A playwright, also known as a dramatist or dramaturg, is a person who writes dramatic literature or drama. These works are usually written to be performed in front of a live audience by actors. They may also be closet dramas or literary works written using dramatic forms but not meant for performance.

Contemporary playwrights often do not reach the same level of fame or cultural importance that they have in the past. This is because the theatre is no longer the only outlet for serious drama or entertaining comedies. It must compete with films and television for an audience. In addition, the perilous state of funding for the arts in the U.S. and a growing reliance on ticket sales as a source of income for non-profit theatres has caused many to reduce the number of new works they produce.

For example, Playwrights Horizons produced only six plays in the 2002-03 seasons. This is a significant decrease compared with thirty-one in 1973-74. As revivals and large-scale production musicals become the de rigueur Broadway (and even Off-Broadway) production, it has become much more difficult for playwrights to make a living in the business. Thus, it is challenging for them to become major successes.

However, the most successful playwrights are often high-status figures in their industry. This status is in stark contrast to the status of the screenwriter in Hollywood. While this may be considered to be a result of the more literary approach that has characterised the theatre since its roots in poetry, it is also because of the hard fact according to Dramatists Guild. The playwright has the final say on a production.

This situation leaves less room for the director to be as much of an auteur as the film director. The playwright’s vision takes precedence. This encyclopaedia contains biographies of some of the world’s greatest dramatists throughout the ages. It is hoped that the encyclopedia’s effort to emphasise upon the need for drama in the modern world is appreciated by readers.