7. Dramaturgical Sheets Inauguration

In Germany there is no organ dedicated to the interests of the theater. Such a body appears to be an urgent requirement of the times in view of the fact that the theater has to fulfill one of the most important cultural tasks of the present day.

This Dramaturgische Blätter is intended to create such an organ. A permanent and expert treatment of artistic, technical, legal and social theater matters should be offered. Anyone who wants to have a proper say on such matters should have the opportunity to express their views in these journals.

The plan for the company originated with the former editor of the Magazin für Literatur, Otto Neumann-Hofer. He asked important experts in the theater business for their opinion on this matter and found approval and a happy response everywhere. The current management of the Magazin has made this plan its own and will do its utmost to realize it.

They were delighted that the Deutsche Bühnenverein approved the plan and, at its meeting on October 17, authorized the Dramaturgische Blätter to call itself its organ. The fact that this body, which is at the forefront of German theater relations, has given its approval to the new organ and is giving it its strong support is regarded by the management as a special guarantee for the success of the enterprise.

The treatment of artistic and technical questions of the theater is to be one of the main tasks of the Dramaturgische Blätter. The development of dramatic literature in the present day poses a number of important tasks in this field. Only those who are intimately familiar with the demands of the stage are called upon to solve them. We would like to count them first and foremost among the contributors to this organ. We would also like to ask the stage poets and playwrights to raise their voices. All stage artists should have their say. Speech and counter-speech should result in something that serves the stage.

With art itself, the interests of the personalities and institutions who dedicate their lives to this art are close to our hearts. We want to represent their legal and social interests. Artists should speak to the people they delight through their art.

The General Counsel of the Deutscher Bühnenverein, District Court Judge Dr. Felisch, has given me the most gratifying promise to report on the arbitration awards made by the association in the Dramaturgische Blätter.

We want to offer our readers reports on events in theater life, on factual and personal issues.

The task that the Magazin has to fulfill for intellectual life in general, the Dramaturgische Blätter should make its own in particular.