Dramaturgy

Go beyond the stage with our dramaturgy hub, your source for deeper context, artist insights, and creative inspiration behind SpeakEasy’s 2026–27 Season. Explore the themes, histories, and ideas that shape each Boston and New England premiere, and discover how our artists bring these powerful new stories to life.

Covenant

Curated by Karina Tejera (Assistant Director)

The Myth of Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson has haunted the world of music from the moment he started creating it. Born in 1911 in Mississippi, Robert Johnson was born with the itch of the blues. Though it did not come naturally, after a brief six months away from home, he returned having mastered the guitar. His sudden improvement sparked rumors around town, the most popular being that he struck a deal with the devil to acquire his talent. This rumor has since been disproved, but the story lingers in Robert Johnson’s history and is a foundational block in the history of the Delta Blues.

Further Reading and Listening:

Robert Johnson At 100, Still Dispelling Myths

Biography : Robert Johnson Blues Foundation

Where and When Are We?

COVENANT takes place in Hartwell County, 1936. Existing in the aftermath of the Great Depression, the 1930s were a period of instability across the country. Hartwell, Georgia, holds great significance in this period of American history. It was connected by railroad in the 1870s, and by highway in the mid-1920s. Due to its accessibility by transit, it became an important stop for overnight travelers commuting on the Bankhead Highway.

Further Reading:

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation : Hartwell, Georgia

Breaking News of the 1930s

Religion in Conversation with COVENANT

Religion plays a major role in the world of Covenant. The traditional definition of the term “covenant” is “a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement”(Merriam-Webster). Within Christianity, a “covenant” can be defined as a binding relationship, often accompanied by an oath or ceremony. Rumors and accusations of a binding covenant with the Devil drive this story, as does each character’s battle with their relationship to God. As we move through the play, we experience many different rituals, prayers, and spiritual experiences. In 1930s Georgia, and the South overall, religion was built into everyday life. In the following section, we will cover important religious moments in Covenant, as well as history surrounding religion in the South.

Cleansing

We experience Mama cleansing herself, her table, and her home regularly. This ritual is used to connect with the Lord and wipe away any sins, misdoings, and harmful energy that needs to be shed. Cleansing is also thought to clear away any demons one may be carrying with them and reset the energy in a given space.

Music and the Devil

From the first scene, Johnny and his guitar are established as the workings of the Devil himself. Where does this connection between music and the Devil come from? While interpretations of the Bible can vary, Lucifer is often thought of as the Minister of Music before he fell. From the early days, musical elements, such as the triad, were banned and branded as the Devil´s music. To this day, the musical tie to the Devil remains strong within musicians, with many, similar to Johnny, utilizing it as a point of mysticism and interest.

In particular denominations, such as that of the Church of Christ, the removal and distrust of music in worship runs deeper. In the Church of Christ, it is believed that God has not given authority to use mechanical instruments as methods of worship. Thus, those who worship with anything but their voice are worshipping in vain.

Church as Culture 

Christianity is deeply intertwined with Black culture in the United States, particularly the American South. With roots tracing back to slavery, Christianity helped provide hope and guidance. Starting in the 1770s and 1780s black ministers in the South began preaching to their people, which led to the establishment of the First African Baptist Church of Savannah, with others to follow. Post-abolition and into emancipation and Reconstruction, many black Southerners joined black churches that had formed in the North; some of these including the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and further developing into the Colored (now “Christian”) Methodist Episcopal Church, and the National Baptist Convention. (“The Black Church”, American Experience – PBS) Moving into the time period of this piece, the members of the Church were what gave rural communities strength. They promoted social connection, and created cohesion in times of hardship.

Further Reading:

The Devil Has All The Best Tunes: How Musicians Discovered Their Dark Side

Why Does The Church Of Christ Not Use Mechanical Instruments Of Music In Worship?

The Black Church

A brief history of the Black church’s diversity, and its vital role in American political history