Individual actors Books

Book SynopsisAs screen icon Kirk Douglas approaches his 100th birthday, he and his wife of 62 years, Anne Buydens, share secrets to longevity in life and love told through candid commentary and priceless correspondence between each other and famous friends from celebrities to world leaders, spanning almost a century.

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Book SynopsisFrom Scarlett O''Hara to Thelma and Louise to Wonder Woman, a wide range of strong female leads have not only lit up the screen -- they''ve fired our inspiration with their courage, their independence, and their refusal to follow the rules. Some dynamic women are naughty and some are nice, but all of them buck the narrow confines of their expected gender role -- whether by taking small steps or revolutionary strides.Through engaging profiles and dozens of photographs, Dynamic Dames looks at fifty of the most empowered and inspiring female roles in film from the 1920s to today. The characters are discussed along with the exciting off-screen personalities and achievements of the actresses and, on occasion, female writers and directors, who brought them to vibrant life.Among the stars profiled in their most revolutionary roles are Bette Davis, Mae West, Barbara Stanwyck, Josephine Baker, Greta Garbo, Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Wood, Barbra Streisand, Julia Roberts,

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Book Synopsis#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A panoramic experience that tells the story of Beastie Boys, a book as unique as the band itself—by band members ADROCK and Mike D, with contributions from Amy Poehler, Colson Whitehead, Wes Anderson, Luc Sante, and more.The inspiration for the Emmy-nominated Apple TV+ “live documentary” Beastie Boys Story, directed by Spike Jonze NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Rolling Stone • The Guardian • Paste  Formed as a New York City hardcore band in 1981, Beastie Boys struck an unlikely path to global hip hop superstardom. Here is their story, told for the first time in the words of the band. Adam “ADROCK” Horovitz and Michael “Mike D” Diamond offer revealing and very funny accounts of their transition from teenage punks to budding rappers; their early collaboration with Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin; the debut album that became the first hip hop record ever to hit #1, Licensed to Ill—and the album’s messy fallout as the band broke with Def Jam; their move to Los Angeles and rebirth with the genre-defying masterpiece Paul’s Boutique; their evolution as musicians and social activists over the course of the classic albums Check Your Head, Ill Communication, and Hello Nasty and the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits conceived by the late Adam “MCA” Yauch; and more. For more than thirty years, this band has had an inescapable and indelible influence on popular culture. With a style as distinctive and eclectic as a Beastie Boys album, Beastie Boys Book upends the typical music memoir. Alongside the band narrative you will find rare photos, original illustrations, a cookbook by chef Roy Choi, a graphic novel, a map of Beastie Boys’ New York, mixtape playlists, pieces by guest contributors, and many more surprises.Praise for Beastie Boys Book “A fascinating, generous book with portraits and detail that float by in bursts of color . . . As with [the band’s] records, the book’s structure is a lyrical three-man weave. . . . Diamond’s voice is lapidary, droll. Horovitz comes on like a borscht belt comedian, but beneath that he is urgent, incredulous, kind of vulnerable. . . . Friendship is the book’s subject as much as music, fame and New York.”—The New York Times Book Review “Wild, moving . . . resembles a Beastie Boys LP in its wild variety of styles.”—Rolling Stone

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Book SynopsisThis exquisite book, edited by Robin Bronk and designed by typographer and award-winning art director Nancy Rouemy, features renowned photographer Jeff Vespa's intimate portraits and key inspirational moments and stories from Hollywood luminaries including Zach Braff, Jessica Chastain, Tim Daly, Adam Driver, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ashley Greene, Jonathan Groff, Michael C. Hall, Ethan Hawke, Amber Heard, Cheryl Hines, Kate Hudson, Anna Kendrick, Nicole Kidman, Jared Leto, John Leguizamo, Jeremy Renner, Seth Rogen, Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, Gabourey Sidibe, Kristen Stewart, Justin Theroux, Naomi Watts, Forest Whitaker, Shailene Woodley, and other icons of the entertainment industry. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of The Art of Discovery will go to support the arts advocacy programs of The Creative Coalition (thecreativecoalition.org), the premier nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community.Trade Review“We hope that The Art of Discovery is savored, and provides inspiration. Everyday life is full of challenges and information overload, and the concept of time has become a most precious gift. The Art of Discovery captures that singular "moment" in time that acts as your own personal muse. The Art of Discovery is meant to encourage the all of us to ignite our own curiosity through music, film, art, photography and literature while at home and on the road. Wake up America! It's time to go buy the book in order to preserve the arts.” –Huffington Post“In a lavish new coffee-table book, The Art of Discovery, glamorous photographs of glittering stars are matched with beautiful typography by spelling out a moment of discovery or inspiration. It’s an easy book to get lost in; you can flip to any page and find something interesting, like Jason Alexander with a dove on his head, accompanied by a story about wanting to be a magician.” –Vanity Fair“Immerse yourself in one hundred intimate portraits of celebrities relating personal stories about their inspirations…” –Society Diaries

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Book SynopsisA magical concoction of the mischievous, tender, whimsical, and debauched real-life adventures of Alan Cumming, told in his own words and pictures. Described by the New York Times as “a bawdy countercultural sprite” and named one of the most fun people in show business by Time magazine, Alan Cumming is a genuine quadruple threat—an internationally acclaimed, award-winning star of stage, television, and film, as well as a New York Times best-selling author whose real-life vivacity, wit, and charm shine through every page of his third book, You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams. In these forty-five picture essays, Cumming recounts his real-life adventures (and often, misadventures), illustrated by his own equally entertaining photographs. From an awkward bonding session with Elizabeth Taylor to poignant stories about his family and friends to some harsh words of wisdom imparted by Oprah that make up the title of this collection, You Gotta Get BiggerTrade Review"There’s a lot of joy in this book and a lot of laughs. You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams is the best part of experiencing New York nightlife: all the gossip without the hangover."—New York Journal of Books“The pictures—and stories—are intimate, mischievous, funny, and poignant. It's a rare self-portrait by an actor in an era when most are wary of revealing too much.” —Town & Country Magazine"...a fun, heartfelt, adorably catty collection of anecdotes and accompanying photographs from the entertainer's personal and professional life." —Edge Media Network"A passion for photography has stayed with Cumming, all his life, and stage, film and television actor, has just released a book of 45 short essays accompanied by his photos." —San Francisco Chronicle"Cumming’s delight in life’s unexpectedly joyful experiences — of which he’s had plenty in his fortunate career — runs throughout the 45 essays in “You’ve Gotta Get Bigger Dreams,” his third book. . . . Cumming’s new book is rife with entertaining anecdotes, as well as personal reflections and at times shrewdly insightful commentary on his adopted country."—SF Gate"Cumming’s witty and incisive essays cover everything from a cross-country road trip with his beloved dog Honey to an unforgettable encounter with Oprah, whose one-line response to one of Cumming’s friends became the title of his book."—Daily Front Row"Alan Cumming is just plain old delightful. Instead of just writing another memoir book, he peppers his crazy life stories with his photographs to give them an extra visual punch most people don't have in their writing."—Ain't It Cool News "Must Read" selection:. . . 45 vignettes, with photos, name-checking Oprah, Seam Combs, and Elizabeth Taylor."—Harper's Bazaar"Cummings says that as a photographer, hes just a "snapper," capturing moments."—Pittsburgh City Paper". . . a brisk, entertaining read that makes the reader feel like Cumming is in your head relating each mischievous adventure."—Metrosource NY". . . 45 charming, naughty, thoughtful, and wickedly hilarious stories, all illustrated by Cumming’s own memorable photographs."—Good Morning Washington / WJLA-TV "If you’re a fan of Cumming, You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams is fun and lively enough to sustain interest. For those less familiar, it is a teasing glimpse into an impressive achiever’s high life and downtime."—StageBuddy.com "...a charming mosaic of anecdotes and photos..."—Out Magazine"Flipping through feels like passing a couple hours with the scrapbook of your most fabulous older cousin."—Passport Magazine

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Book SynopsisThe world''s most beloved funnyman is back with I DIDN''T ASK TO BE BORN, his first humor book since the best selling Cosbyology.Sample chapters include: Missing Pages: Bill Cosby owns eight Bibles, all written in English. They were published at different times. One of them was printed in 1709. Another came over on the Santa Maria. They''re all very old but none are autographed. One thing these Bibles have in common is the fact that he''s convinced there are missing pages. The Morphamization of Peanut Armhouse: When Peanut''s mother calls him to dinner and he refuses to leave the softball field, a young Bill Cosby witnesses a sight that haunts him to this day. If (But not by Rudyard Kipling): If Native Americans knew then what they know now, America would be quite a different place. Too Late For Me But Perhaps Not For You: How Bill Cosby handles a teenage daughter who refuses to clean her room.Cosby''s millions of fans will be excited and delighted to pick up t

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Book SynopsisBy the time Eunice Gayson played James Bond''s girlfriend Sylvia Trench in Dr No and From Russia With Love she had already become one of the first reality TV stars. Her leading men included Sean Connery and Roger Moore, and at the height of her fame she co-starred in a record-breaking run of The Sound of Music. But when her second marriage fell apart and the roles dried up she was arrested for shoplifting. This is the inside story on some of the best-loved films ever made, and how the original Bond girl came back from the depths of despair.

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Book SynopsisCheryl Black is Curators Distinguished Professor Emerita of theatre at the University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.Table of ContentsList of Figures Series Introductions, James Peck (Muhlenberg College, USA) Acknowledgments Introduction. Forerunners and Groundbreakers in the Art of Theatrical Directing, Cheryl Black (University of Missouri, USA) David Belasco 1. The Belasco Brand: Directing the Modern Theatrical Experience, Christin Essin (Vanderbilt University, USA) 2. The Cultural Imaginings of a Theatrical Impresario: David Belasco in Context, Cheryl Black (University of Missouri, USA) Arthur Hopkins 3. Arthur Hopkins’s First Act: Before the Crash (1913–29), Arthur Feinsod (Indiana State University, USA) 4. Arthur Hopkins’s Second Act: After the Crash (1928–48), Ronald Wainscott (Indiana University, USA) Margaret Webster 5. “She Must Be Fierce”: Margaret Webster’s Groundbreaking Broadway Career, Wendy Vierow (New York University, USA) 6. Not the Moor, but the Figure of the Moor: A Case Study of the Racial, Political, and Personal Stakes of Margaret Webster’s Othello (1943) and The Tempest (1945), Lisa Jackson-Schebetta (Skidmore College, USA) Notes Notes on Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisJonathan Chambers is Professor of Theatre and Film at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA.Table of ContentsList of Figures Series Introduction, James Peck (Muhlenberg College, USA) Introduction. The Director in the Company and the Value of Crisis, Jonathan Chambers (Bowling Green State University, USA) Harold Clurman 1. Harold Clurman, the Group, and the Legacy of a Director, Richard Jones (Stephen F. Austin State University, USA) 2. Cultural Messiah: Harold Clurman and the Early Years of the Group Theatre, Fonzie D. Geary II (Lyon College, USA) 3. Something More Than the "Naked Facts": Clurman and Odets's Messy Idealism, Christopher Herr (Missouri State University, USA) Orson Welles 4. Orson Welles, Project 891, and the Mercury Theatre: A Consideration of Welles as the Director of a Company, Matthew Gretzinger (Independent Scholar, USA) 5. Recovering History and Supernatural Politics: Orson Welles's Creative Collaborations in the Federal Theatre Project's "Voodoo Macbeth", Elizabeth A. Osborne (Florida State University, USA) 6. Caesar: A Production for Its Time and Beyond, Anne Fletcher (Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA) Margo Jones 7. Margo Jones and the Rhetoric of Company-Making, Boone J. Hopkins (Converse College, USA) 8. Margo Jones and Alma Winemiller: A Director and Her Doppelgänger, Chrystyna Dail (Ithaca College, USA) 9. On a Double-Dog Dare: Margo Jones’s Production of Inherit the Wind, Jennifer Jones Cavenaugh (Rollins College, USA) Bibliography Notes on Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisHarvey Young is Professor of Theatre at Boston University, USA. His research on the performance and experience of race has been widely published in academic journals, profiled in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal and The Chronicle of Higher Education. He has published seven books, including Embodying Black Experience, winner of Book of the Year awards from the National Communication Association and the American Society for Theatre Research and, most recently, Black Theater is Black Life: An Oral History of Chicago Theater (coauthored with Mecca Zabriskie). He is the current editor of Theatre Survey.Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Series Introduction, James Peck (Muhlenberg College, USA) Acknowledgments Introduction. Living the American Dream, Harvey Young (Boston University, USA) Elia Kazan 1 Gadget Makes American Theatre, Harvey Young (Boston University, USA) Jerome Robbins 2 Choreography as Directing: On Jerome Robbins, Julia Foulkes (New School, USA) 3 Jerome Robbins: A Hide-and-Seek Directorial Life, Stuart J. Hecht (Boston College, USA) Lloyd Richards 4 Lloyd Richards in the Classroom, cfrancis blackchild (University of Miami, USA) 5 The Performative Tradition of Lloyd Richards, Everett C. Dixon (Universidad del Valle, Colombia) 6 Mentoring August: Lloyd Richards and August Wilson, Sandra G. Shannon (Howard University, USA) Notes on Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisHenry Bial is Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Kansas, USA.Chase Bringardner is Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre at Auburn University, USA.Table of ContentsList of Figures Series introduction, James Peck (Muhlenberg College, USA) Acknowledgments Introduction. Henry Bial (University of Kansas, USA) & Chase Bringardner (Auburn University, USA) George Abbott 1. Speedy Entertainment: How the Abbott Touch Shaped the Mid-Century Musical, Alisa Roost (Hostos Community College, USA) 2. The Abbott Legacy, Bud Coleman (University of Colorado at Boulder, USA) 3. The Critic’s Darling, Henry Bial (University of Kansas, USA) Vinnette Carroll 4. The Remaining One-Third: Vinnette Carroll and the Urban Arts Corps, La Donna L. Forsgren (University of Notre Dame, USA) 5. An Architect of Feeling: Vinnette Carroll and Her Broadway Gospel Musicals, Brian Granger (Mary Baldwin University, USA) 6. Vinnette Carroll, Langston Hughes, and the Creation of the Gospel Song-Play, Hillary Miller (Queens College, City University of New York, USA) Harold Prince 7. Hal Prince Assumes Direction of a Genre, Paul R. Laird (University of Kansas, USA) 8. “A Show Every Year Like Clockwork”: Harold Prince’s Illustrious Career as a Revolutionary Musical Theatre Director and Creative Producer, Barbara Wallace Grossman (Tufts University, USA) 9. Producing Phantoms: Hal Prince and the Mega in the Mega-Musical, Chase Bringardner (Auburn University, USA) Notes on Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisJoan Herrington is the Director of the School of Theatre and Dance at Western Michigan University, USA.Table of ContentsList of Figures Series Introduction, James Peck (Muhlenberg College, USA) Acknowledgments Facing the Impossible: An Introduction, Joan Herrington (Western Michigan University, USA) Richard Schechner 1. Richard Schechner: Broadening the Spectrum, 1957-1976, Mike Sell (Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA) 2 Onwards! Richard Schechner's Global Theatre, Performance Training and Ensemble-Building 1981-2011, Cindy Rosenthal (Hofstra University, USA) Lee Breuer 3. The Drama in the Dialectic: Lee Breuer's Theatrical Life and Collaborations, Jessica Silsby Brater (Montclair State University, USA) 4. Lee Breuer: Writing, Directing, Illusion Making and Theatre, Arthur J. Sabatini (Arizona State University, USA) Anne Bogart 5. Undefining the World: Anne Bogart, Erin B. Mee (Independent Scholar, USA) 6. What are we Waiting for? Bogart in Collaboration, Joan Herrington (Western Michigan University, USA) Notes on Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisAnn M. Shanahan is Chair of the Department of Theatre at Purdue University, USA. Her research interests and teaching specialties include directing, gender and theatrical space, and theatre and social change. Professor Shanahan served as dramaturg for the national touring production of Angels in America, Parts I and II (dir. Michael Meyer), Third (dir. Sarah Gabel) and The Mistress Cycle (dir. Kurt Johns) at Appletree Theatre, among others.Table of ContentsList of Figures Series Introduction, James Peck (Muhlenberg College, USA) Acknowledgments Introduction: Theatres of Perception, Ann M. Shanahan (Purdue University, USA) Meredith Monk 1. Meredith Monk: Five Decades of Embodied Innovation, Nancy Putnam Smithner (New York University, USA) 2. The Theatre of Meredith Monk: Embodying Wholeness by Working Between the Cracks, Ann M. Shanahan (Purdue University, USA) Richard Foreman 3. Make 'em dance: The Directorial Strategy of Richard Foreman, Neal Swettenham (Independent Scholar, UK) 4. "What a Time It Was": Richard Foreman and the Heyday of the East Village Avant-Garde, David Callaghan (University of Montevallo, USA) Robert Wilson 5. Robert Wilson's Sonosphere, Maria Shevtsova (Goldsmiths, University of London, UK) 6. Standing at the Threshold: Robert Wilson as a Designer-Director, Ewa Kara (Independent Scholar, USA) Notes on Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisClaudia Orenstein is Professor of Theatre at Hunter College and the Graduate Center, CUNY, USA.James Peck is Professor of Theatre at Muhlenberg College, USA.Table of ContentsList of Figures Series Introduction, James Peck (Muhlenberg College, USA) Introduction, Claudia Orenstein (CUNY, USA) Elizabeth LeCompte 1. The Forty Year Rehearsal: The Wooster Group’s Endless Work in Progress, David Gordon (Author, USA) 2. Tele-Performatively Yours: Deformation, Distraction, and Meaning-Making in Three Recorded Works of Elizabeth LeCompte and The Wooster Group, Thomas Cartelli (Muhlenberg College, USA) Ping Chong 3. Ping Chong: An Artist, Storyteller, and Activist, Yuko Kurahashi (Kent State University, USA) 4. Animated Objects in the Work of Ping Chong, Claudia Orenstein (CUNY, USA) Robert Lepage 5. The Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Theatre of Robert Lepage, Aleksandar S. Dundjerovic (Birmingham City University, UK) 6. Intermediality in the Theatre of Robert Lepage, Christopher B. Balme (LMU Munich, Germany) Notes on Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisJames Peck is Professor of Theatre at Muhlenberg College, USA. He is the co-editor of Performing Magic on the Western Stage (2008) and has published in many academic journals, including Theatre Journal, Theatre Topics, Theatre Survey, and TDR. He serves on the editorial board of Theatre Topics and on the senior advisory board to the peer reviewed section of the SDC Journal.Table of ContentsList of Figures Series Introduction, James Peck (Muhlenberg College, USA) Acknowledgements Introduction. Jesusa Rodríguez, Peter Sellars, Reza Abdoh, James Peck (Muhlenberg College, USA) Jesusa Rodríguez 1. From El Hábito to Resistencia Creativa: Reimagining Mexico through Jesusa Rodríguez’s Artivism, Leticia Robles-Moreno (Muhlenberg College, USA) 2. Directing the Public: On Jesusa Rodríguez’s Lesbian Feminist Interventions, Iván A. Ramos (University of Maryland, USA) Peter Sellars 3. Peter Sellars: Politics and Spirituality in Opera, James Peck (Muhlenberg College, USA) 4. Peter Sellars’ Work in Theatre Directing, Peter Lichtenfels (University of California Davis, USA) Reza Abdoh 5. Hypervalent Elegies: Death and Loss in the Late Works of Reza Abdoh, Daniel Mufson (Author, Germany) 6. Tough Love: Offstage and Affect in the Late Plays of Reza Abdoh, Guy Zimmerman (Padua Playwrights, USA) Notes on Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisThe Great North American Stage Directors: Set 1 offers an authoritative account of the work, lineage and legacy of the major theatre directors prior to 1970, where the role of the director is seen primarily as interpreter. Across the four volumes it provides a uniquely rich study of the genealogy and development of a practice through focus on individual directors and the wider context and artform in which they worked. For professional practitioners and those developing their skills, as well as those engaged in the analysis of theatre practices, forms and history, it will prove an essential resource.Each volume provides substantial treatment of three major directors, with each director considered by two specialists, combining analysis of the director's practical craft with accounts of the historical, cultural and theoretical context of their practice. Links between the featured directors and other artists and directors from the period are traced to round out the picture of

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Book SynopsisAcross the four volumes this set provides a uniquely rich study of the genealogy and development of a practice through focus on individual directors and the wider context and art form in which they worked. For professional practitioners and those developing their skills, as well as those engaged in the analysis of theatre practices, forms and history, it will prove an essential resource.Each volume provides substantial treatment of three major directors, with each director considered by two specialists, combining analysis of the director's practical craft with accounts of the historical, cultural and theoretical context of their practice. Links between the featured directors and other artists and directors from the period are traced to round out the picture of influences and artistic development.Volume 5: Richard Schechner, Lee Breuer, Anne Bogart: Company Experiments (edited by Joan Herrington, Western Michigan University, USA)Volume 6: Meredith Monk, Richard Foreman, Robert Wilson:

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Book SynopsisDick McCaw is Senior Lecturer in Drama and Theatre at Royal Holloway, University of London, UK. He has edited two books, With an Eye for Movement (2006) and The Laban Sourcebook (2011) and is the author of Bakhtin and Theatre (2015) and Training the Actor's Body (Methuen Drama, 2017). He is a qualified Feldenkrais practitioner.Trade ReviewRethinking the Actor’s Body confronts us with the perspective to undertake the first steps towards something that in the long run could affect our understanding of not only the actor’s, but also the ‘ordinary’, everyday body. * Skenè: Journal of Theatre and Drama Studies *This is an excellent book. ... with such excellent, succinct confirmations and revelations entirely backed up by his dialogues with science. It is indispensable in this regard. * National Drama *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Part I – The Actor’s Bodies Chapter 1 – The Presence of the Actor’s Body Chapter 2 – The Energetic Body Chapter 3 – The Vital Body and the Bodily Instrument Chapter 4 – Body Topologies Chapter 5 – The Sense of a Body Chapter 6 – The Body Which Learns Chapter 7 – The Emotional Body Chapter 8 – The Biomechanical Body Chapter 9 – The Anatomical Body Part II – The Actor’s Brain Chapter 10 - Front Brain/Back Brain Chapter Chapter 11 - Learning and Memory Chapter 12 - Imagining the Body Chapter 13 – The Relation between Sensory and Motor Nerves Chapter 14 – Stage Fright and Keeping Your Head Conclusion

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Book SynopsisIntroduction to the Alexander Technique, part of the brand-new Acting Essentials series, is the first textbook about the Alexander Technique written specially for undergraduates. This eight-week program can be taught over the course of half a semester, a full semester, or dipped into as needed to address students' issues with physicality, movement, breathing, voice and performance habits. The Alexander Technique has been a vital part of training for performers since the early 20th century. It is a core part of the curriculum at most acting conservatories and in many BFA programs. Sometimes considered purely a movement discipline, the Alexander Technique in fact takes into consideration the entire personmind, body, voice, emotions, and imagination. Introduction to the Alexander Technique addresses the student's self as a whole and is suitable for beginning acting students in any academic setting, including those who take performance classes as an elective. The book also inTable of ContentsIntroduction Week 1: Your Body Week 2: Your Breath Week 3: Your Voice Week 4: Your Movement Week 5: Mental-Physical Resistance Week 6: The Mind-Body Connection Week 7: Classes, Rehearsals, and Auditions Week 8: Performance Conclusion Index

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Book SynopsisIs there a fundamental connection between New York''s Elevator Repair Service''s 9-hour production of The Great Gatsby and a Kathakali performance?How can we come to appreciate the slowness of Kabuki theatre as much as the pace of the Whatsapp theatre of post-Arab Spring Turkey?Can we go beyond our own culture''s contemporary definition of a ''good play'' and think about the theatre in a deep and pluralistic manner?Drawing on his extensive experience working with theatre artists, students and thinkers across the globe - up to and including an hour-long audience with the Dalai Lama - playwright Abhishek Majumdar considers why we make theatre and how we see it in different parts of the world. His own work has taken him from theatre in Japan to dance companies in the Phillippines, writers in Lebanon and Palestine, theatre groups in Burkina Faso, war-torn areas like Kashmir and North Eastern India, and to China and Tibet, Argentina and Mexico.Via a far-reaching Trade ReviewMajumdar’s processes sound more like those of a detective or an investigative reporter than a writer observing the world from a garret. For his Kashmir plays, he spent time in police bunkers and the dens of militants. For Pah-La, he decided he had to go to Lhasa, whatever the cost. * Arifa Akbar, The Guardian *For 15 years, Abhishek Majumdar has created plays on the fragility of human lives trapped in war and other upheavals. * Indian Express *Majumdar has behind him a remarkable body of work. His plays sweep a wide arc – they have dealt with generational angst, the dark goings-on at a monastery in 8th century, the trauma of wasted childhood, the politics of food, and the heart of extremist violence. But at their core, they always talk of humanism and its fight against tyranny and greed. * Scroll Magazine *Abhishek Majumdar’s book is a thrilling read, crossing continents, entering conflicts, and always informed by a questing fusion of art and politics. It is an essential map to how playwriting and play-making might reflect the fractured world we share. * Steve Waters, playwright *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Table of Contents Introduction: Travels and Questions HOME The Quest for Tradition Language of Theatre The Enterprise AWAY Brecht in Kashmir The Kashmir Trilogy The Writing of Pah-la: A Theatre Journey across the Roof of the World Devising in the Tibetan Transit School Reading George C Wolfe’s The Coloured Museum In a New York Subway Hamidur Rehman: A Journey through Bangladesh and Germany. A Journey about a Journey OTHER GEOGRAPHIES Lessons in Pausing: From a theatre in West Africa to a Monastery in the Himalayas On Censorship The Pandemic and the Theatre Bibliography

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Book SynopsisA spicy work of biographical conjecture ... It''s also a rousing reminder of the countless creative women who have been written out of history or have had to fight relentlessly to make themselves heard.' EVENING STANDARDThe great virtue of Lloyd Malcolm's speculative history lies in its passion and anger: it ends with a blazing address to the audience that is virtually a call to arms. It is throughout, however, a highly theatrical piece ... In rescuing Emilia from the shades, [the play] gives her dramatic life and polemical potency.' GUARDIANThe little we know of Emilia Bassano Lanier (1569 - 1645) is that she may have been the Dark Lady of Shakespeare''s Sonnets, mistress of Lord Chamberlain, one of the first English female poets to be published, a mother, teacher who founded a school for women, and radical feminist with North African ancestry. Living at a time when women had such limited opportunities, Emilia Lanier is therefore a fascinating subject for this speculativTrade ReviewIt is incredibly heartening to hear unabashed feminist rhetoric, spoken by a diverse all-female cast, in a commercial theatre space. [Emilia Bassano] provides a clear way in for discussing the centuries-long silencing of women, the oppression they have faced – and still face today. And you’re never far from a totally topical line, the mix of past and present underlined by Lloyd Malcolm’s use of cheerfully anachronistic slangy contemporary phrases. It can be really fun; this is a gently meta-theatrical and very jolly historical romp of a show, in the mould of ‘Nell Gwyn’ or ‘Shakespeare in Love’. The winkingly modern perspective on the nonsense men spouted and women were expected to put up with is frequently amusing. * Time Out *If Shakespeare's Globe had a roof, it would have been blasted off by the thunderous ovations and cheers ... greeting [this] extraordinarily rousing ... play ... In many honourable ways, this feels like a therapeutic blast in the #metoo era and it ends with an appropriately spine-tingling call to arms. “If they try to burn you, may your fire be stronger than theirs, so you can burn the whole f***ing house down”. In the weight of her anger, [Emilia] convinces you that she holds “a muscle memory of every woman who came before me". ... [This] is a landmark moment in the history of Shakespeare Globe. * Independent *History is written by the victor, and as Malcolm's ... piece shows, the victor in the sixteenth century (and indeed, most of the time now) was male, white, privileged and uncompromising. The elder Emilia notes at one point, "We read what is recorded and see what is missing". That's what Emilia, the play, does so brilliantly; it fills in the gaps ... Malcolm writes eloquently, at times beautifully, showing Emilia's suffering and brilliance in equal measure. She also uses the context of the Globe masterfully – shattering the fourth wall with direct address to bring the audience into the story. There are romantic squabbles, fun capers ... the piece has a near-constant humour ... An outright feminist triumph and a brilliant call-to-arms. * Whatsonstage *A spicy work of biographical conjecture ... It's also a rousing reminder of the countless creative women who have been written out of history or have had to fight relentlessly to make themselves heard. * Evening Standard *The great virtue of Lloyd Malcolm’s speculative history lies in its passion and anger: it ends with a blazing address to the audience that is virtually a call to arms. It is throughout, however, a highly theatrical piece ... In rescuing Emilia from the shades, [the play] gives her dramatic life and polemical potency. * Guardian *Table of ContentsChronology COMMENTARY CHARACTERS - Historical versus fictional / Emilia Lanier Bassano (1560-1645) NARRATIVE PUBLIC HISTORY - Comparative works as diverse as Upstart Crow, Horrible Histories, Downton Abbey, Hamilton and Six in terms of dramatically subverting traditional histories FEMINISM AUDIENCE DEMOGRAPHIC DRAMATIC DEVICES - the 3 Emilias, Brecht, epic theatre, feminist theatre, Shakespeare's history plays, all-female cast SHAKESPEARE'S GLOBE INTERVIEW WITH PLAYWRIGHT PLAY TEXT FURTHER READING

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Book SynopsisRenowned theatre and film director Nancy Meckler delves into her hugely varied experiences in the rehearsal room and shares examples of tried-and-tested tools to bring a play to life. Meckler encourages you to interrogate, play, experiment and to use her methods as a starting point to begin creating your own unique directing toolkit and finding your own style. The examples are drawn from her experience directing a range of work from classic plays, including work by Chekhov, Brecht and Shakespeare, to new writing, including work by Pam Gems and Sam Shepard, and in a wide range of renowned theatres, including the RSC, National Theatre, Royal Court and a number of the UK's regional theatres. The author's approachable and relatable writing style enables an in-depth look into how she works with actors and the many ways in which she may approach a new project while also providing with a unique insight into her own wealth of experience over a remarkable career as an award-winning and internTrade ReviewThe book is a delightful meander through the director's career, is anecdotal and informative, and truly captures the heart of her rehearsal rooms. For aspirant directors, there's a wealth of wisdom in its pages. * Broadway World *Ever wondered what happens on the other side of that door with the sign warning, “Rehearsals in process. Do Not Enter.” Well, master director Nancy Meckler graciously opens this door and invites you into her remarkable process. She brings this often mysterious endeavor refreshingly back down to earth while still inspiring all of us to shoot for the moon. A must-read for anyone who loves theatre and how we go about making it. * Brian H. Kulick, Chair of the Theatre Program, Columbia University School of the Arts, USA *A fascinating read, in which the link between writer, director and the performer(s) is explored through a mix of memoir and workshop exercises ... this book is not just an essential read on this particular director’s career experiences, but also a primer on teamwork and how everyone works to make a show a success. * Loureviews *There’s a lot that a director or adaptor (or potential one) could learn from this. * Ink Pellet *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Preparation Chapter 2: The Concept Chapter 3: Keystones Chapter 4: Improvisation Chapter 5: Rehearsal Process Chapter 6: The Mystery of Comedy Chapter 7: Collaboration Chapter 8: Discovering Physical Theatre and Working in Different Mediums Epilogue Index

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Book SynopsisThis volume assesses the accomplishments of three mid-20th-century, North American stage directors: Harold Clurman, Orson Welles, and Margo Jones. Though their theatre-making endeavours were distinct, each produced work that challenged preconceived notions of theatre-making, all while working within the structure of a company. As directors drawn to the potential rewards of collaboration, all also were keenly adept at understanding how the relationship with a company of collaborators is often marked by struggle and crisis. The essays in this volume explore how these accomplished directors not only created bold work, but also drew on the complex energies of the theatre companies with which they worked to reimagine the shape and scope of theatre directing.The Great North American Stage Directors series provides an authoritative account of the art of directing in North America by examining the work of twenty-four major practitioners from the late 19th century to the present. Each of

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Book SynopsisThis volume focuses on three artists who embrace media and technology as essential elements of their theatrical expression: Elizabeth LeCompte, Ping Chong, and Robert Lepage. Diverse in their aesthetic interests, they nevertheless share an approach to directing that includes technological media on stage as central to a rigorously crafted production concept. Technological elements live alongside and negotiate with the theatre's human players, disclosing, shaping, and even intruding on the dramas they enact. The essays in this volume explore how all three directors have provided decisive responses to a question that has dogged the theatre for at least the last century: what relationship can theatre, an art form grounded in live, ephemeral, expression, have to technology? The Great North American Stage Directors series provides an authoritative account of the art of directing in North America by examining the work of twenty-four major practitioners from the late 19th centur

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Book SynopsisThirteen original chapters on movie magazines analysing their visual aspects

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Book Synopsis''Mary careens across these pages with her usual wit, wisdom and honesty'' - Julie Andrews''Having had the pleasure of meeting Mary Rodgers personally its so wonderful to read her story in her own words . . . I couldn''t put it down'' - Elaine Page''[A] thoughtful chronicle of one woman''s journey through experience to understanding - and a lot of fun to read'' - The Washington Post''Pure pleasure . . . jaw-droppingly shocking'' - Daniel Okrent, The New York Times''Mary Rodgers''s book has a humour and honesty that is very rare in entertainment memoirs''. - Sir Tim RiceThe wonderfully funny, candid and outrageous NYT bestselling memoirs of Mary Rodgers - writer, composer, Broadway royalty, and ''a woman who tried everything.''Mary Rodgers was the daughter of Richard Rodgers, who, with Oscar Hammerstein, wrote some of the biggest musicals of the 20th

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Book SynopsisJohn Byrne has over 25 years' experience as a working comedy writer, cartoonist and broadcaster. He is also The Stage newspaper's Entertainment Industry Career Advisor and, in addition to answering queries in his popular 'Dear John' column, has published over 40 books, many of them performance and comedy-related for adults and children.Trade ReviewJohn Byrne is the guru when it comes to advice on building a successful comedy career. Unlike many advisors, he's been there and done it himself. He knows the joys and sorrows of the comedy world and is best placed to help budding comedians make the most of their talent. * Jasmine Birtles, financial journalist, author, columnist for Independent *This is a book every comedy writer will come to value. * Ken Rock, founder member of the British Society of Comedy Writers *

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Book SynopsisBill Connington has devoted his career to helping performersincluding Broadway actors, Metropolitan Opera singers, and renowned instrumentalistsmanage their art through managing themselves. The former chairman of the board of the American Center for the Alexander Technique, Bill is currently a lecturer in acting at the Yale School of Drama and has taught performers at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, the Juilliard School, and the Actors Studio MFA Program.Trade ReviewA clear, detailed, and practical account of how the Alexander Technique can help liberate performers from habitual psychophysical tensions, allowing them to access the deepest and most creative impulses in their work. * Walton Wilson, Chair, Department of Acting, and Head of Voice and Speech, Yale School of Drama *In small, doable steps, Bill guides the actor toward a healthy, creative life as a performer—always with a supportive, encouraging tone and attention to process as opposed to results. * Kim Jessor, faculty, Tisch School of the Arts at the New York University Graduate Acting Program *Bill Connington writes with insight, clarity, and flair about a subject he loves and shares his valuable perspective on the training of actors by exploring the all-important connection between body, mind, and spirit. In a voice both friendly and knowledgeable, Physical Expression on Stage and Screen guides the actor from class to rehearsal to performance. * Jessica Wolf, Assistant Professor, Yale School of Drama; director of 'Jessica Wolf’s Art of Breathing' *Physical Expression on Stage and Screen provides new insight into the Alexander technique, which was pioneered by F. M. Alexander in the late 1800s … The best part of the book is the exercises (more than 100) that help actors explore their unique styles. Many of the exercises are also supported by free online videos created by the author. This no-nonsense explanation of the Alexander technique is accessible to untrained students and a good refresher for those knowledgeable about acting. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals -- E. C. Skiles, Lone Star College-Kingwood * CHOICE *Table of ContentsA Note on the Exercises Introduction PART ONE Preparing Yourself Chapter 1 The Alexander Technique and Theater Training Chapter 2 Sensory Awareness Chapter 3 Poise, Flow, and Choice Chapter 4 The Use of Your Self Chapter 5 Changing Your Mind-Body Chapter 6 Breathing PART TWO Organic Expression Chapter 7 Using Your Imagination Chapter 8 Conscious Imitation of Others Chapter 9 Using Voice and Movement to Stimulate the Mind-Body PART THREE Putting It All Together Chapter 10 Auditions, Rehearsals, and Performances Chapter 11 Your Psycho-Physical Health and Choice Textual References Acknowledgments Index Exercise Videos Contact

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Book SynopsisJohn Matthews is Programme Leader of BA (Hons) Acting at Theatre Royal Plymouth. He has written two books published by Bloomsbury Methuen Drama: Training for Performance (2011) and Anatomy of Performance Training (2014).Trade ReviewExtending his Training for Performance (2011), the author unpacks his thesis that the act of training is a human endeavor that everyone does because everyone is limited by “having a body.” The stories frame ethnographical, political, social, and psychological constructs to unlock aspects of the performer’s anatomy … the book is an intriguing contribution to performance studies. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty, professionals. -- J. Artman, Chapman University * CHOICE *Matthews offers an insightful, engaging, and imaginative read that urgently questions the place of training, and its attendant implications and values, in the twenty-first-century theatremaking context. -- Julie Rada, University of Utah, USA * Theatre Topics *Table of ContentsAnatomy Hand Foot Mouth Ear Heart A Body of Work

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Book Synopsis This Eisner Award nominee, a graphic novel adaptation of the award-winning Broadway play Ghetto Klown, is a 'hilarious Hollywood memoir' (Lin-Manuel Miranda, from his introduction) and 'autobiographical dynamite” (Pulitzer Prize–winning author Junot Díaz). Tony Award winner John Leguizamo lays bare his life story in this graphic novel illustrated by artists Christa Cassano and Shamus Beyale. He shares memories of his early years as an actor on stage, on television, and in major motion pictures opposite some of Hollywood’s biggest stars—including Al Pacino, Patrick Swayze, and Steven Seagal—and working for directors Baz Luhrmann and Brian De Palma. Leguizamo also opens up about his loves and marriages, while addressing self-doubt and melancholy in a way that enlightens and entertains.“[John] is a pioneer in theater and comedy, not just for Latin people, but as much as anTrade Review“Ghetto Klown is autobiographical dynamite—this is Leguizamo at his scathing, honest, moving, comedic best. Among the finest portraits of an artist as a young wounded talented man as I’ve read.” * Junot Díaz *“My main Johnny Legs has done it again. Ghetto Klown as a graphic novel? DOPENESS.” * Spike Lee *“John’s writing is a cross between hip-hop and Eugene O’Neill. His scathing and unforgiving look at his own life takes no prisoners and, best of all, sets himself—and us—free.” * Baz Luhrmann *“John’s writing has always been cutting-edge. His relationships with women, father and son stories, autobiography . . . He is a pioneer in theater and comedy, not just for Latin people, but as much as any comic or playwright I’ve ever seen or read. No one makes me laugh louder than this man. We are better because of him.” * Sophia Vergara *“The graphic novel of Ghetto Klown captures the infectious spirit of John Leguizamo’s live performances with the same surprising humor and cultural insight. These pages make John seem like the coolest super hero in New York.” * Jesse Eisenberg *“A touching and sometimes hilarious graphic novel.” * Parade online *“Though Leguizamo has matured, this insightful and engaging memoir still offers plenty of youthful edginess.” * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisAudiences everywhere fell in love with Marlee Matlin as the deaf student-turned-custodian in Children of a Lesser God, a role for which she became the youngest woman ever to win a Best Actress Oscar. Since then, she has become an inspirational force of nature - as a mother, activist and role model - in addition to playing memorable roles on popular television shows, such as Seinfeld, The West Wingand The L Word, and competing on Dancing with the Stars.Now, in I''ll Scream Later, Marlee shares the story of her life. Marlee takes readers on a journey of her life, from the frightening loss of her hearing at eighteen months old to the highs and lows of Hollywood, her battles with addiction, and the unexpected challenges of being thrust into the spotlight as an emissary for the deaf community. She candidly shares for the first time the troubles of her youth, the passionate and tumultuous two-year relationship with Oscar winner William Hurt that led to a stint in rehab, and her subse

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Book SynopsisTwo years ago Bernie Nolan was given the initial all-clear after a courageous battle with breast cancer. Over the moon, Bernie set about rebuilding her life and making plans for the future. Then in the summer of 2012, she was in her bedroom getting dressed when she found a lump just above her breast. Terrified, she immediately made a hospital appointment, where she was given the devastating news that the cancer had returned. It had spread to her brain, lungs, liver and bones and was incurable. Bernie''s first thought was of her daughter. Erin had just turned thirteen and was approaching a time when young girls need their mums more than ever. In true Bernie spirit she vowed not to let the cancer stop her from being ''Mum''. Bernie always said that her family was her greatest achievement and she wanted to be the best wife and mother she could be in the time she had left. In this book Bernie shares her struggle to become a mother - the miscarriage she suffer

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Book Synopsis''England? It seemed to be raining the whole time . . . Or maybe it was me''MARILYN MONROEIn July 1956, Marilyn Monroe arrived in London, on honeymoon with her husband Arthur Miller, to make The Sleeping Prince (later released as The Prince and the Showgirl) with Laurence Olivier. When the couple arrived at London Airport, they were looking forward to a peaceful stay. Marilyn would work during the day at Pinewood Studios, while Arthur would write. Then, in the evening, the couple would be able to relax together in their private English country cottage. It didn''t quite turn out that way.The ''cottage'' was actually a mansion, which belonged to Lord Drogheda, the managing director of the Financial Times. Raised in tiny hotel rooms and apartments, Marilyn felt herself being watched. She was, by Lord Drogheda''s servants, who were selling stories to the papers. When filming began, it was a disaster. Director Joshua Logan Trade ReviewPraise for the author's The Girl: This compelling portrait of Marilyn Monroe reveals the layers of her private self. Michelle Morgan proves that the star was much more than a decorative blonde. -- Lyndsy Spence, author and film journalistPraise for the author's The Girl: 'The Girl truly is a must-have. If I had my way, it would be on the shelf of every person in the world. -- April Vevea * Classic Blondes *Praise for the author's The Body Beneath the Flagstones, and Other Victorian Scandals: Ghoulishly entertaining. -- Jacqueline Banerjee * The Times Literary Supplement *Praise for the author's The Body Beneath the Flagstones, and Other Victorian Scandals: This is a great book for dipping into . . . the cases themselves are written engagingly and with appealing dramatization of key events. -- Kim Fleet * Crime Review *Praise for the author's Madonna: A must-have for fans of the Queen of pop, this gorgeous tome by Michelle Morgan charts the singer's career and features more than 200 photographs.Praise for the author's Madonna: If there is a book that you need to include in your Madonna collection, it is this one. * Madonna Underground *Praise for the author's Private and Undisclosed: A gorgeous collection offering a fascinating insight into Monroe's personal life. * Woman and Home *Praise for the author's Private and Undisclosed: A touching portrayal of the star in her more private moments. * Empire *Praise for the author's The Ice Cream Blonde: This was a good read, especially for anyone interested in the heyday of Hollywood with all it's dirty little secrets. -- Judith Reveal * New York Journal of Books *Praise for the author's The Ice Cream Blonde: Todd's life was an exciting one, and Morgan brings it to life very well on the page, making the book one to be devoured in just a couple of sittings. * The Motion Pictures *Praise for the author's The Ice Cream Blonde: The Ice Cream Blonde is well worth your time. It's a very enjoyable and informative read that I found hard to put down. * The Hollywood Review *Praise for the author's Carole Lombard: An entertaining and lucid biography. * We Are Cult *Praise for the author's The Little Book of Marilyn: A veritable treasure trove of all things Monroe. -- Bill Biss * Rage Magazine *Praise for When Marilyn Met the Queen: Morgan's research is impressive and the level of detail will delight fans * Daily Mirror *Praise for When Marilyn Met the Queen: This entertaining account of a brief interlude in Marilyn's helter-skelter life leaves you with fresh admiration for the way she navigated the merciless scrutiny of the world and the hefty expectations placed upon her. * Daily Express *When Marilyn Met the Queen is written in lively fashion, keeping the reader's attention with a series of snippets that are as revealing about 1950s Britain as they are about film-making. Morgan covers the familiar highlights of the stay, including Monroe's persistent tardiness, the frosty relationship with Olivier, the media circus and jostling crowds attendant on her every move, and Olivier's annoyance at Paula Strasberg's coaching of the star on set. * Times Literary Supplement *The real strength of Morgan's book is her ability to place four months in a famous woman's life under a microscope: who she met, what she wore, how she felt. Monroe's genuine excitement about meeting the Queen and her endless friendliness to the fans who loved her are endearing. What emerges is not only a close-up of Marilyn but also a picture of someone who, like many of us, romanticizes people and places only to find disappointment. * Toronto Star *

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Book SynopsisBy turns, it is riotous, deeply serious, practical and sad. Reading it is like being at her kitchen table with a glass of wine to hand. (Daily Telegraph)Lynda Bellingham was a tremendously gifted storyteller with a rich collection of tales of love, loss and laughter and this memoir brings her kind heart, courage and emotion to the page in vivid detail. There''s Something I''ve Been Dying To Tell You is a brave memoir about Lynda''s battle with cancer, facing death she found joy and shared it with millions. Her story is an affecting and at times heart-breaking one but it is so often laugh-out-loud too and ultimately the way Lynda told her life story serves as a great inspiration to us all. Woven into this very moving and brave story are extraordinary, colourful tales of her acting and family life that will enlighten and entertain as well as the journey that Lynda has taken to find the family of her birth father having already suffered heartache in her seTrade ReviewHer brilliantly titled book, There's Something I've Been Dying to Tell You, charts the unravelling of that delusion, and her determination to wrest a meaningful life out of sudden chaos. By turns, it is riotous, deeply serious, practical and sad. Reading it is like being at her kitchen table with a glass of wine to hand. Not just listening to the expletives of pain or the dawning of reality, but rooting for her when the treatment appears to be working, sharing her fears as her life expectation dwindles, and rocking with laughter at the absurdities that go with having the "least sexy" cancer of them all. Her description of the mechanics of dealing with a stoma bag in the ladies' at Buckingham Palace, when she accepted her OBE in March, reads like a comedy script. * Daily Telegraph *Bellingham has started a necessary conversation where often there is silence. The rest of us look on at these extraordinary people and wonder how we ourselves would manage. I am so grateful that such people are speaking out, now while they can. * Guardian *I laughed and I cried. The strength shines through in the whole book and the honesty. A fantastic woman. * Coleen Nolan *Touching and honest...It may be packed with heartfelt emotion, but don't expect to be wiping your eyes every time you turn the page - Lynda's cheeky humour is woven through every chapter. It's the perfect memoir from a much-missed star. * BEST Magazine *Moving and inspirational. A fitting memorial to an amazing woman. * Daily Express *Lynda's book is chirpy, positive, magnificently sane and, paradoxically reassuring. * Daily Mail *The actress bore no bones about sharing some of the most intimate details about her bowel cancer, and did so with admirable honesty. * Independent *The rawness of their situation is undeniably distressing, but what leaps from the pages is Lynda's stoicism and determination not to let sadness destroy her spirit. * Daily Mail *Praise for Lost and Found by Lynda Bellingham * : *Courageous... searingly honest * Mail on Sunday *A gripping tale of triumph over adversity * Woman's Own *Very honest -- Phillip Schofield * This Morning *

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Book SynopsisWhat it takes to be a 21st century woman.Trade ReviewJessi Klein is a brilliant comedic mind and this book is a perfect reflection of that. It's like having a glass of wine with the best friend you wish you had. * Amy Schumer *Her writing is equal parts funny, strange and poetic. Think Miranda July meets Tina Fey * The Pool *Hilarious... In these 24 short pieces, her irreverent and inventive brand of humor almost seamlessly transfers to essay form. Riffs on dating, aging, marriage, infertility and childbirth have the zing-and-run rhythm of sketch comedy, but structured for the page... These pieces often have a let-me-level-with-you directness reminiscent of Ephron without being too imitative... One of the higher echelons of praise for confessional essays is that they mimic the experience of listening to your best friend. Klein's read as if you're texting with her and have been for your whole life. * New York Times *Klein shares her eccentric path to adulthood, from her tomboyish girlhood to sidesplitting dating tales and beyond in this uproarious, relatable, and irresistible memoir. * Harper's Bazaar *[Jessi Klein's] astute, hilarious essays about the perilous path to modern womanhood will have you wincing in recognition. * People *You'll Grow Out Of It does an amazing job making me understand what my life might be like if I were a woman. Or if I were Jessi Klein. I laughed. Lots. Not at what it's like to be a woman! That would be sexist. I laughed at the parts that you're supposed to. Which are plentiful. Because Jessi Klein is truly really funny. * Ira Glass *Is it really a surprise that comedian Jessi Klein, head writer and executive producer for Inside Amy Schumer, would write a book of personal essays brimming with sharp observations and insights and poignant recollections but that above all is very, very funny? ...We guarantee that this book will quickly become one of your summer favorites. * Entertainment Weekly *Chances are Jessi Klein made you ugly-laugh... laugh even harder with the comedian's essay collection * Marie Claire *Her arguments are sharp, her confessions just light enough, and-most crucially-her quips LOL-worthy on almost every page * Vulture *[Klein's] collection of mini rants strike that rare balance of honesty, brutality, and soul * Glamour *This book, her first, is the kind you dog-ear to death because there are so many good lines * New York Post *Fans of Amy Schumer (i.e., everybody?) will fall in love with funny-woman-and Emmy Award-winning Inside Amy Schumer writer-Jessi Klein's relatable collection of humor essays....Klein is a truly witty PRINZESS. * Bust *Never afraid to share insights and reveal the raw truth behind her own stories, Klein makes readers laugh while inspiring them, a feat that calls to mind the work of the late Nora Ephron. This uplifting and uproarious collection of personal essays will be repeatedly shared among friends. * Publishers Weekly *A gifted comedian turns the anxieties, obsessions, insecurities, and impossible-to-meet expectations that make up human nature into laughter. * Kirkus *Words of wisdom ... everything from breakups to pregnancy to ageing -- Abby Haglage * The Guardian *

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Book SynopsisSimon Shepherd is Emeritus Professor of Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London, UK. He conceived and edits Palgrave's Readings in Theatre Practice series, for which his volume Direction appeared in 2012. Among his other titles are The Cambridge Introduction to Modern British Theatre, Drama/Theatre/Performance (with Mick Wallis), and Studying Plays (with Mick Wallis, Bloomsbury, 2010).Professor Peta Tait (La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia) is an academic scholar and playwright with an extensive background in theatre, dramatic literature, performance theory and creative arts practice. She has authored four scholarly books, and edited and co-edited three further books, with sixty other publications including articles in Theatre Journal, Modern Drama and Performance Research.David Barnett is Professor of Theatre at the University of York, UK. He is the author of Brecht in Practice

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Book SynopsisThe Great European Stage Directors Set 2 offers an authoritative account of the work, lineage and legacy of the major European theatre directors from the second half of the twentieth century. Across the four volumes and the companion series Set 1: Pre-1950, it provides a uniquely rich study of the genealogy and development of a practice through focus on individual directors and the wider context and artform in which they worked. For professional practitioners and those developing their skills, as well as those engaged in the analysis of theatre practices, forms and history, it will prove an essential resource. Each volume provides substantial treatment of three major directors, with each director considered by two specialists, combining analysis of the director's practical craft with accounts of the historical, cultural and theoretical context of their practice. Links between the featured directors and other artists and directors from the period are traced to round out th

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Book SynopsisDavid Barnett is Professor of Theatre at the University of York, UK. He is the author of A History of the Berliner Ensemble (2015), Brecht in Practice: Theatre, Theory and Performance (Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2014), Rainer Werner Fassbinder and the German Theatre (2005) and a monograph on Heiner Müller (1998). He has written several articles and essays on German-, English-language, political and postdramatic theatre.

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Book SynopsisOffers a study of Chinese stars and transnational stardom focussing on the career of Jet Li who is a martial arts actor. This book explores the way in which Li has evolved from a Chinese wuxia hero to a transnational kung fu star in relation to the discourses of genre, gender, sexuality, ethnicity and national identity.

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