Presenter(s): Kelsey Tidball − Journalism
Faculty Mentor(s): Michael Najjar
Poster 115
Research Area: Performing Arts
Journalism and theater are often considered separate entities with separate goals. One is traditionally non-fiction, while the other is traditionally imaginative and fictional. But what happens when the lines between these two art forms are blurred? Documentary and Verbatim Theater is a genre of theater that combines journalism and theater and works to incite social change, encourage community healing, and engage public empathy and awareness. Documentary and Verbatim Theater artists gather information from news articles, paper trails, interviews and public knowledge to tell stories about real people, places and events. They work like investigative journalists, compiling all of this found information and crafting characters, stories, and dialogue that often become full-fledged dramatic plays based on significant or traumatic events. In my research, I discuss the recent surge in popularity of Documentary and Verbatim Theater, looking at successful productions, discussing effective and ineffective techniques, and researching theater artists who have become known for their documentary work. I look at the space where journalism and theater intersect, and I discuss the ethical, social, and political value of creating and performing Non-fiction Theater. I argue that, while Documentary and Verbatim Theater offers unique challenges for the playwright and performers, its social and political significance makes it a worthwhile pursuit, and, in addition to my more traditional research, I am also crafting my own piece of Documentary and Verbatim Theater about young women who have studied abroad.