In this course, we will explore various approaches to research for the purpose of building a theatrical piece. We will spend the first few weeks looking at what kinds of sources can be useful (primary, secondary, written, oral, various media etc) and how to go about using these sources to gather information. The middle section of the course will focus on looking at specific examples of building devised pieces through interviews and other sources, as well as taking one existing work and discussing how a theater artist might research that project for a production. Finally, the last few weeks of the course are devoted to building a research plan toward creating a new theatrical work. Over the course of the semester, we will examine these processes through logistical/producing, ethical, and creative lenses. We will also consider approaches to interdisciplinary collaborations and culturally specific pieces.