical information for each interview subject and transforming that research into a lobby slideshow displayed during the run of the show. This supplementary material extended the production’s narrative frame beyond the confines of the stage and offered audiences a shared deeper understanding of the historical figures behind the testimonies being portrayed. By connecting oral history, performance, and public-facing archival presentation, this project demonstrates how dramaturgy can function as both interpretive scholarship and a form of social engagement.