People expect different types of answers in different contexts.
But, in this context, why don't I give you a bunch of different answers and we'll see what you can make of it. Besides, one things dramaturgs do is document a process, and this documents the development of my thinking on this question over the past couple of years. Let me know what you think of this. A random list of things dramaturgs do by Winston D. Neutel, March 1995. Something I whipped up after being asked a number of times what that funny-looking word meant.