Describes the discipline of theatrical or dramatic composition, representation, and research. English dramaturgy is derived from German Dramaturgie, a concept developed by the German dramatist and critic Gotthold Lessing in a series of essays entitled 'Hamburgische Dramaturgie,' published 1767 to 1769. The discipline includes researching, selection, adaptation, or development of texts, scripts, plays, operas, or films for a theater or other production company.

Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus

http://vocab.getty.edu/page/aat/300403979