The director/dramaturg relationship in the artistic collaboration process is not clearly defined in American theatre. A wide range of experiences is documented in theatre journal articles – from dramaturgs who feel underutilized by directors to highly collaborative partnerships in which the result of the work of director and dramaturg become indistinguishavle in the final production. The diversity in dramaturgs’ experiences in working with directors (and vice versa) reflects two key factors. The first is the relative newness of the dramaturg in the American theatre production process, resulting in a lack of clarity regarding his/her role. The second is the perceived threat of the dramaturg to the power and authority of the director. This essay reviews common perceptions regarding dramaturgs’ and directors’ roles and suggests ways in which the collaborative process can be enhanced.