Other performing arts Books

Book SynopsisThis treasury of over fifty stories, verses and songs range from Advent through the twelve days of Christmas, ending with the flight to Egypt. The authors draw on their lifelong experience as Waldorf kindergarten educators, storytellers, puppeteers and as mothers to share these magical stories. They tell their favourite Christmas stories simply and profoundly. These stories will both delight young children, and invite parents to become more confident storytellers.

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Book SynopsisA MASTERCLASS IN MAGIC FROM THE WORLD'S COOLEST MAGICIAN: DYNAMO In this fully illustrated guide to modern magic, Dynamo shows you how you can perform magic yourself. Learn how to make water freeze instantly, read your friends' minds, make chewing gum float 360 degrees around your head, slice a banana without even touching it, discover superhuman strength and many more mind-blowing illusions.The Book of Secrets will be the first step on an exciting journey for budding magicians, providing hours of breathtaking fun for all the family.#BeTheMagic

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Book SynopsisStep below the pavements of Soho’s Beak Street, and discover the untold tale of the exotic – and scandalous – Murray’s Cabaret Club

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Book SynopsisIn Kill the Documentary, the award-winning director Jill Godmilow issues an urgent call for a new kind of nonfiction filmmaking. In place of the conventional documentary, she advocates for a postrealist cinema.Trade ReviewKill the Documentary is a brilliant, angry book. An honest book. A brave book. Guggenheim Fellow and award-winning filmmaker Jill Godmilow has written a stirring call to arms. -- Cynthia Close * Documentary Magazine *Creatively curious pages -- Ezra Winton * Cineaste *Jill Godmilow marshals a pantheon of hard-hitting, tough-minded films that refuse to be herded into the realist corral. Godmilow’s letter, or manifesto, like most manifestos, draws a line in the sand. Which side are you on becomes the question. Stay put and miss the point, or step on through to the other side and restore for yourself some of the nuance and subtlety that is foreign to the spirit of a manifesto. -- Bill Nichols, from the ForewordThis provocative and engaging book by acclaimed filmmaker Jill Godmilow raises important questions for anyone concerned about the future of political documentary. She maps out an original approach to “postrealist” documentary that champions moral engagement, social activism, aesthetic daring, historical grounding, and intersectional participation for bold twenty-first-century filmmaking. -- Deirdre Boyle, author of Ferryman of Memories: The Films of Rithy PanhIn her captivating and original Kill the Documentary, filmmaker and critic Jill Godmilow offers a plea—in the form of a letter, which is a manifesto, and forty propositions, and a tool kit—for making postrealist nonfiction, for making film useful and fruitful. In her scathing critique of “great” documentaries, and her offering up of her own counter-canon, she insists that filmmakers and viewers can begin again by refusing the pedigree, pornography, and cultural imperialism of the real, and by supporting postrealist strategies: interventionist and interactive, performative and formal. Honestly, I don’t agree with all she says, or every one of the 144 films she honors, and that’s her urgent book’s point and purpose: I can and should make my own. -- Alexandra Juhasz, Brooklyn College, CUNYKill the Documentary is a provocative manifesto for rethinking the documentary. Godmilow provides a shield against the tear-soaked sentimentality and nostalgia of the Ken Burns style of packaging history. A new tool in the film teacher's kit, this book is useful beyond discussions of documentary. The passion of her prose is infectious—a welcome relief for student reading assignments. -- DeeDee Halleck, professor emerita, University of California, San DiegoThis book will be a gold mine for any instructors putting together an “Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking” syllabus or for cinematic autodidacts hungry to experiment with alternative modes of nonfictional filmmaking. -- Jaimie Baron * Film Quarterly *Herein lies the specificity and refreshing nonconformity of [this] book: it pushes the reader not only to see through the ideological premises of conventional formats, but also to delve into the multiple configurations that generate subversive experiences . . . [Godmilow's] persistent faith in the importance of developing critical awareness and in the agency of art to intervene into reality despite the omnipresent ‘capitalist realism’ in the global neoliberal society radiates a compelling force. -- Stefanie Baumann * Radical Philosophy *Table of ContentsManifestly Radical: A Foreword, by Bill NicholsAcknowledgmentsI Call This Book a LetterIntroduction—a Letter to Filmmakers1. Abandon the Conventional Documentary—Reject Realism as the Only Authentic Nonfiction Form2. Take Action—Make Useful Postrealist Films3. Forty Postrealist Strategies to Learn from and Borrow4. The ToolkitNotes BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisQuite simply, Last of the Summer Wine is the longest-running comedy programme in the world. It premiered 37 years ago, in 1973, and, after 31 series it finally came to an end last year - even though all its original protagonists - Compo, Foggy, even Nora Batty - are now dead. Remarkably, for a series of such longevity and international appeal, it is all about elderly people, has little action or plot, and is set and filmed in and around the small Yorkshire town of Holmfirth. Now, Andrew Vine, the deputy editor of Yorkshire's daily newspaper, has written the definitive history of this television phenomenon. It covers the show's inauspicious beginnings, with low ratings, its endless reinvention as participants like Bill Owen, Michael Bates, Brian Wilde and Kathy Staff retired or died, the appearance of a string of guest stars from John Cleese and Norman Wisdom to Thora Hird and Russ Abbott (both of whom soon found themselves fixtures in the cast), and the ingenious plot contrivances as the protagonists became too old and frail to attempt any of the slapstick stunts with runaway prams - indeed any outdoor action. Holmfirth is now a year-round tourist attraction, and endless repeats and new DVD box sets will ensure a readership for this book for years to come.Trade Review'Thorough, affectionate and well-written, this is a must-have for all fans of the show' Choice magazine 'Celebrate the final series of this television classic with this superb book' The Daily Telegraph, Books 'An authoritative history of the show' -- Roger Lewis Mail on Sunday

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Book SynopsisA collector’s edition of the classic, illustrated, and comprehensive history of magic and the occult In the occult classic The Mirror of Magic, renowned Surrealist Kurt Seligmann (1900-1962) draws from his encyclopedic practitioner’s knowledge and extensive antiquarian collection to offer a comprehensive, illustrated history of magic and the occult from Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt through the 18th century. He explores the gods and divinatory arts of the legendary Sumerians and the star-wise Babylonians, including the birth of astrology. He examines the afterlife beliefs of the ancient Egyptians and the dream interpretation practices and oracles of ancient Greece, including the mysteries of Eleusis and the magical philosophy of Plato, Socrates, and other Greeks. He uncovers the origins of Gnosticism and the suppression and banishment of magic by the post-pagan, Christian emperors of Rome. Seligmann reviews the principles of alchemy, sharing famous transmutations and allegorical illustrations of the alchemical process and explores the Hermetica and its remarkable adepts. Investigating the Middle Ages, the author discusses the work of European magicians of the time, including Albertus Magnus, Roger Bacon, Agrippa, Nostradamus, and Pico Della Mirandola. First published in 1948, this history of magic and the occult seeks to “mirror” the magical worldview throughout the ages. Beautifully illustrated with images from the author’s rare library, this collector’s edition features all of the artwork--more than 250 images--from the original 1948 edition.Trade Review“The Mirror of Magic is an exceptionally important work. Its influence on art cannot be underestimated, from surrealism moving forward. Capturing the visuality of the traditions as well as underlining their continuing relevance, this book belongs in every library of art. Seeing it back in print is hopefully a harbinger of things to come.” * Jesse Bransford, associate professor of art at NYU Steinhardt *“Kurt Seligmann’s The Mirror of Magic is a wide-ranging and accomplished survey of significant magical beliefs and practitioners in both East and West, spanning from antiquity to the dawn of our modern, scientific era in the eighteenth century. At last restored to the sumptuous visual glory of its original edition, The Mirror of Magic wondrously reflects the myriad ways, seen and unseen, by which man seeks to engage and even control elements of the surrounding universe.” * Michael Moynihan, coauthor of Lords of Chaos *"As well as being a feast for the eyes, the book is a delight to read." * Arts and Antiques 2019 *"Beautifully illustrated with images from the author's rare library, this collector's edition features all of the artwork--more than 250 images--from the original 1948 edition." * Clinton Chronicle, Inc. 2018 *"The Mirror of Magic is the book our scholar-practitioners of magic need to read. It’s like “The Encyclopedia of the Roots of Practically Everything,” preceded in this collector’s edition by a note from the publisher that Inner Traditions decided to preserve the book’s layout, typography “and most important, all 250 of Seligman’s illustrations from his rare and private collection” (p. iv). Read this marvelous book for yourself. Learn about historical magic and magicians. Study, for example, the forty-two illustrations in the section on alchemy and you’ll learn to recognize all the common alchemical symbols. And there’s a tiny bonus, too--the book comes with a red ribbon bookmark." * Barbara Ardinger, Ph.D., freelance editor and author of Pagan Every Day *"There’s so much more exciting stuff in this book that I couldn’t possibly cover it all in this review. The Mirror of Magic is a book that I will go back and reread. It is also a book that has led me to research more of the history of magic, paganism, witchcraft, and even Judeo Christian beliefs." * Dawn Borries, PaganPages.org *"This 1948 classic is a glorious synopsis of Western occult history, prepared by one the most well-known Swiss Surrealist painters of his time. The sheer number of classic illustrations and engravings is nearly worth the cover price alone, and Seligman does not merely show without telling. His descriptions and analyses of alchemical symbolism and mystical art trends are both insightful and clever. Seligman's book on a whole is a gem of historical magic, as beguiling now as it must have been when it was released 70 years ago." * The Witches' Almanac *"At fifty American dollars, this edition of The Mirror of Magic will not be a cheap addition to anyone’s bookcase; but at over five hundred pages, neither is it a small one. Also, brimming Folklore, 2019 with the captivating images of Seligmann’s personal collection, this feels part book, part art gallery. An aesthetic as well as scholarly achievement, not to mention a significant stepping stone in the development of magic scholarship, this is a piece of history in itself." * Ceri Houlbrook, University of Hertfordshire, UK, The Folklore Society Reviews *Table of ContentsNote from the Publisher FOREWORD The Artist behind the Mirror of Magic BY CELIA RABINOVITCH PREFACE The Emancipatory Power of Magic BY GRAŽINA SUBELYTE THE ORIGINAL TEXT THE MIRROR OF MAGIC A History of Magic in the Western World LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS INTRODUCTORY NOTE MESOPOTAMIA THE FORGETFUL GODS DIVINATORY ARTS THE MYSTERY OF STARS AND NUMBERS THE TOWER OF BABEL PERSIA ZOROASTER MAGIC ABOUT HAIR AND NAILS CASTING OUT THE FLY DEMON THE HEBREWS JEHOVAH’S WARRIORS MAGIC IN HOLY WRIT EGYPT THE SPHINX MORTUARY MAGIC JOURNEY TO THE UNDERWORLD THE WORDISIS GREECE MAGIC IN PHILOSOPHICAL GARB DREAMS, GHOSTS AND HEROES OMENS, ORACLES AND ASTROLOGY THE MYSTERIES OF ELEUSIS GNOSTICISM THE WAY TO BLESSEDNESS THE GNOSTIC SECTS THE ROMAN EMPIRE MAGIC UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS NEO-PLATONISM JULIAN THE APOSTATE THE RUIN OF PAGAN MAGIC ALCHEMY ORIGINS OF ALCHEMY HERMES TRISMEGISTUS HERMETICA THE PRINCIPLES OF ALCHEMY AND THE PHILOSOPHERS’ STONEVAS INSIGNE ELECTIONISHERMETIC ENIGMAS THE ALKAHEST EARLY ATTACKS ON ALCHEMY FAMOUS TRANSMUTATIONS THE INHERITANCE OF THE ACCURSED THE MIDDLE AGES MAGICAL MISCELLANY IN PRE-ARABIC TIMES THE ARABS MAGICIANS OF THE MIDDLE AGES ALBERTUS MAGNUS ROGER BACON THE DEVIL THE PRINCIPLE OF EVIL INFERNAL HELPERS UNHOLY IMAGES WITCHCRAFT POSSESSIONS THE SABBATH THE DEVIL’S SHARE THE WITCH THE PURSUIT OF AN IDEAL THE WITCH CONTROVERSY IN ENGLISH LITERATURE DIABOLIC RITES BLACK MAGIC PORTAITSTHE MAGUS PICO DELLA MIRANDOLA TRITHEMIUS AGRIPPA VON NETTESHEIM PARACELSUS NOSTRADAMUS GUILLAUME POSTEL GIAMBATTISTA DELLA PORTA CABALA CHRISTIAN CABALISTS AND THE JEWS SECRETS OF THE BIBLEMAGIC OF LETTERS THE BOOK OF YETZIRAH MAGICAL ARTS THE WONDER CAVE ASTROLOGY DIVINATION BY MOLES METOPOSCOPY PHYSIOGNOMY CHIROMANCY THE TAROT TAROT PIPS AND TRUMPSTHE JUGGLER REFORMERS THE ROSICRUCIANSVALENTINE ANDREAE SECRET SOCIETIES THE CLASSICAL IDEAL THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY REVOLT AGAINST REASON VAMPIRES MAGIC UNVEILED MASONIC LODGES THE COUNT OF SAINT-GERMAIN EPILOGUE CONCLUSION NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHIC RÉSUMÉ INDEX

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Book SynopsisUpdated to include 50 additional grooves, this encyclopedic book and two-CD set contains more than 450 musical examples in standard notation, showing grooves and practical variations. Overviews of the history and development of almost all popular music styles are covered alongside innumerable helpful performance tips. The two accompanying CDs feature performances of nearly 200 of the grooves, including every primary style example, all performed both with and without a click track. Styles covered include blues, rock, jazz, reggae, country, klezmer, ska, samba, punk, surf, heavy metal, latin rock, and funk; virtually every style a performing drummer will ever need to play is in there. This revised second edition also includes an updated bibliography and discography, as well as more historical information about the individual styles.Trade Review"Quite an undertaking, researched and written with care. . . . This 'bible' delivers some 400 notated drum grooves along with a historical perspective on each genre--noble and useful features indeed. It's comprehensive up to jungle/drum 'm bass and blas beats, and includes a recommended listening guide for further study. There's even klezmer, tarantella, odd-time over-the-bar polyrhythms, and something every drummer needs to know: how to play a proper Viennese waltz." -- Modern Drummer magazine, on the first edition"One of the finest and most complete texts ever written. It has every possible rhythm listed and recorded on CD. I highly recommend it for every drummer." --Louis Bellson, legendary drummer and author, Modern Reading Text in 4/4"The amount of research that Mick Berry and Jason Gianni have done to write this book must have been absolutely colossal. It's the Encyclopedia Galactica of drumming." --Simon Phillips, drummer for Toto, The Who, Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, Stanley Clarke, Mike Oldfield, and Gil Evans"An incredibly useful, accurate book/2-CD set. The recorded examples sound great and feel terrific." --Johnny Rabb, drummer for Hank Williams III and Tanya Tucker"A definitive guide to a multitude of styles, beats, and rhythms. . . . [It] prepares percussionists for the diverse challenges and complexities of today's many demanding musical genres." --Mike Clark, drummer for Herbie Hancock, Michael Wolff, and the Headhunters

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Book SynopsisOn a freezing night in January 2013, an assailant hurled acid in the face of the artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet, dragging one of Russia's most illustrious institutions into scandal.In Bolshoi Confidential, renowned musicologist Simon Morrison shows how the attack, and its torrid aftermath, underscored the importance of the Bolshoi to the art of ballet, to Russia, and to the world.With exclusive access to state archives and private sources, Morrison sweeps us through the history of the ballet, from its disreputable beginnings in 1776 to the recent 450 million restoration that has returned the Bolshoi to its former glory, even as its prized talent has departed.As Morrison reveals, the Bolshoi has transcended its own fraught history, surviving 250 years of artistic and political upheaval to define not only Russian culture, but also ballet itself.Trade Review‘The title means what it says. There’s plenty of scandal here: arson, double suicide, dead cats flung at curtain calls. At the same time, the book is energetically researched, beautifully written – fun, relaxed, sophisticated – and full of serious ideas, boldly stated’ Joan Acocella, The New Yorker ‘Another marvelously informative book from Simon Morrison, dishing this time on Russia’s great musical theater, onstage and off. It is a wonderful read, full of intriguing spectacle and spectacular intrigue’ Richard Taruskin, author of The Oxford History of Western Music ‘Simon Morrison has written an engrossing history of one of Russia’s most enduring cultural institutions. Bolshoi Confidential deftly shatters the distinctions between high-brow and low-brow, art and politics, authority and violence’ Amanda Foreman, author of Georgiana and A World on Fire ‘A colorful and erudite view on Russia through the tumultuous history of the sumptuous Bolshoi’ Peter Pomeranzev, author of Nothing is True and Everything is Possible ‘A magisterial portrait of the art, intrigue and politics buffeting Russia’s great cultural institution, the Bolshoi Ballet … A chilling cautionary tale about the perils of art pressed into the service of dogma and subdued into a servant of the state, Bolshoi Confidential offers fresh details about how deeply and indelibly Stalinist censorship bruised culture, artists and audiences in the USSR’ Janice Ross, author of Like A Bomb Going Off ‘Simon Morrison’s Bolshoi Confidential lifts the curtain on Russia’s best-known cultural institution. An intoxicating mix of grandeur and gossip, it charts luminous performances on stage and sordid machinations in the wings from the age of Catherine the Great to that of Vladimir Putin… Sweeping and authoritative history’ Guardian

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Book SynopsisNo, Groucho is not my real name, I''m just breaking it in for a friend.'' Presenting the greatest and most hilarious examples of Groucho, one of the most influential and well-loved figures in the long and glittering history of comedy. From early scripts to complete screenplays, from magazine funnies to fascinating personal correspondence, via books, greedy banks, even greedier lawyers and the coming of television, Kanfer''s collection captures the essence of Groucho''s inimitable comic genius. ''I never forget a face, but in your case I''ll make an exception...

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Book SynopsisNotes for Oboists: A Guide to the Repertoire is an essential resource for professional, amateur, and student oboists that collects the important historical and analytical information for thirty-five of the best-known pieces composed for the instrument. These works span the eighteenth through the twenty-first century and include sonatas, concertos, chamber music, and works for solo oboe by a wide range of composers. Chapters will cover compositions such as Alessandro Marcello''s Concerto in D Minor, Robert Schumann''s Three Romances Op. 94, Francis Poulenc''s Sonata for Oboe and Piano, Isang Yun''s Piri for Oboe Solo, Reena Esmail''s Jhula Jhule for Oboe and Piano, and thirty other treasures of the oboe repertoire.Writing in engaging and accessible prose supported by fact-filled analytical charts, Nora A. Lewis offers rich biographical information on individual composers, historical context for compositions (such as the circumstances for its development), as well as clear structural analyses to help oboists gain a deeper understanding of well-known repertoire. In offering both historical/biographical as well as musicological insight, Notes for Oboists connects performance studies with scholarship, allowing readers to build a more complete picture of the music and encourage them to approach other compositions in a similarly analytical manner.

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Book SynopsisWe make or listen to music for the powerful effect it has on our emotions, and we can''t imagine our lives without music. Yet we tend to know nothing about the intricate networks that neurons create throughout our brains to make music possible. The Musical Brain explores fascinating discoveries about the brain and music, often told through the stories of musicians whose lives have been impacted by the extraordinary ability of our brains to learn and adapt. Neuroscientists have been studying musicians and the process of making music since the early 1990s and have discovered a staggering amount of information about how the brain processes music. There have been many books discussing neuroscience and music, but this is the first to relate the research in a practical way to those individuals who make or teach music. Research in mirror neurons, neuroplasticity, imagery, learning and memory, the musical abilities of babies, and the cognitive advantage of studying music can offer valuable insTrade ReviewFinally! ...a book about music and neuroscience written by a musician and music teacher. Svard's perspective can help musicians play better, music teachers teach better, and music students learn better. * Nina Kraus, professor and neurobiologist, Northwestern University, author of "Of Sound Mind: How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World" *In 'The Musical Brain,' Lois Svard weaves together a comprehensive tapestry of neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, and biology to explore the many ways in which music is a fundamental component of human experience. The author's skill as an educator is evident in the way she distills complex research into concise and descriptive writing to provide readers with engaging real-life stories. This inviting book will be of great interest to any performer, teacher, or curious music lover. * Vanessa Cornett, Director of Keyboard Studies, Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy, University of St. Thomas, author of "The Mindful Musician: Mental Skills for Peak Performance" *Written with clarity and wisdom, packed with compelling accounts of neurological research on music, this superb book is relevant, timely and important. Svard makes the convincing case that music is * in so many vital ways'who we are.'William Westney, author of "The Perfect Wrong Note: Learning to Trust Your Musical Self" *Svard's deeply researched book containing many photos and explanatory drawings is an easy read even for the layman and very relatable through her stories of fine musicians. * Mary Nemet, The Stringendo *Everyone who reads this book will gain a greater appreciation of the miracle of the body and how scientific evidence is confirming what most in the field already know-that music leads to changes in the brain of not just those making music, but also those listening and watching. * Nicole Douglas, Piano Magazine *[A] fabulous and deeply fascinating book. * Anthony Williams, European Piano Teachers Association Journal *While the author does go deep into scientific explanation early in the book, it behooves the reader to power through to the end to gain an appreciation of how science and music beautifully support each other. * European Piano Teachers Association *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments About the Companion Website 1. Music and Musicians - and Why the Brain Matters 2. Origins of Music 3. Born for Music 4. Learn an instrument - change your brain 5. Learning and memory - two sides of the same coin 6. Practice - it's all about quality 7. Neuroplasticity - Awe-inspiring to Debilitating and Back Again 8. Imagery - Music in the Mind's Eye, Ear, Body 9. Seeing Sound, Hearing Movement - Music and Mirror Neurons 10. Does Music Really Make You Smarter? Epilogue: Thoughts on Music and Society Glossary

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Book SynopsisGrowing Songwriting is a groundbreaking book on the pedagogy of songwriting that starts with the essential question: How do I begin to write songs myself and with my students? In this book, Randles suggests that we start with cover songs, then explore the middle ground of remixes and sampling, and finally, jump into the world of lyric writing and the musical world of original songs. A growing metaphor also features throughout: lesson seeds are presented along with water in the form of stories of how people have written songs in the past and sunlight in the shape of ideas for continuation and inspiration. It is all about growing! In this book, you will be inspired by stories of how riffs were created, how lines were penned, and how songwriters capture their ideas in journals. Original music making is part inspiration and mostly hard work. This book gives you a window into the world of craft that surrounds the working lives of professional songwriters and pulls you into that world in small manageable steps. In looking to the metaphor of nature for pedagogical answers--answers that may very well usher in the most profound curricular growth period in the history of music education--Growing Songwriting aims to sow the seeds of songwriting in your life so that it can also flourish in the lives of your students.

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Book SynopsisDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, creative communities were faced with unprecedented challenges and forced to embark upon a re-evaluation of traditional approaches to artistic collaboration. In the wake of these discussions and experiments, New Directions in Musical Collaborative Creativity asks how new technology can be used to enhance creativity and how this creativity increases our knowledge in relation to musical interactions in group contexts. Focusing on a case study of a leading musical improvisation group--the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, and their online music sessions established during the COVID-19 lockdowns of March 2020--the book''s five authors probe the transformative impact of online and hybrid improvisation and explore the crucial role of interactive (visual and sound) technology in the emergence of new identities and hybrid working practices.Virtual improvising, though a relatively new type of creative activity, has significant implications for how researchers can better understand improvisation generally as well as musical interactions in non-virtual environments. The book''s topics range from an overview of digital music frameworks to an investigation of how improvisations begin and end, the unique context of the online sessions, the integration of audio and visual stimuli to produce audio-visual compositions, and new types of creative activities. The authors explore how improvisation--and online improvising in particular--can engender a fresh sense of community while presenting innovative opportunities for experimentation, communication, community involvement, educational enrichment, the cultivation of new virtuosities, and the promotion of health and well-being. Furthermore, they delve into the ramifications of these insights for education and health, emphasising the importance of new technologies and their potential to produce significant creative breakthroughs.Ultimately, the book points us toward novel manifestations of technologically-mediated and community-centred creative engagement, delineating avenues for future advancement and scholarly investigation. Bringing together a multidisciplinary and cross-generational author team with a wealth of complementary academic and artistic experience, this book responds to the significant growth in interest in improvisation as a musical and artistic practice and situates this research within the study of collaborative creativity in the contemporary hybrid context. A companion website features a series of films that document sessions of the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, showing the innovative collaborative artistic practices as they emerged.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the dazzling new historical novel from the author of That Green Eyed Girl and 73 Dove StreetPerfect for fans of City of Girls, Cabaret and Sunday Times bestseller, The Whalebone Theatre. ''Sexy, electrically stylish, and beautiful - a gorgeous story about sisterhood, and a glamorous, evocative passport to a period we all long to get lost in'' Daisy Buchanan, award-winning author of Insatiable''Julie''s best novel yet'' Georgina Moore, bestselling author of The Garnett GirlsWould you choose your sister or the love of your life? BERLIN, 1926After the death of their parents, sisters Leni and Annette only have each other.Desperate to support her younger sister, Leni finds work at a notorious cabaret: the Babylon Circus, a place where reality and fantasy merge. It's an overwhelming new world, and Leni is happiest hiding in the shadows. That is, until she meets the cabaret's resident pianist, Paul, beginning a tentative love affair that will play out over the next forty years and will change the course of their lives forever. In a city whose divisions will define a century, can a love born within the feverish walls of the Babylon Circus ever survive? And can the bond between Leni and Annette tugged in opposite directions of their own also endure?Praise for Circus of Mirrors: ''A tale of two sisters and a city, all three of them so vividly drawn, I felt I knew them. Superbly atmospheric, with convincingly flawed characters that just leap off the page'' Frances Quinn, author of The Bonesetter Woman ''An all-singing, all-dancing, moving and masterful book about two complex sisters living in incredibly complex times. Brilliant.'' Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl ''Bold, brave and absorbing'' Elizabeth Buchan, author of Bonjour, Sophie ''With hints of Atonement, this is an epic novel' Louise Fein, author of Daughter of the Reich Praise for Julie Owen Moylan ''Touching, entertaining and hopeful'' Sunday Times ''Dazzling'' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING ''I was gripped from the first page'' SARA COX ''Psychologically astute and emotionally absorbing,'' DAILY MAIL ''A wonderfully evocative, immersive novel that brings 50s London to life, from the smog and the nightlife to attitudes towards women'' SUNDAY EXPRESS ''Emotional, immersive and utterly absorbing'' JENNIFER SAINT

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Book SynopsisIn these pages Roger Corman, the most successful independent filmmaker in Hollywood relates his experiences as the director and/or producer of such low-budget classics Attack of the Crab Monsters, The Little Shop of Horrors, The Raven, The Man with the X-ray Eyes, The Wild Angels, The Trip, Night Call Nurses, Bloody Mama, Piranha, and many others. He also discusses his distribution of the Bergman, Fellini, and Truffaut movies that later won Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Film category. Corman alumni—John Sayles, Martin Scorsese, Jack Nicholson, Vincent Price, Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Bogdanovich, Peter Fonda, Joe Dante, and Jonathan Demme, among others—contribute their recollections to give added perspective to Corman''s often hilarious, always informative autobiography.

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Book Synopsis''A dense, challenging and important book.'' Philip French Observer''At the very least, this blockbuster is probably the best single volume history of Hollywood we''re likely to get for a very long time.'' Paul Kerr City Limits''Persuasively argued, the book is also packed with facts, figures and photographs.'' Nigel Andrews Financial TimesAcclaimed for their breakthrough approach, Bordwell, Staiger and Thompson analyze the basic conditions of American film-making as a historical institution and consider to what extent Hollywood film production constitutes a systematic enterprise, in both its style and its business operations.Despite differences of director, genre or studio, most Hollywood films operate within a set of shared assumptions about how a film should look and sound. Such assumptions are neither natural nor inevitable; but because classical-style films have been the tyTrade Review`At the very least, this blockbuster is probably the best single volume history of Hollywood we're likely to get in a very long time.' - City Limits`Persuasively argued, the book is also packed with facts, figures and photographs.' - Financial Times`An exhaustive study of Hollywood cinema to 1960.' - Times Education Supplement`A dense, challenging and important book.' - The ObserverTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface Part One: The classical Hollywood style, 1917-60 1. An excessively obvious cinema 2. Story causality and motivation 3. Classical narration 4. Time in the classical film 5. Space in the classical film 6. Shot and scene 7. The bounds of difference Part Two: The Hollywood mode of production to 1930 8. The Hollywood mode of production: its conditions of existence 9. Standardization and differentiation: the reinforcement and dispersion of Hollywood's practices 10. The director system: management in the first years 11. The director-unit system: management of multiple-unit companies after 1909 12. The central producer system: centralized management after 1914 13. The division and order of production: the subdivision of the work from the first years through the 1920s Part Three: The formulation of the classical style, 1909-28 14. From primitive to classical 15. The formulation of the classical narrative 16. The continuity system 17. Classical narrative space and the spectator's attention 18. The stability of the classical approach after 1917 Part Four: Film style and technology to 1930 19. Technology, style and mode of production 20. Initial standardization of the basic tehnology 21. Major technological changes of the 1920s 22. The Mazda tests of 1928 23. The introduction of sound Part Five: The Hollywood mode of production, 1930-60 24. The labor-force, financing and the mode of production 25. The producer-unit system: management by specialization after 1931 26. The package-unit system: unit management after 1955 Part Six: Film style and technology, 1930-60 27. Deep-focus cinematography 28. Technicolor 29. Widescreen processes and stereophonic sound Part Seven: Historical implications of the classical Hollywood cinema 30. Since 1960: the persistence of the mode of film practice 31. Alternative modes of film practice Envoi Appendix A: The unbiased sample Appendix B: A brief synopsis of the structure of the United States film industry, 1896-1960 Appendix C: Principal Structures of the US film industry, 1894-1930 Appendix D: Lighting plots and descriptions Notes Select bibliography Photograph credits Index

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Book SynopsisIntroduces the value of storytelling throughout life and how it can transform challenging situations in both childhood and adulthood. Offers practical advice on how to tell stories in different situations.Trade Review'Josie Felce has been a storyteller for thirty-five years, and has travelled the world gathering tales and wisdom from diverse cultures. Far more than a simple practical guide her book is a rich amalgam of storytelling theory and history, alongside a selection of traditional tales.'-- Families SouthWest Magazine 'Josie vividly describes the power of stories, why they are so important and the history behind them.'-- Juno'Josie Felce has written a wonderfully clear, concise and soul warming book ... Storytelling for life offers many wonderful short stories to illustrate the subject matter. In this way we can experience first-hand the healing powers and spiritual depths in them which provide the soul with sustenance.'-- New View'An inspiring and instructive book.'-- Network Review'Storytelling for Life should be on every parent's and teacher's bookshelf. Her practical and inspirational guide introduces readers to the value of storytelling throughout life -- how stories can be therapeutic and also helpful when we are faced with challenges.'-- Family Interest

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Getting Started with Filmmaking 5 Chapter 1: So You Want to Be a Filmmaker 7 Chapter 2: Genres in General 21 Chapter 3: Penning and Pitching a Great Story 39 Part 2: Gearing Up to Make Your Movie 55 Chapter 4: Scheduling and Budgeting Your Movie 57 Chapter 5: Financing Your Movie 77 Chapter 6: Location, Location, Location 93 Chapter 7: Crewing Up: Hiring Your Crew 109 Chapter 8: Assembling Your Cast of Characters 129 Chapter 9: Storyboarding Your Movie 145 Part 3: Ready to Roll: Starting Production on Your Movie 161 Chapter 10: Shooting through the Looking Glass 163 Chapter 11: Let There Be Lighting! 191 Chapter 12: Sound Advice: Production Sound 209 Chapter 13: Directing Your Actors: And Action! 227 Chapter 14: A Sense of Direction: Directing Your Movie 243 Part 4: Finishing Your Movie in Post 265 Chapter 15: Cut to: Editing Your Movie — Shot by Shot 267 Chapter 16: Posting Your Movie’s Soundtrack: Adding Music and Effects to the Mix 287 Chapter 17: Conjuring Up Special Effects 305 Chapter 18: Giving Credit and Titles 325 Part 5: Finding Distribution for Your Movie 337 Chapter 19: Distributing Your Movie 339 Chapter 20: Exploring and Entering Film Festivals 363 Part 6: The Part of Tens 377 Chapter 21: Ten Tips for Discovering New Talent 379 Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Get Publicity for Your Movie 385 Chapter 23: Ten Ways to Avoid Murphy’s Law 391 Chapter 24: Ten Tips for Shooting on Your Smartphone 397 Index 405

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Book SynopsisWhether you want to participate in ballet or just watch it, the ballet experience can excite and inspire you. Ballet is among the most beautiful forms of expression ever devised: an exquisite mix of sight and sound, stunning, aesthetics, and awesome technique. Ballet For Dummies is for anyone who wants to enjoy all that the dance forms offers as an onlooker who wants to get a leg up on the forms you''re likely to see or as an exercise enthusiast who understands that the practice of ballet can help you gain: More strength Greater flexibility Better body alignment Confidence in movement Comfort through stress reduction Infinite grace for life From covering the basics of classical ballet to sharing safe and sensible ways to try your hand (and toes) at moving through the actual dance steps, this expert reference shows you how to: Build your appreciation for ballet from the ground up. Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Ballet Dancing from the Top 7 Chapter 1: Curtain Up! Welcome to the Ballet 9 Chapter 2: Stocking the Tools of the Trade 17 Chapter 3: Getting Toasty: Warming Up Your Body 31 Chapter 4: Leaping into Ballet Basics 47 Chapter 5: Music, Maestro! 63 Part 2: Belly Up to the Barre 73 Chapter 6: Basic Barre-Tending 75 Chapter 7: Stepping It Up at the Barre 97 Chapter 8: Getting a Leg Up 115 Part 3: Center Floor, Anyone? 137 Chapter 9: Getting to Center Floor 139 Chapter 10: Ballet’s Tasmanian Devil: The Pirouette 155 Chapter 11: Linking It Together: The Steps Between the Steps 173 Chapter 12: Ground Control to Ballet Dancer 187 Chapter 13: Getting More Air Time 205 Part 4: Living the Ballet Life 219 Chapter 14: Partners Aren’t Just for Square Dancing 221 Chapter 15: Exploring Choreography 235 Chapter 16: What the Heck Are They Saying? The Art of Ballet Mime 249 Chapter 17: Watching Ballet in Action 267 Part 5: The Part of Tens 281 Chapter 18: The Ten Most Commonly Used Ballet Steps 283 Chapter 19: Ten Best-Loved Classical Ballets 287 Chapter 20: Ten Great “Contemporary” Ballets 295 Chapter 21: The Ten Best Ballet Terms for Cocktail Parties 303 Chapter 22: Ten Fascinating Facts about Professional Ballet Dancers 307 Glossary of Ballet Terms 315 Index 323

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Book SynopsisTake the trip of a lifetime into the past and present of Bollywood Fascinated by the high energy, high emotion, high color, endless dance routines, and sheer scale of Bollywoodbut afraid you'll never really know your Ghazals from your Qawwalis, or your Khans from your Kapoors? Well, in the immortal line from the Hindi-language blockbuster Sultan, No one can defeat you unless you accept defeat yourself, and there's no need to be defeated at all when you can sit back with Bollywood For Dummies and immerse yourself in the glamorous whirl of one of the most exciting movie industries on Earth. Starting with the time-travel adventure of the book's main featurethe history of the Hindi-speaking industry from people and events of early to mid 20th century Mumbaiyou'll also journey in space, taking fascinating documentary side trips to get to know Tollywood's Telegu-language cinema in southern India, as well as the growing influence of Lollywood across the border in Pakistan. Written by the cohosts of Desi Standard Time, a podcast that explores Bollywood and South Asian movies and media, you'll see how the unique cinema culture of Bollywood in particular has become a global phenomenon, reflecting the rise of India as an independent nation and presenting its long historyand it's exciting and multifaceted presentin new, influential, and enduring forms. Whatever you paid the price of entry for: the popular Bollywood Masala movie style that emphasizes music, comedy, romance, and action; sensitive critiques of a fast-changing society by the Indian Social Realism movement; new forms of music from Indian disco to Sufi boogie; or a look at the lives and talents of the great acting dynastiesit's all here. And there'll still be plenty more plot twists beyond these to surprise and delight you. Get to know the people who built BollywoodDiscover the main music and dance stylesExplore and recognize Bollywood's influence on Western cinemaGo social and join up with the liveliest Bollywood fan communities You're right to be excited: for newbies a whole new world awaits, and for aficionados, there's always so much more to know. So, sit back with this book, grab some popcorn or a plate of samosasor why not bothand prepare to begin an electric feast to sizzle all your senses.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 2 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 4 Part 1: Getting Started with Bollywood 5 Chapter 1: Introducing Bollywood 7 Addressing What Bollywood is 7 Identifying the Families of Bollywood 9 Looking at Bollywood’s Evolution 10 Focusing on the 1940s to the 1960s 10 Eyeing the 1970s and 1980s 11 Considering the 1990s and 2000s 11 Arriving at the present day 12 Grooving and Moving: Bollywood Incorporates Music and Dance 13 Understanding the importance of the soundtrack 13 Recognizing the roles of different genres 14 Shaking your groove thang: Dance in Bollywood 15 Appreciating Bollywood Worldwide 15 Chapter 2: Focusing on Family Over Everything Else 19 Introducing Kapoor and Sons 20 The first generation of Kapoors 20 The second generation of Kapoors 21 The third generation of Kapoors 24 Building the Bachchan Family 25 Contending to be the GOAT: Amitabh and his wife, Jaya Bachchan 25 Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan 27 Keeping Up with the Khans 28 Bollywood’s king: Shah Rukh Khan 28 Saif Ali Khan 29 Aamir Khan 29 Salman Khan 29 The forgotten Khans 30 Meeting the Johars 32 Yash Johar 32 Karan Johar 33 Bhatt-ing their Way Into Bollywood 33 Mahesh Bhatt 34 Alia Bhatt 34 Emraan Hashmi 35 Examining the Chopras: More than Priyanka 35 Yash Chopra 36 Aditya Chopra 36 Uday Chopra 36 Priyanka Chopra 37 Navigating the Roshans 37 Rakesh Roshan 37 Rajesh Roshan 38 Hrithik Roshan 38 Zayed Khan 38 There’s Something about Mukherjee 39 Kishore Kumar 39 Kajol 40 Rani Mukerji 40 Ajay Devgn 40 Part 2: Bollywood through the Years 41 Chapter 3: Looking at the Golden Age, from the 1940s to the 1960s 43 Parting Ways: The Effect on Indian Cinema 44 First Some Sour, Then Some Sweet: Realist Cinema Giving Way to Romance 45 A sign of the times: Indian social realism 46 The subsequent dominance of romance 46 Meeting the Evergreen Actors 49 Master of mannerisms: Dev Anand 49 Award winner: Dilip Kumar 50 The singing actor: Kishore Kumar 51 Introducing the Classic Gentlemen 51 The multitalented star: Raj Kapoor 51 The first superstar: Rajesh Khanna 52 Overcoming adversity: Sunil Dutt 53 Shining the Spotlight on Leading Ladies 53 International beauty: Madhubala 53 Dancer turned star: Waheeda Rehman 54 Presenting All Things Grace and Presence 55 Beloved beauty: Nargis 55 Pakistani princess: Noor Jehan 56 Chapter 4: Spotlighting Classical Bollywood in the 1970s and 1980s 57 Going Beyond Musical Romance Films 58 Ramping Up the Action 59 Dominating the Industry: The Killer “B” 61 Recognizing Bachchan’s legacy in Bollywood 61 Moving beyond Bachchan’s star status 63 For Richer or Kapoor-er: The Kapoors 65 The remake king: Jeetendra Kapoor 65 The ageless actor: Anil Kapoor 65 Boy wonder: Rishi Kapoor 66 Identifying the Original Gangsters 67 Tall and tough: Jackie Shroff 67 The roller coaster career: Sanjay Dutt 68 Villain and hero: Vinod Khanna 69 Meeting the Method Men 69 Disco King: Mithun Chakraborty 69 The Theatric: Shashi Kapoor 70 Stranger than Fiction: Feroz Khan 71 Appreciating the Divine Divas 71 Sex symbol: Mumtaz 71 Eyes to die for: Sridevi 72 The versatile vixen: Rekha 72 The dream girl: Hema Malini 73 Breaking Stereotypes: Actresses Stepping Out of the Box 73 Stereotype shatterer: Parveen Babi 74 Unconventional yet refined: Dimple Kapadia 74 Tackling tough subjects: Shabana Azmi 75 Staying consistent with Queen Zeenat Aman 76 Lifelong Devotee: Neetu Singh 76 Chapter 5: Going Contemporary: Bollywood in the 1990s and Early 2000s 77 Never-Ending Rom-Khans: Shah Rukh and the Other Khans 79 King Khan: Shah Rukh Khan 80 The critically acclaimed Khan: Aamir Khan 81 Macho man Khan: Salman Khan 82 The fun-loving Khan: Saif Ali Khan 83 Laughing with the Comedy King: Govinda Ahuja 83 High Octane and High Energy: The Action Stars 84 The stuntman: Akshay Kumar 84 Perennial tough guy: Sunil Shetty 84 Coming of Age: Sons of Industry 85 Killer B’s son: Abhishek Bachchan 85 Dancing into the limelight: Hrithik Roshan 85 The serial kisser: Emraan Hashmi 86 Meeting the Method Actors 86 Posing with Models-Turned-Actors 87 Voice (and muscles) of stone: Arjun Rampal 87 Heartthrob heaven: John Abraham 88 Dancing Backup to the Leading Man: Shahid Kapoor 89 Buzzing with the Queen Bee: The Inimitable Madhuri Dixit 90 Keeping It in the Family 91 The Kapoor sisters: Karisma and Kareena 91 The Mukherjee cousins: Kajol and Rani 92 Identifying the Pageant Winners 93 Sweet and wholesome: Juhi Chawla 93 Renowned beauty: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan 94 International star: Priyanka Chopra 95 Identifying Critically Acclaimed Darlings 95 Multi-award winner: Tabassum Hashmi 95 Powerhouse performer: Manisha Koirala 96 Recognizing the Leggy Leading Ladies 97 Reality-star-turned-actress: Shilpa Shetty 97 Item number specialist: Katrina Kaif 97 Smiling with the Sweethearts 98 The mast-mast girl: Raveena Tandon 98 Dimpled sweetheart: Preity Zinta 98 The Sex Icon: Bipasha Basu 99 Chapter 6: Good As New: Bollywood from the Mid-2000s to the Present Day 101 Recycling Old Plots: What’s Old is New Again 102 Keeping It in the Family: Children of Famous Actors 103 Identifying the Newest Kapoors 103 Charming and varied: Ranbir Kapoor 104 Household name: Arjun Kapoor 104 Winning smile: Aditya Roy Kapur 105 Aching in Heartthrob Haven 105 The new king of Bollywood: Ranveer Singh 105 Tall and talented: Sidharth Malhotra 107 Building Bodies in Bollywood 108 Tragic star: Sushant Singh Rajput 108 The martial artist: Tiger Shroff 108 Romantic hero: Varun Dhawan 109 Crowning a Queen: Deepika Padukone 109 The Descendants: Women from Bollywood Families 110 Acclaimed at an early age: Alia Bhatt 111 Body image hero: Sara Ali Khan 111 Variety queen: Shraddha Kapoor 111 The fashion icon: Sonam Kapoor 112 The royal debutante: Sonakshi Sinha 112 Recognizing the Challengers of the Norm 112 The strong personality: Anushka Sharma 113 Critical darling: Parineeti Chopra 113 Taking her own stance: Kangana Ranaut 114 Part 3: The Sound of (Bollywood) Music 117 Chapter 7: Not a Sprint, but a (Musical) Marathon 119 Respecting the Soundtrack 120 Nodding at movie soundtracks 120 Focusing on the actual songs 121 Marketing movies: How songs do it 122 Recognizing the Importance of the Score 125 Orchestrating everything: Music directors 125 Bringing the lyrics to life: Singers 126 Writing the songs: Lyricists 127 Sequencing videos: Sets and locations 127 Getting into Costume 130 Eyeing the cuts and wraps of women’s clothing 130 Appreciating the simplicity and tradition of men’s clothing 132 Chapter 8: Getting Funky with Disco 135 Disco Dancing through Bollywood: How Filmi Disco Made an Impact 135 Everybody was BIDDU fighting 136 Appreciating the Hassan phenomenon 137 Grooving with the Self-Proclaimed Disco King: Bappi Lahiri 138 Kickstarting the disco trend in India 139 Hitting the dance floor: Lahiri’s influence 140 Digging the Psychedelic: R D Burman and Asha Bhosle 140 Master of mixing genres: R.D Burman 140 The versatile playback singer: Asha Bhosle 141 Mixing It Up: A Little Boogie, a Little Sufi 144 Blending religious motifs 144 Composing disco music: Laxmikant Kudalkar and Pyarelal Sharma 145 Chapter 9: Feeding the Soul: Bollywood’s Music Origins and Soul Music 147 Examining the Genesis of Bollywood Music 148 The emergence of Urdu poetry in India through ghazals 149 Filmi ghazal revival in the 1990s 150 Appreciating the Preachy, Powerful, and Poetic: Qawwalis 152 Looking closer at qawwali songs 152 Religious devotion from Sufi music 154 Influencing Bollywood: The subgenre of filmi qawwali 155 Going techno 156 Chapter 10: Mixing It Up with Other Musical Genres: Pop, Rock, and Rap 159 Discovering Rock Music’s Influence in Bollywood 159 Bollywood loves rock and roll 160 Getting psycho with Raga Rock 160 Evolution of Hindi rock 161 Indian Music Pops Off 163 Recognizing famous Indi-pop singers 164 Keeping pop popular in Bollywood 167 Punjabi gets popping 169 Busting a Rhyme: Bollywood and Rap 169 Rap: Appearing in Bollywood movies 170 Making its debut: Bollywood’s first rap film 171 Chapter 11: Noticing Folk Music In and Out of Bollywood 173 Recognizing the Traditions of the Punjab Region 174 Identifying the roots of Punjabi folk music 174 Identifying the unique instruments 175 Getting Down: Dance Traditions of Punjab 177 It’s all in the bounce 178 Bhangra’s evolution, from folk to hip-hop 179 Spotlighting the women of Punjab 180 Choreographing Bhangra within Bollywood 181 Appreciating dance 181 A culture of competing 183 Chapter 12: Painting the Town, Bollywood Style 185 Tapping Along to Indian Dance Styles 186 Looking to the Tribes for Folk Dance 187 Getting to Know the Famous Choreographers 188 Popping with the king of Bollywood dance 189 Emulating MJ and beyond 190 Getting energetic and making history 192 Dancing Their Way to Center Stage 193 Adding Bollywood Dance to Your Repertoire 196 Part 4: Bollywood Goes Global 199 Chapter 13: Leading Box Office Revenue Worldwide 201 Representing Bollywood Culture around the Globe 202 Testing success in the Middle East and North Africa 203 Sharing values with West Africa and beyond 203 Filming in the UK and Western Europe 204 Growing popularity in China 205 Roller-coastering through South America 205 Streaming everywhere 207 Considering the Western Influence 207 American actors adopt Bollywood 207 Musical collaborations 210 The Janice Miller effect and social media 211 Chapter 14: Bollywood Fans Grow in the Masses 213 Loving the Bollywood Culture 213 Celebrating Bollywood with games and music parties 214 More memes, please 214 Spinning Off: TV Shows Discuss More about Their Beloved Bollywood 216 Koffee with Karan 217 Kapil Sharma Show 218 All India Bakchod 218 Recognizing When Fandom Turns into Obsession 219 Banning TikTok in India 220 Majoring in Kapoorology 221 Chapter 15: Grabbing Trophies: The Award Shows 223 Reaching for the Stars: India’s Version of the Oscars 224 Finding Fame with the Filmfare Awards 224 Going international with the IIFA Awards 226 Getting presidential with the National Film Awards 227 Identifying Other Prominent Awards Shows 227 Coming and going with Zee Cine 228 Reaching for the Stardust 228 Starring in the STAR Guild Awards 228 Part 5: From Neighboring Industries to the Diaspora 233 Chapter 16: Taking From and Giving To Lollywood 235 Influencing Bollywood Soundtracks: Pakistan’s Musical Talent 236 Including Pakistani culture in Bollywood 236 Rocking Pakistani-style 238 Rockin’ Out to Music Franchises So Good They’re International 239 Drinking it in: Coke Studio 239 Finding treasures: Nescafé Basement 240 Crossing Over: Lollywood Impacting Bollywood 241 Indo-Pak relations, as told through Bollywood 242 Pakistani actors crossing the border 243 Chapter 17: Examining South India’s Bollywood 247 A Tale of Two Tollywoods 248 The Tollywood of Bengal 248 Telugu cinema, another Tollywood 250 Remaking culture — from Tollywood to Bollywood 251 Tapping into Tamil Cinema: Kollywood 251 A secondary hub for Hindi cinema 252 Kollywood’s greatest gift to Bollywood: A R Rahman 253 Chapter 18: Reaching Hollywood: Bollywood’s Impact 255 Recognizing Bollywood Actors in Popular Hollywood Media 256 Leaving a legacy: The late Irrfan Khan 256 Sweeping audiences off their feet: Dimple Kapadia 258 Shining in unconventional roles: Om Puri 258 Recognizing other actors who made the transition 259 Moving from Acting to Talking with Talk Shows 261 Ellen DeGeneres 261 Jimmy Fallon 261 Oprah Winfrey 262 David Letterman 262 Crossing Over: Hollywood in India 264 Appearing in Bollywood movies 265 Collaborating on cross-cultural comedy 265 Eyeing South Asian Contributions to Hollywood Films 266 Identifying notable people behind the scenes 266 Making space in the industry: Prominent diaspora actors in Hollywood 268 Part 6: The Parts of Tens 275 Chapter 19: Ten Movies to Watch If You’re New to Bollywood 277 Sholay: Burning Down the Competition 278 Mother India: Flag-Bearing a Country 279 Amar Akbar Anthony: Marinating in “Masala” 280 Dil Chahta Hai: The First Coming of Age 281 Hum Aapke Hain Koun ! Topping the Charts 282 Lagaan: Vying for the Oscars 283 Bombay: So Good That We Must Dub 284 Gully Boy: Hip-Hop Hooray 284 Mughal-E-Azam: India’s Prince Charming 286 Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.: Faking It ’til We Make It! 287 Chapter 20: Ten Must-Watch Shah Rukh Khan Films 289 Baazigar: The Antihero Role 290 Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge: Landscapes of Love 290 Dil to Pagal Hai: The Master of Triangles 291 Kuch Kuch Hota Hai: The All-Time Classic 292 Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham: The Star-Studded Family Film 292 Devdas: Tragedy Strikes 293 Mohabbatein: Living in a Dream World 294 Kal Ho Naa Ho: The Tear-Jerker 295 Swades: Yearning for Home 296 Veer-Zaara: A Tale of Two Nations 296 Chapter 21: Ten Bollywood Actors Who Transitioned to Hollywood 299 Amitabh Bachchan 300 Aishwarya Rai Bachchan 300 Priyanka Chopra 300 Anil Kapoor 301 Shashi Kapoor 302 Irrfan Khan 302 Anupam Kher 303 Deepika Padukone 303 Amrish Puri 304 Naseeruddin Shah 304 Index 305

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Book SynopsisUnderstand the businesssideofyourshowbizcareer We all know acting can be a glitteringwhirl of glamourplushred carpets,simplydivineoutfits,huge sums ofmoney, and oh, the parties!But what a lot ofwannabeactors forget is thatittakesa lot ofpractical workto get to the flashbulbs of your first premiere,and that the savviest actors put as much stress on thebusinessside of the profession as they do on theshow.BreakingIntoActing For Dummiesdemystifies the behind-the-curtain side of showbiz to help you understand how itreallyworks, who the decision-makers are, what they're looking for when they're picking talent, and how to get them on your side.Ifyoutrulywant to be the next Emma Stone or Leonardo DiCaprio, you'll wantto have awell-thumbedcopy of this book alongside yourpile of scripts. Written by twofriendlyinsiders, thisguide takes you behind the scenesto help youmap out yourplan of attack, showing you how to open doorsand keep them openand use your time wisely, so you're not breaking a leg rushing fromonerandom audition toanother.You'll understand how to flesh out your professional persona as thoroughly as a movie part,craft your resume asminutelyas a script, and judge theangleofyour headshots and webcam appearances asintimatelyas anydirector.Once you've masteredtheseskills,it'stime to go to market asyour own publicity department,buildingyourmedia andonline presence untileveryone who's anyone knowsexactlywho you are. Understand different acting marketsfromtheater to commercialsNetwork in-person and onlineBuild your image via resumes, head shots, and webcamKeep a firm grip on the financial side Whether you're studying, ahopefulamateur,or have beentreading the boardsfor a while,thisis yourbreakthroughscript forsucceeding in the business of acting, andforlearning how to playyour ultimaterole: yourself.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Figuring Out the Business of Acting 5 Chapter 1: Staying on Top of the Changes in Show Business 7 Understanding the World of Acting 8 What You Need to Succeed 8 An attention-grabbing head shot 9 A five-star acting resume 9 Polished talent 10 Taking Your First Steps in Show Business 11 Marketing yourself 11 Finding your first ally: An agent 11 Showcasing your talent: Auditioning 12 Discovering the Many Ways to Make Money as an Actor 12 Managing Money (A Little or a Lot) 13 Knowing What to Expect from an Acting Career 14 Chapter 2: Discovering How Show Business Has Changed and Adapted 15 Understanding the Business of Show Business 15 Taking It “from the Top” — It All Begins with an Idea 16 Selling an Idea 17 Producing a Script 18 Going into Production 20 Action: It’s Showtime! 21 Cleaning Up in Post-Production 22 Distributing the Product 23 Chapter 3: From Agents, Managers, and Unions: Introducing the Movers and Shakers 27 Producers: The Champions of Every Project 28 Directors: The Bosses on the Set 29 Writers: The Idea Makers 29 The Studios: The Ones That Make Everything Possible 30 Financing a project 31 Marketing and distributing a project 32 Casting Directors: The Gatekeepers 33 Agents: Your Door to Show Business 34 Personal and Business Managers: The Guiding Forces Behind the Scenes 34 Actors: The Talent in Front of the Spotlight 35 Unions: An Actor’s Best Friend 36 The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) 37 Actors’ Equity Association 38 Part 2: Packaging and Marketing Yourself 41 Chapter 4: Making a Great First Impression with a Head Shot and Samples of Your Work 43 Introducing the Head Shot: An Actor’s Calling Card 44 Examining Variations on the Standard 46 The commercial head shot 47 The theatrical shot 47 Creating the Perfect Head Shot 48 Hiring a professional photographer 48 Picking the right look 50 Making the most of your photo session 50 Getting Your Head Shot Ready 51 Publicizing Your Head Shot with a Twist 52 Avoiding Problems with Head Shots 52 Is that really you? 52 Technical problems: You look great but your head shot still stinks 52 Using Film to Represent Your Work 53 Chapter 5: Creating a Five-Star Acting Resume 55 Tackling the Basics of Creating a Resume 56 Creating an Online Resume 56 Identifying the Info to Include 57 Your name, union membership, and contact information 57 Your physical characteristics 58 Your acting experience and education 59 Your knowledge of special skills 60 Avoiding Resume No-Nos 61 Examining Sample Resumes 62 The beginner’s resume 63 The intermediate actor’s resume 63 The veteran’s resume 66 Chapter 6: Training to Improve Your Acting Skills 69 Mastering the Art of Auditioning: Taking Classes 69 Benefiting from an auditioning class 70 Advancing your auditioning skills 70 Improving Your Performing Skills 73 Stand-up comedy workshops 75 Improvisation classes 75 Speech and accent coaching 76 Singing and dancing lessons 76 Developing Physical Fitness Skills 77 Improving Your Unique Skills 78 Part 3: Taking Your First Steps into Show Business 79 Chapter 7: Representing Yourself, Networking, and Promoting Yourself on Websites 81 Looking for Your Own Work 82 Relying on the actors’ unions 82 Staying in touch 82 Reading trade publications 83 Using casting websites and social media 83 Contact casting directors on your own 84 Advertising Yourself 86 Showcasing Yourself 86 Chapter 8: Seeking Representation: An Agent, Manager, and/or an Entertainment Attorney 89 Differentiating between Agents, Managers, and Entertainment Attorneys 90 Getting the Ball Rolling to Find Representation 91 Discovering potential representation 91 Contacting potential representation 93 Calling for an appointment 94 Staying determined and be positive 96 Interviewing with Prospective Representation 97 Preparing for your interview 97 Arriving for your interview 98 Conducting yourself during your interview 99 Ending the interview 102 Signing On with an Agent 104 Working with Your Agent 106 Staying in touch 106 Following your agent’s advice 107 Sharing auditioning information with your agent 107 Releasing Your Agent 107 Letting your agent go: Why you’d want to 108 Leaving your agent: The how-to 110 Chapter 9: Auditioning: The Art of What You Need to Know 113 Looking at the Types of Auditions 114 Going to open casting calls (cattle calls) 114 Attending casting auditions 115 Auditioning from Home 116 Preparing for an Audition 118 Planning ahead of time 118 Deciding what to wear 119 Grooming 120 Arriving at the Audition or Callback 120 Impressing a Casting Director 121 Auditioning: What to Expect 122 Speaking your lines 123 Making your exit 124 Preparing for the Next Audition 124 Evaluating yourself 124 Getting on with your life 125 Hoping for the Best That Can Happen: The Callback 126 Dealing with Rejection 127 Saying Thank You 128 Chapter 10: Understanding Diversity Challenges in Show Business 129 Defining Who You Are in the World of Diversity 130 Finding Representation 131 Seeking Diversity in Casting 132 Acknowledging Diversity in the Academy and Emmy Awards 134 Chapter 11: Adapting to Difficult Personalities 137 Dealing with Professionals 138 Treating the casting director with respect 138 Showing respect to the director on set 139 Considering other professionals 140 Respecting Your Fellow Actor 140 Respecting Everyone on the Set 142 Part 4: Scoping Out the Markets 143 Chapter 12: Acting in Film and Television 145 Landing a Job 146 Filming from Different Locations Using Your Computer and Phone 146 Acting in Front of the Camera Versus Acting on the Stage 147 Fine-Tuning Your Performance on Film 148 Playing to the camera 149 Acting consistently with different takes 151 Successfully acting scenes out of order 152 Hitting your mark 153 Recognizing different shots 154 Dealing with close-ups 154 Performing on a Set 156 A typical day on the set 157 What to do when your scene’s done 161 Participating in Post-Production: Looping 161 Gaining Experience and Exposure by Working in Different Markets 162 Chapter 13: Acting in Commercials 165 Understanding How a Commercial Gets Made 165 Preparing for a Career in Commercials 167 Taking a class or workshop 167 Studying working actors 168 Hiring a commercial agent or manager 169 Auditioning for a Commercial Role 169 Fitting the part 170 Preparing your part 170 Handling yourself during the audition 171 Understanding the Market for Commercials 173 The Wonderful New World of Commercials 175 Chapter 14: Acting in Theater 177 Mastering Your Skills Onstage 178 Gearing Up for a Theatrical Career 178 Taking the academic route 179 Pounding the pavement 180 Auditioning for Theater 182 Finding auditions 182 Being prepared 182 Familiarizing Yourself with Stage Types 184 Proscenium stages 185 Thrust stages 187 Arena stages 187 Rehearsing for a Play 189 Read-through 189 Blocking with stage directions 190 Scene work 191 Work-throughs 191 Run-throughs 192 Technical rehearsals 192 Dress rehearsals 193 Working in Different Markets 195 Chapter 15: Performing without Being Seen: Voice-Over Acting 197 What You Need to Succeed in Voice-Over Acting 198 What’s that you say? Speaking clearly 198 Voice versatility 199 Testing testing: Playing to the microphone 200 Training for a Voice-Over Career 201 Finding Voice-Over Work 201 Preparing Your Demo 202 Including all the right stuff 202 Laying down the tracks 204 Recording subsequent demo 204 Getting an Agent or Manager 205 Auditioning for Voice-Over Work 205 Getting Paid as a Voice-Over Actor 206 Chapter 16: Working As an Extra 209 Delving into the Glamorous World of an Extra 210 Recognizing types of extras 211 Getting work as an extra 211 Examining a day in the life of an extra 213 Appreciating the Advantages of Being an Extra 215 Investigating the technical business of show business 216 Studying the acting side of filmmaking 217 Networking with fellow actors 218 Making a little (emphasis on “little”) money 218 Advancing Your Career Beyond an Extra 218 Chapter 17: Getting Your Kid into Show Biz 221 Considering the Commitment 222 Does your kid really want to do this? 222 Do you really want to do this? 223 Setting goals for you and your child 225 Exploring the Acting Options 226 Modeling 227 TV commercials 228 Film and TV shows 228 Theater 230 Investigating the Biz of Child Acting 230 Starting as a proud parent of a child actor 230 Procuring the paperwork 231 Watching out for your child’s welfare 231 Restricting time on the set 232 Educating on the set 233 Managing all that money 234 Helping Your Child Deal with the Ups and Downs of Show Business 236 Part 5: Managing Your Money as an Actor 239 Chapter 18: Don’t Get Ripped Off! Avoiding Con Games, Scams, and Self-Destruction 241 Identifying the Elements of a Con Game 242 The hook — Baiting the suckers 242 The line — Exploiting your trust 242 The sinker — Taking your money 243 Exposing Common Show Business Con Games 243 Fake screen tests 244 Phony agents 244 Shoddy photographers 247 Worthless acting schools 247 Sleazy casting directors 249 Meaningless beauty pageants 249 Shady get-rich-quick schemes 250 Dealing with Dishonesty 251 Potential problems with non-union productions 251 Unscrupulous business managers 252 Casting and networking parties 252 Missing residuals 253 Protect Yourself: Beating the Con at His Own Game 253 Being Your Own Worst Enemy 255 Dealing with drug abuse 255 Separating sex from show business 256 Dealing with alcohol and drug addiction 257 Curbing excessive spending 257 Avoiding criminal activities 258 Handling emotional and psychological problems 258 Chapter 19: Working to Pay Your Bills until You Hit It Big 259 Considering What Kind of Employment You Want 260 Getting temporary work 261 Getting full or part-time work 263 Considering supplemental work 263 Working for Yourself 263 Getting a Job That Pays You to Be Entertaining 264 Teaching traffic school 265 Performing on the street 265 Amusing patrons at an amusement park 266 Entertaining the kiddies 266 Catering to the public or the acting crowd 267 Working in a film or television studio 267 Reading scripts for payment 267 Winning big on a game show 268 Doing a song and dance in a casino 269 Performing on a cruise ship 269 Acting in an interactive play 270 Reading for actors during auditions 271 Getting “extra” time in the studio 271 Chapter 20: Managing Your Finances 273 Handling Your Money 273 Saving it! 274 Dealing with income taxes 275 Digging yourself out of debt 276 Investing your earnings 278 Living Well Without Going Broke 279 Dealing with housing expenses 280 Eating cheaply 280 Buying clothes 281 Deciding When to Quit Your Day Job 281 Part 6: The Part of Tens 283 Chapter 21: Ten Myths Debunked about Show Business 285 Myth #1: Show Business is Closed to Outsiders 286 Myth #2: It’s Who You Know, Not What You Know 286 Myth #3: Only the Young and the Beautiful Get Work 287 Myth #4: You Have to Move to L.A., Vancouver, or New York to Succeed 287 Myth #5: Plastic Surgery and Body Implants Get You Work 288 Myth #6: You Have to Sacrifice Your Principles 289 Myth #7: You Can Break into Show Business by Taking Off Your Clothes 289 The myth of posing nude 290 The myth of sleeping with someone famous or powerful 290 The myth of appearing in adult movies 290 Myth #8: You Can Be Discovered and Made into a Star 291 Myth #9: The Right Agent, Manager, Coach Can Get You Work 291 Myth #10: Show Business Will Destroy You 291 Chapter 22: Ten Traits of Successful Actors 293 Respecting Other People’s Time 294 Planning Ahead 294 Being Flexible and Adaptable 295 Being Professional 296 How a professional actor behaves 296 Acting professionally with your agent 297 Acting professionally with casting directors 297 Acting professionally on the set 298 Being Yourself 299 Being Well-Groomed 299 Being Persistent 300 Avoiding Mind-Altering Substances 301 Being Willing to Improve Yourself 301 Believing in Yourself 302 Chapter 23: Ten Tips for Improving As an Actor 303 Mastering the Art of Auditioning 303 Knowing How to Audition and Act for the Camera 304 Auditioning for the camera 304 Acting for the camera 305 Expecting the Unexpected: Improvising 305 Developing a Sense of Humor 306 Overcoming Stage Fright 307 Understanding Human Psychology 307 Developing Your Voice and Improving Your Body 308 Your voice 308 Your body 308 Maintaining a Reliable Source of Income 309 Avoiding Guaranteed Failure 309 Staying Sharp 310 Chapter 24: Ten Ways to Act Just for the Fun of It 311 Join a Community Theater Group 312 Become a Storyteller 313 Join an Improvisational Group 313 Volunteer at Your Local School Drama Department 314 Put on a Play for a Charity 314 Appear in a Student Film 315 Work as an Extra 315 Volunteer at Your Local Museum 316 Appear on Public Access TV 317 Produce Your Own YouTube Show 317 Index 319

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Getting Started with Musical Theatre 5 Chapter 1: Before the Curtain Rises: Just the Basics about Musical Theatre 7 Chapter 2: The History of Musical Theatre (in “only” 100 pages!) 19 Chapter 3: Finally the Anatomy of a Musical 123 Chapter 4: Oklahoma, Chicago, Avenue Q: Where Musical Theatre Takes Place 139 Chapter 5: Experiencing the Magic of Musical Theatre 167 Part 2: The People Who Make Musical Theatre Happen 189 Chapter 6: Making the Musical — The Creators 191 Chapter 7: Creating the Big Picture — “The Room Where It Happens” 217 Chapter 8: Delivering the Details — The Creatives 231 Chapter 9: “Being Alive” — The Performers 249 Chapter 10: Introducing the People Who Work the Show Night after Night 271 Part 3: The Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Theatre Life 295 Chapter 11: Understanding How an Idea Becomes Broadway Gold 297 Chapter 12: “Hi-Ho, the Glamorous Life” (of a Broadway Performer) 319 Chapter 13: Landing a Role (Paying or Not!) 339 Part 4: The Part of Tens 363 Chapter 14: Ten (Plus) Songs You Didn’t Realize Came from Musical Theatre 365 Chapter 15: Ten Celebs Who Started in Musical Theatre 369 Index 375

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Book SynopsisDiscover the woman behind the spectacles in the hilarious, incredibly moving memoir from much loved comedian, writer and presenter Sue Perkins, star of Mel & Sue and The Great British Bake Off''Very funny. Reading her memoir is very like meeting her'' Sunday Times''Tight & bright & full of inspiration'' Chris Evans, Radio 2 When I began writing this book, I went home to see if my mum had kept some of my stuff. What I found was that she hadn''t kept some of it. She had kept all of it - every bus ticket, postcard, school report - from the moment I was born to the moment I finally had the confidence to turn round and say ''Why is our house full of this shit?''Sadly, a recycling ''incident'' destroyed the bulk of this archive.This has meant two things: firstly, Dear Reader, you will never get to see countless drawings of wizards, read a poem about corn on the cob, or marvel at the kilos of brown flowers I so loviTrade ReviewDrama, tears and laughs - Spectacles has got it all. A brilliant, touching memoir suffused with love, it reminds you that life is best lived at wonky angles. I ADORED it -- Jessie Burton bestselling author of * The Miniaturist *Very funny . . . It seems there are two Sue Perkins: the TV one, who gabbles and pratfalls, and the sensitive one who aches. The first of course, exists to protect the second. They can both write. The first writes comedy, the second tragedy; in this sense, reading her memoir is very like meeting her * Sunday Times *It's a proper book . . . so well written. Tight & bright & full of inspiration -- Chris Evans * Radio 2 *Utterly wonderful. It's very, very funny and poignant and it's very Sue Perkins and that's the bliss of it -- Nina Stibbe, bestselling author of * Love, Nina and Man at the Helm *Relentlessly cheering, Spectacles is as charming and funny as Perkins herself. Like going for a long, slightly drunken lunch with your naughtiest friend * Red Magazine *Brilliantly written... fearlessly honest and full of heart, it will also make you laugh like a gibbon * Heat ***** *I absolutely loved it . . . whip smart and very funny -- Fanny Blake * Woman & Home *Life, love and loss - it's all here ... Warm, crisp and beautifully layered - like its author,Spectacles is a complete delight * Independent on Sunday *[A] deftly written and belly-laugh funny autobiography . . . Though she never suggests she might be remotely brainy, she clearly is. Her vocabulary makes Will Self's seem lacking, her writing is full of discreetly clever allusions . . . If she wants her readers to like her, she certainly achieved it with this reviewer who laughed and cried and secretly wants her as a best friend -- Elizabeth Fremantle * Daily Express *Sue's memoir will leave you feeling like you've made a new best friend. Introducing us to a cast of friends, family and love interests, and not forgetting a psychopathic nun, Sue picks apart life in a refreshingly honest, warm and downright hilarious way... Spectacles firmly cements her as an exciting writer of the future * OK Magazine *This smart and funny story is far from the photo-heavy, ghost-written volumes that it will compete with . . . Perkins is such a good writer . . . incapable of writing a boring sentence -- Cathy Rentzenbrink * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisFrom one of the UK's most acclaimed and successful tutors of stand-up comedy comes this guide to understanding, developing and, most importantly, delivering a great comedy routine. Features practical tips, exercises, and expert advice.Trade Review"The author's love for his job shines through...it has inspired me to pencil a date in my diary for my own return to stand-up after a ten-year hiatus." * - www.channel4.com/4laughs *"With advice from several comics and tips on how the business end of comedy works, anyone who reads it will feel empowered, full of confidence that they can take to the stage." * - www.chortle.co.uk *Stand-up is such a visual and oral medium, how could you possibly gain anything other than very basic advice from a self-help book? Logan Murray has succeeded. The highly experienced stand-up and comedy course tutor, has written a very useful guide to starting out as a stand-up comedian. * - LaughRiot.co.uk *Table of Contents : introduction : part one: theory 01: where do jokes come from? : do we create funny ideas or do they come : and find us? : practical creative games : some modern theories of humour : what is a joke? : attitude, the comedian’s secret weapon : attitude games 02: building a joke : extreme attitudes to specific points can : lead to humour : always ask yourself: ‘what is the comedian’s : answer to this particular problem?’ : finding the joke : afterthoughts : afterthought games 03: comedy ground rules : style or content? : kill little Mr/Ms social control in your head : stupid name game : what’s your attitude to the subject? : more attitude games : be specific : games to develop specific thinking : be concise : the longer the set up, the funnier the : punchline had better be! : if it doesn’t add, it detracts : detracting the audience verbally : detracting the audience with your body : language : avoid the temptation of burying your : routines in the past : always remember: start with your best stuff; : finish with your best stuff; let the middle : take care of itself 04: what sort of comic are you? : your persona : comedic flaws and how to use them : comic archetypes : mixing and matching : games to uncover comedic flaws : part two: practical sessions 05: unlocking your creativity : don’t worry about the result: just write! : writing activities 06: a word about emotional exaggeration : breaking the habits of a lifetime: be bigger, : be broader! : reasons why comics start exaggerating : their emotional responses… : reasons why new comedians might : overlook their emotional performance… : why comedians need to be more extreme… : activities to encourage emotional : exaggeration 07: creating material : workshop 1: the thank you list : workshop 2: building routines : workshop 3: putting your set together : pruning your material : ‘less is more’ activities : workshop 4: the hate list : workshop 5: creating your own lists : workshop 6: joke forms : workshop 7: finding different voices : stereotype activities : creating a character act 08: stagecraft : think about your attitude to your audience : treat the audience exactly how you would : treat your friends : force yourself to look at the audience : try to ‘read’ the crowd : slow down! : speeding through your set means that : inevitably your timing will be off : how to deal with nerves 09: microphone technique : microphone mistakes 10: hecklers and crowd control : why a gig can go bad : how to make a gig better : hecklers : crowd control exercises 11: what other comics think : Milton Jones : Richard Herring : Steve Hall : Sarah Kendal : Pat Condell : Katy Bagshaw : Marek Larwood : Mark Maier : Robin Ince : Greg Davies 12: business : how to get started : learn to market yourself : publicity : phoning for work : etiquette : do your time on stage : building your set : compèring : beyond stand-up : competitions : festivals : agents and managers 13: your first gig : booking the gig : three or four days before the gig : the day before the gig : on the day of the gig : on the evening of the gig : on stage : after the gig 14: the future : appendix 1: group games : appendix 2: the fall and rise of stand-up comedy : taking it further : index : acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisWhat might an equitable, sustainable, decarbonized, and just society look like? What if the concept of a Green New Deala policy platform to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also addressing interwoven societal problems like economic inequality and racial injusticecould become reality?The fifty plays in this anthology were commissioned for Climate Change Theatre Action 2021, a global participatory theatre festival that brings communities together around climate justice and climate change issues. Fifty playwrights representing all inhabited continents, with a wide range of styles and perspectives, were commissioned to write a five-minute play under the theme Envisioning a Global Green New Deal. These plays were then available to anyone interested in presenting an event in their community between September 18December 19, 2021. Events could take different forms from intimate readings in classrooms to staged productions with extensive sets and propsand everything in between. I

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Book SynopsisThe four great comedies of Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan, A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest, were all written at the height of the controversial Irish author's powers in his last, doomed decade, the 1890s. They remain among the most-loved, and most-quoted, of all drama in the English language. Along with Salome, his darkly decadent dramatization of the Bible story, these immortal plays continue to pack theatres, and have been adapted for every kind of media. This Macmillan Collector's Library edition of The Importance of Being Earnest & Other Plays echoes the book form in which Wilde originally insisted his plays were published, and includes illustrations by Aubrey Beardsley and an afterword by Ned Halley.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisPhilip Astley first pegged out his circular 'ride' on the banks of the Thames in 1768 and so laid down the foundations of the modern circus. Performing feats of trick riding with his wife Patty Jones, little did he realise that before long women would become a dominant force in the circus. Sawdust Sisterhood explores how the circus empowered women and gave them the opportunity to compete and succeed as performers in their own right in an otherwise masculine world. Drawing upon historical news reports and contemporary interviews, the book explores the lives of female circus performers and focuses upon several of the more well-known artistes from across two centuries of circus, including; Madame Saqui, the renowned French wire-walker of the early nineteenth century; Nellie Chapman, the Victorian 'Lion Queen' of Wombwells's Menagerie and Circus; and Katie Brumbach, otherwise known as Sandwina, perhaps the most famous Strongwoman of the twentieth century. Sawdust Sisterhood acknowledges the role of the female circus performer across the centuries.

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Book SynopsisThis anthology negotiates the influential, yet silent educational presence of spiritualities within the field of somatic movement dance education internationally. The expressive and integral nature of spiritual experience remains academically undefined and peripheral to our understanding of creative practice. Lack of theoretical rigour, as well as a lack of a substantive definitional and methodological competency, has resulted in spirituality being marginalised. To date, important questions about how diverse spiritualities shape professional practice in the somatic movement and dance arts remain unanswered. This cutting-edge collection fills that void, providing greater creative and discursive clarity.Trade Review'What makes this anthoplogy so unique and fascinating to read is not only the tremendous openness with which the editors approached the subject, thus inviting and allowing for such a diverse collection of individual sacred narratives to emerge; it abounds with mulit-faceted gems. It is also the variety of presentation styles, ranging from personal narratives interwoven with articulated scholarship, philosophical reflections, various research approaches, imaginary dialogues and interview conversations that turns this work into a rich and colourful fabric woven by the hands and hearts of its 33 contributors from across various cultures. ' -- Maria Luise Oberem, Ph.D. in Psychology, MA in Dance/ Movement Therapy (USA), (BC-‐‑ DMT), MA in American Studies and Political Science'Finally exists a book that offers a range of perspectives that looks academically at the numinous in dance without belittling or aggrandizing the subject. With a preface by Don Hanlon Johnson, editors Amanda Williamson, Glenna Batson, Sarah Whatley, and Rebecca Weber have pulled together an impressive anthology of essays on a topic often overlooked. Questions considered by dancers, somatic therapists, dance scholars, and anthropologists include the following: What is spirituality? How does it manifest in a body atuned to the nuances of movement? How does a dancer reclaim the sacred from a culture that marginalizes it in favor of secularization? Linda Hartley writes about Authentic Movement. Daria Halprin writes on the body as entry to embodied knowing. Sondra Fraleigh looks at the actions of consciousness. Bradford Keeney discusses N/om and Bushman healing dances. Twenty substantive narratives on embodiment, mindfulness, Balinese dance and more make a juicy collection and a significant contribution to a field largely neglected.' -- Cheryl Pallant, teacher at University of Richmond, Virginia, and author of Contact Improvisation: an Introduction to a Vitalizing Dance FormTable of ContentsIntroduction Amanda Williamson, Glenna Batson and Sarah Whatley Part I: Moving Spiritualities – Amanda Williamson Chapter 1: Embodiment of Spirit: From Embryology to Authentic Movement as Embodied Relational Spiritual Practice – Linda Hartley Chapter 2: The Alchemy of Authentic Movement: Awakening Spirit in the Body – Tina Stromsted Chapter 3: Dancing in the Spirit of Sophia – Jill Hayes Chapter 4: Body Ensouled, Enacted and Entranced: Movement/Dance as Transformative Art – Daria Halprin Chapter 5: Dancing on the Breath of Limbs: Embodied Inquiry as a Place of Opening – Celeste Snowber Chapter 6: ‘Can They Dance?’: Towards a Philosophy of Bodily Becoming – Kimerer L. LaMothe Part II: Reflections on the Intersections of Spiritualities and Pedagogy – Sarah Whatley Chapter 7: Reflections on the Spiritual Dimensions of Somatic Movement Dance Education – Martha Eddy, Amanda Williamson and Rebecca Weber Chapter 8: Postmodern Spirituality? A Personal Narrative – Jill Green Chapter 9: Working Like a Farmer: Towards an Embodied Spirituality – Helen Poynor Chapter 10: Intimate to Ultimate: The Meta-Kinesthetic Flow of Embodied Engagement – Glenna Batson Chapter 11: Permission and the Making of Consciousness – Sondra Fraleigh Chapter 12: Conversations about the Somatic Basis of Spiritual Experiences – Sylvie Fortin, Ninoska Gomez, Yvan Joly, Linda Rabin, Odile Rouquet and Lawrence Smith Chapter 13: Inner Dance—Spirituality and Somatic Practice in Dance Technique, Choreography and Performance – Kathleen Debenham and Pat Debenham Chapter 14: This Indivisible Moment: A Meditation on Language, Spirit, Magic and Somatic Practice – Ray Schwartz Chapter 15: Global Somatics™ Process: A Contemporary Shamanic Approach – Suzanne River, interviewed by Kathleen Melin Part III: Cultural Immersions and Performance Excursions – Glenna Batson Chapter 16: Dancing N/om – Hillary Keeney and Bradford Keeney Chapter 17: Dancing with the Divine: Dance Education and the Embodiment of Spirit, from Bali to America – Susan Bauer Chapter 18: The Sacrum and the Sacred: Mutual Transformation of Performer and Site through Ecological Movement in a Sacred Site – Sandra Reeve Chapter 19: Dancing and Flourishing: Mindful Meditation in Dance-Making and Performing – Sarah Whatley and Naomi Lefebvre Sell Chapter 20: ‘What You Cannot Imagine’: Spirituality in Akram Khan’s Vertical Road – Jayne Stevens

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Book SynopsisBringing together contributors from dance, theatre, visual studies and art history, Perform, Repeat, Record addresses the conundrum of how live art is positioned within history. Set apart from other art forms in that it may never be performed in precisely the same way twice, ephemeral artwork exists both at the time of its staging and long after in the memories of its spectators and their testimonies, as well as in material objects, visual media and text. These multiple occurrences and iterations offer new critical possibilities for thinking and writing the histories of performance. Among the artists, theorists and historians who contributed to this volume are Marina Abramovic, Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Rebecca Schneider, Boris Groys, Jane Blocker, Carolee Schneemann, Tehching Hsieh, Orlan, Tilda Swinton and Jean-Luc Nancy.Trade Review'A work of art can never be produced the same way twice. ... this concern ... continues to provoke a multitude of questions and opinions regarding how works should be documented and re-created. ... [Jones and Heathfield] address these concerns in relation to performance art, body art, and live art; simultaneously, they construct a history of these broad artistic fields.' – Caylin Smith, Moving Image Archive News 'The breadth and depth of Perform, Repeat, Record are astonishing and the range of artists, scholars and insights invigorating ... It leaves me overwhelmed.' – Caroline Wake, RealTime Arts 'An impressive collaboration between two of the field's most dedicated scholars.' – Lisa Newman, Artillery 'This is a weighty text in all senses of the term' – New Theatre Quarterly, Chris Gilligan 'In its exhaustive presentation of different types of performances, documentation, and critical approaches, it suggests a way of reading performance that is no longer beholden to modernist notions of transgression, transformation, and the avant-garde.' – A Journal of Performance and Art, Jennie Klein '“[A] broad and thoughtful investigation of how the history of performative art should be documented and studied….The book covers a particularly international scope, with essays devoted to performance art in the U.S., Western Europe, South America, China, the Middle East, Australia, and the Soviet Union, including a timeline of Soviet and Post-Soviet performance and another of performance historiography–that is, surveys and re-performances. The final section records eleven conversations between scholars and performance artists, including Carolee Schneemann, Tehching Hsieh, Ron Athey, Janine Antoni and Marina Abromavic…. The book will be very useful for scholars of performance and can serve as an introduction to the history and questions around the field for performance artists themselves.”' – The Drama Review, Pannill Camp 'The collection offers a wealth of research on previously little researched work.' – Drama and Performance Studies 'Taken as a whole, then, 'Perform, Repeat, Record' embraces the mammoth task of challenging how history making occurs within this field of contemporary art. Embracing a diverse and unconventional range of responses to the provocation ‘How does live art get remembered?’, it has implications for the broader field of historical discourse' – Limina, Janet Carter 'A valuable sourcebook and toolbox' – Theatre Journal, Marie Pecorari '[A] broad and thoughtful investigation of how the history of performative art should be documented and studied….The book covers a particularly international scope, with essays devoted to performance art in the U.S., Western Europe, South America, China, the Middle East, Australia, and the Soviet Union, including a timeline of Soviet and Post-Soviet performance and another of performance historiography–that is, surveys and re-performances. The final section records eleven conversations between scholars and performance artists, including Carolee Schneemann, Tehching Hsieh, Ron Athey, Janine Antoni and Marina Abromavic…. The book will be very useful for scholars of performance and can serve as an introduction to the history and questions around the field for performance artists themselves.' – Artblog, Andrea KirshTable of ContentsINTRODUCTIONS The Now and the Has Been: Paradoxes of Live Art in History – Amelia Jones Then Again – Adrian Heathfield THEORIES AND HISTORIES Introduction Amelia Jones Chapter 1: The Performativity of Performance Documentation – Philip Auslander Chapter 2: Dead Mannequin Walking: Fluxus and the Politics of Reception – Hannah B Higgins Chapter 3: The Viral Ontology of Performance – Christopher Bedford Chapter 4: Can Photographs Make It So? Repeated Outbreaks of VALIE EXPORT’s Genital Panic Since 1969 – Mechtild Widrich Chapter 5: Macular Degeneration: Some Peculiar Aspects of Performance Art Documentation – Mónica Mayer Chapter 6: History and Precariousness: In Search of a Performative Historiography – Eleonora Fabião Chapter 7: Performance Remains – Rebecca Schneider Chapter 8: Not as Before, but Simply: Again – André Lepecki Chapter 9: The Prosthetic Present Tense: Documenting Chinese Time-based Art – Meiling Cheng Chapter 10: Progressive Striptease – Sven Lutticken Chapter 11: Repetition: A Skin which Unravels – Jane Blocker Chapter 12: Art in the Age of Biopolitics: From Artwork to Art Documentation 209 – Boris Groys Chapter 13: The Interstices of History – Angela Harutyunyan et al. An Unofficial Timeline of Socialist and Post-Socialist Performance – Angela Harutyunyan et al. DOCUMENTS Introduction Adrian Heathfield Chapter 14: A Text on 20 years with 66 footnotes – Tim Etchells Chapter 15: Faith Wilding, Waiting and Wait-With Chapter 16: Lynn Hershman and/as Roberta Breitmore Chapter 17: We Are Formatted Memories – Orlan Chapter 18: Franko B and Kamal Ackarie, Don’t Leave Me This Way Chapter 19: Make Me Stop Smoking – Rabih Mroué Chapter 20: The Personal Evolution of the Performance Object (Or, What to Do with Leftovers) – Nao Bustamante Chapter 20: The Personal Evolution of the Performance Object (Or, What to Do with Leftovers) – Nao Bustamante Chapter 21: Cai Yuan and J.J. Xi, Mad For Real Chapter 22: Hayley Newman, MiniFlux Chapter 23: Daniel Joseph Martinez, Call Me Ishmael or The Fully Enlightened Earth Radiates Disaster Triumphant Chapter 24: Multiple Journeys: A Performance Chronology – Guillermo Gómez-Peña Chapter 25: Attending to Anthony McCall’s Long Film For Ambient Light – Lucas Ihlein Chapter 26: ReCut Project – Ming-Yuen S. Ma Chapter 27: Assuming a Migrant Woman’s Identity – Tanja Ostojic Chapter 28: Barbara Smith, Intimations of Immortality Chapter 29: Santiago Sierra and the “Contexts” of History Chapter 30: Reconstruction2 – Janez Janša Chapter 31: Documents of Chinese Time-based Art: Three Impressions from Three Fragments – Meiling Cheng Chapter 32: Both Sitting Duet and Cheap Lecture – Jonathan Burrows and Matteo Fargion Chapter 33: Aftermath: The Performance / Installation Nexus – Blair French Timeline of Ideas: Live Art in (Art) History, A Primarily European-US-based Trajectory of Debates and Exhibitions Relating to Performance Documentation and Re-enactments – Amelia Jones DIALOGUES Introduction Adrian Heathfield Chapter 34: Interior Squirrel and the Vicissitudes of History – Carolee Schneemann and Amelia Jones Chapter 35: I Just Go in Life – Tehching Hsieh and Adrian Heathfield Chapter 36: The Maybe: Modes of Performance and the “Live” – Tilda Swinton and Joanna Scanlan Chapter 37: Photography as a Performative Act – Shezad Dawood and Amelia Jones Chapter 38: Do it Again, Do it Again (Turn Around, Go Back) – Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, with Andrew Renton Chapter 39: Touching Remains – Janine Antoni and Adrian Heathfield Chapter 40: Perverse Martyrologies – Ron Athey and Dominic Johnson Chapter 41: The Live Artist as Archaeologist – Marina Abramovic and Amelia Jones Chapter 42: Every House Has a Door – Lin Hixson and Matthew Goulish Chapter 43: Alliterations – Mathilde Monnier and Jean-Luc Nancy Introduction and Translation: Noémie Solomon Chapter 44: Intangibles – Hugo Glendinning, Adrian Heathfield, and Tim Etchells

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Book SynopsisHow to overcome stage fright and performance anxiety and perform at your peak -using NLP and visualisation.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisTelling stories awakens wonder and creates special occasions with children, whether it is bedtime, around the fire or on rainy days. Encouraging you to spin golden tales, Nancy Mellon shows how you can become a confident storyteller and enrich your family with the power of story.

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Book Synopsis12 contemporary approaches to the human body that are being used by performers or in the context of performance training. The second in a series of books entitled: Ways of Being a Body. Following on from Sandra Reeve's Nine Ways of Seeing a Body (which offered a historical perspective on different key approaches to the body over time), this new edited collection brings together a wide range of contemporary approaches to the body that are being used by performers or in the context of performance training. The intention is for students, dancers, performers, singers, musicians, directors and choreographers to locate their own preferred approach(es) to the body-in-performance amongst the lenses described here. The collection is also designed to facilitate further research in that direction as well as to signpost alternatives that might enrich their current vocabulary. All 12 approaches represent the praxis and research of their authors. The chapters reveal a wide variety of different interests but they share the common framework of the notion of 'body as flux', of 'no fixed or determined sense of self' and of supporting the performer's being-becoming-being as a skilful creative entity, emphasising the intelligence of the body at work.Table of ContentsThe Ontogenetic Body - makes us aware of developmental processes and gives us a way to embody the forms, mind states and movement patterns of our cellular histories. The Intersubjective Body - explores the inter-relationship between dancing bodies and the environment in the context of site-responsive performance practice. The Autobiographical Body - examines somatic performance practices that explore autobiography as a fluid experience based on relationships with other people and places. The Resonant Body - considers 'cellular-body-mindfulness' through site-responsive sound dance improvisation, paying particular attention to temporality. The Dwelling Body - sees the practitioner as a conduit: experiencing body and place as continually in process and recognising the vital inter-relationship of place and identity. The Vocal Body - moves beyond the idea of the body as a 'homebase' of vocal emission and offers an integrative approach to physiovocal unity. The Musical Body - re-intepreting Stockhausen's Tierkreis offers a physical approach to performance where the body is the driving force behind musical interpretation. The Resilient Body - through the adaptive capacity of the human body the performer can develop resilience and potential. The Imaginal Body - rooted in the Alexander technique, this approach uses anatomical images, specific thinking, touch and visualisations to let go of habitual restrictive patterns and release imaginative potential. The Learnt Body - proposes a training of the performer's body that can consciously transcend socially coded habits and movement patterns. The Kinetic Body - through Kudiyattam dance training, this approach demonstrates how, underpinning the kinetics of breathing, 'foot' produces temporality, which is the fundamental source of the presence of the body. The Cognitive Body - uses Damasio's body-minded brain and 'somatic marker hypothesis' to articulate methods of physical devising for performance

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Book Synopsis"A sensitive walk up any High Street is a Pilgrim's Progress" Phil Smith - playwright, walk-performance artist and author (Mythogeography and Counter-Tourism) - recently retraced W.G. Sebald's famous 'Rings of Saturn' walk round East Anglia. At one level On Walking describes this blistered walk from one incongruous B&B to the next, taking in places like Dunwich, Bungay, Covehithe, Orford Ness, Sutton Hoo and Rendlesham Forest - with their lost villages, Cold War testing sites, black dogs, white deer and alien trails. Phil Smith's walk soon becomes every bit as remarkable as Sebald's and he matches Sebald's erudition, originality and humour swathe for swathe. At a second level, the book sets out a unique kind of 'hyper-sensitised' walking for which the author is quietly famous. It burrows beneath the guidebook and the map, looks beyond the shopfront and Tudor facade and feels beneath the blisters and aches of the everyday. The Suffolk walk described here is an exemplary walk that goes beyond 'wandering around looking at stuff' and shows how every walk can be art, revolution and pilgrimage. At a third level, On Walking is an intellectual tour de force, encompassing Situationism, alchemy, dancing, jouissance, geology, psychogeography, 20th century cinema and old TV, architecture, grief, pilgrimage, WWII, the Cold War, Uzumaki, pub conversations, somatics and synchronicity.Table of ContentsWho me? Superstitions What I do when I walk My Sebald walk: Taken from my notebooks Walking bodies actics of sensitivity Knees Crab Man's razor Don't take your own food A skill... A few ighlights from other drifts and wanders (1) Encounters Democracy O my International Lettristes! O my Situationists! Getting started Scratching from start Mythogeography Jouissance Environmentalism Pilgrimage Dodgy Walk in the footsteps of others Being ready Leaderless Holey actics and things Deep topography Autotopography Cemetery Walk (2003) Walking in the Suburbs (2013) Doppel A few ighlights from other drifts and wanders (2) Cryptic Coincidences Note The wobbly art of memory Holey space Follow animal tracks Bluster The right to more Rhythms Psychogeography Walk to the ends of the earth Atmospheres Alchemical crossing Walking in character Undercovers Walking as an ordeal The man in the mask Women and walking Re:enactment Urfaces A few highlights from other drifts and wanders (3) A few highlights from other drifts and wanders (4) The fire doors of perception The last tactic Appendix Walking for a change: A manifesto for a new nomad References

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Book Synopsis'Ways to Wander' is your invitation to experiment with a whole range of different ways to 'go for a walk'. Rather than picking up a map and following a footpath, the book offers 54 intriguingly different suggestions, tactics and recollections, all submitted by artists (most of them involved with the Walking Artists Network). There are plenty of ideas you can just go out and try, but others are more performative or explore the psychological, cultural and philosophical aspects of walking Pop the book in your back pocket, leave it in your rucksack, share it with friends and take them on a walk, use it in creative workshops, read it as if each instruction were poetry, engage with each page as visual art or as a performance activity, let it remind you of places you've been or walks you'd like to do. When the moment takes you, be inspired by the variety of inventive and reflective ideas mapped out here and then simply...wander.

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Book SynopsisPhil Smith (Crabman/Mythogeography) and Tony Whitehead join forces with master photographer John Schott to lead readers on a `virtual’ journey to explore difference and change on their way to an unknown destination. “What is most real is what you have still to discover.” “Relax in your seat. Allow the train to take you along the water’s edge to the beginning point of your walking pilgrimage… When the train pulls into the platform, step off. Hidden behind the platform is a broken machine; a mechanised fortune teller – the `voice of truth’ – discarded from the nearby arcade of slot machines. Propped against the side of a building, its mouth is silent, its pronouncements have ceased; any truths you find today will be your own.” Pilgrimages – real and imagined - are always popular, sometimes compulsory. Bodh Gaya, Santiago, Mecca, Jerusalem, Puri: a few of the sites that beckon. The pilgrimage to the authentic self takes a similar path in an interior landscape. In the 15th century, Felix Fabri combined the two, using his visits to Jerusalem to write a handbook for nuns wanting to make a pilgrimage in the imagination, whilst confined to their religious houses. For Guidebook for an Armchair Pilgrimage, the authors followed Fabri’s example: first walking together over many weeks – not to reach a destination but simply to find one – then, in startling words and images, conjuring an armchair pilgrimage for the reader… along lanes and around hills, into caves and down to the coast. “We arrived again and again at what we assumed would be a final `shrine’, only to be drawn onwards and inwards towards another kind of finality… rather than reaching a destination, the pilgrimage was repeatedly reborn inside us, until its most recent rebirth in this book.” Over the course of the 19-day Armchair Pilgrimage, they invite us to experience the world around us just as they did as they walked. So, over the first three days, they suggest that we contemplate, among other things: • Our habit of generalising – acquired 40-50,000 years ago, when our `chapel’ mind of specialisms became a `cathedral’ mind • Our tendency to let one thing remind us of another thing • What it might be like to be an ocean where fish swim through us • How the world experiences us just as we experience it: `gently feel for the feelers feeling for you’ • A world where we tend to `add’ meaning and intensity • A world where we let go (without the aid of dementia) of memory, imagination, desire and wild fancy. And, as the pilgrimage concludes: “Returning is never going back to the same place.” “A brilliant idea, inviting us to `be present’ to a reality that is imagined and recorded, mediated by words and images. The feelings and emotions are no less `real’ than if we were actually standing in and experiencing that reality. I love the genius of words and images displayed here -- no less than the reality itself.” Carol Donelan, Professor of Cinema and Media Studies, Carleton College, MinnesotaTrade Review“A brilliant idea, inviting us to `be present’ to a reality that is imagined and recorded, mediated by words and images. The feelings and emotions are no less `real’ than if we were actually standing in and experiencing that reality. I love the genius of words and images displayed here -- no less than the reality itself.” Carol Donelan, Professor of Cinema and Media Studies, Carleton College, Minnesota

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Book SynopsisFeatured in Amazon.com's Best Books of 2018. ‘Every day we put fire and swords and electricity into our bodies, throw knives at them, contort them, wrap them in snakes, and every day we wake up sure those things won’t harm us but also sure that there is so much else that will.’ When her mother had a series of strokes, Tessa Fontaine couldn’t stand to watch her mother disappear. The Electric Woman tells Tessa’s story of joining America’s last travelling freak show, and learning to perform death-defying acts in order to come to terms with her mother’s illness. In her life-affirming memoir, Tessa finds hope and companionship among sword swallowers and snake charmers.Trade Review‘This remarkable, beautifully written memoir explores the depth of mother-daughter love and the courageous acts of overcoming fear and accepting change. ’ * Publishers Weekly *‘This is an assured debut that doesn’t shy away from the task of holding the ordinary and otherworldly in its hand, at once. It’s herein that the book’s power lies... The quiet beauty of this book lies in its ordinary, enigmatic human feats of interpersonal connection.’ * The New York Times *‘A glorious, sequinned affirmation of life and vitality... a genuinely touching denouement to this original debut.’ * The Spectator *‘Fascinating and heartfelt, Fontaine's memoir brushes with death but, more important, finds life and light in unexpected places, giving value to otherness in an unpredictable world.’ * Booklist *‘Astounding, amazing, inspiring and a little bit terrifying.’ * StarTribune *‘Come for the carnie life, stay for the courageous account of facing fear.’ * BookPage *‘Fontaine smashes together two distinct memoirs, one focused on grieving her mother's prolonged illness and death, the other her unlikely, brave'n'crazy season as a small-time carnival performer ... As exciting as the snake handling, card tricks, and ‘secret rituals’ of the carnival's insides are, it is the grinding journey of mom-grief that will resonate with readers ... Take a walk on the wild side, why dontcha?’ * Library Journal *‘Her story about the marvels and heartbreaks of carnival life is thrilling and captivating, and you won't be able to stop talking about it.’ * Bustle *‘Somewhere between knives and fire beats the heart of a young woman daring herself to live. In her memoir, The Electric Woman, Tessa Fontaine weaves her way through a mother-death story and a daughter-coming-alive story against the backdrop of America's last traveling sideshow. There are so many ways to bring ourselves back to life. So many people along the way who become our secular guardian angels. This story is a breathtaking, fire-eating, heart-stopping, death-defying thrill.’‘This book is absolutely a must-read for everyone! Mesmerising...’‘In a word: wow. I read The Electric Woman in a hallucinatory fever filled with hospital beds and carnival rides, gray eyes and biting boa constrictors, brain bleeds and headless bodies, fire eaters and electrified women. Tessa Fontaine is a real-life snake charmer--her writing hooked and hypnotized me from page one. I had to read just one more chapter, just one more until I reached the end of her extraordinary memoir, dismayed that it was over but so grateful for the unforgettable ride.’‘This is a memoir like no other. One in which reinvention means starting out as a heartbroken girl and becoming a fire eater, a snake charmer, an escape artist, an electric woman. These are not metaphors, and yet again they are: expertly developed, sustained, and revealed in intensifying and sometimes terrifying complexity, as Tessa Fontaine enters, embraces, and finally allows herself to be transformed by the carnival's World of Wonders and the unforgettable cast of characters who calls the sideshow home.’‘Yes, I have done it. I have run away to the circus, a realm of wonder, harsh reality, and colorful characters, vividly described by a remarkable writer who pulls off her own high-wire act with honesty and abandon, moving from loss to delight. In The Electric Woman, Tessa Fontaine is an escape artist determined to detonate the grim reality of mere existence, taking us on the most original journey I can remember in a recent memoir. As she moves through guises and adventures, she learns how to become the woman her mother loves and the person she didn't think she could be: her own marvelous self.’‘The Electric Woman is a fascinating behind-the-scenes peek at carnival life, and an ode to unconditional love.’‘The Electric Woman is a love story, a coming-of-age, a brilliant exploration of discovery by a young woman ultimately set free by the flames of fire.’‘With fearless grace and piercing intensity, The Electric Woman delivers us to the potent mercy of unmitigated love, the passion of shared suffering, the resilience of the spirit, and the ecstasies of our transfigurations.’‘A beautiful and ferocious book… I loved every page.’

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Book SynopsisOver 90 healing stories for telling during difficult times, written and collated by acclaimed therapeutic storyteller Susan Perrow, including 30 contributions from different cultures and countries worldwide. The book covers issues of grief, bereavement, separation and loss. Chapters include: Loss of a Loved One; Loss of Place; Loss of Family Connection; Loss of a Pet; Loss of Health and Well-being; Other Kinds of Loss; Environmental Grief and Loss; Cycles of Life and Change; plus Patterns and Templates for Extension Activities (provided for some of the stories).The stories in this book are deeply tender, consoling gifts for children and adults who are wounded by overwhelming loss. They matter. A lot. Alida Gersie Ph.D. author of Storymaking in Bereavement. Dragons Fight in the Meadow.Grief is inevitable for everyone. Experiencing some kind of bereavement is something that none of us can avoid. So why are we so afraid to talk about it? This hopeful and uplifting book helps children and families make meaning after loss. It offers a grief toolkit' for sharing stories about a subject so often shrouded in silence and discomfort.Jane Harris, The Good Grief Project

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