Theatre studies Books
Penguin Putnam Inc Romeo And Juliet
Book Synopsis
£5.95
Penguin Putnam Inc A Midsummer Nights Dream
Book Synopsis
£5.99
Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) Studying Disability Arts and Culture An Introduction
Book SynopsisPetra Kuppers is Professor of English, Theatre and Drama, Art and Design, and Women's Studies at the University of Michigan, USA. She also teaches on the low-residency MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts at Goddard College. She is the author of The Scar of Visibility: Medical Performances and Contemporary Art, Community Performance: An Introduction and Disability Culture and Community Performance, amongst other titles.
£34.11
Oxford University Press Theatre
Book SynopsisFrom before history was recorded to the present day, theatre has been a major artistic form around the world. From puppetry to mimes and street theatre, this complex art has utilized all other art forms such as dance, literature, music, painting, sculpture, and architecture. Every aspect of human activity and human culture can be, and has been, incorporated into the creation of theatre. In this Very Short Introduction Marvin Carlson takes us through Ancient Greece and Rome, to Medieval Japan and Europe, to America and beyond, and looks at how the various forms of theatre have been interpreted and enjoyed. Exploring the role that theatre artists play -- from the actor and director to the designer and puppet-master, as well as the audience -- this is an engaging exploration of what theatre has meant, and still means, to people of all ages at all times.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. What is theatre? ; 2. Theatre and religion ; 3. Theatre and performance ; 4. Theatre and drama ; 5. The makers of theatre ; Further reading ; Index
£9.49
Oxford University Press Shakespeare and Science
Book SynopsisAs a figurehead for the literary humanities, and a dramatist whose plays feature fairies, ghosts, and spirits, Shakespeare may not be the first author that comes to mind when thinking about science. Tom Rutter shows, however, that in his plays and poetry Shakespeare made detailed use of the knowledge and theories of the cosmos, the natural world, and human biology that were available to him. These range from astronomical and anatomical ideas derived from medieval scholars, Islamic philosophers, and ancient Greek and Roman authorities, through to the challenges issued to those earlier models by more recent figures such as Copernicus and Vesalius. Shakespeare''s treatment of these materials was informed by the poetic and dramatic media in which he worked; the dialogic nature of drama enabled an approach that could be provisional, exploratory, and tolerant of uncertainty and contradiction. Shakespeare made the early modern playhouse a venue for the production of scientific understanding t
£16.99
Ebury Publishing Alan Rickman The Unauthorised Biography
Book SynopsisIn this revised and updated biography, Maureen Paton encompasses the private, professional and political life of this most enigmatic, charismatic and intensely private of actors.Trade Review'An illuminating profile' Premiere
£14.39
Quite Specific Media Group Ltd asenseofdirection
Book Synopsis
£15.99
Nick Hern Books 100 Great Plays for Women
Book SynopsisLucy Kerbel's 100 Great Plays for Women is an inspiring guide to a hundred plays that put female performers centre stage, dispelling the myth that 'There just aren't any good plays for women'. With a foreword by Kate Mosse. Women buy the majority of theatre tickets, make up half the acting profession, and are often the largest cohort of any youth theatre or drama club. And yet they have traditionally been underrepresented on stage. 100 Great Plays for Women seeks to address this gap by celebrating the wealth of drama available for women to perform. Theatre director Lucy Kerbel's myth-busting book features compact and insightful introductions to 100 plays, each of which has an entirely or predominantly female cast, with the female characters taking an equal or decisive role in driving the on-stage action. Also included are ten plays for solo female performers. The result is a personal but wide-ranging reappraisal of the theatrical canon, a snapshot of the very best writing – from ancient times right up to the present day – that has female protagonists at its heart. A fascinating mixture of familiar and less well-known works dealing with a broad range of themes, it is an essential resource for all directors and producers looking for plays to stage, writers seeking inspiration and actors trying to track down a new audition piece. It is also an exciting provocation that will have readers, both male and female, championing their own personal favourites. The book is the culmination of a project by Tonic Theatre and the National Theatre Studio. Tonic Theatre was founded by Lucy Kerbel in 2011 to support the theatre industry in achieving greater gender equality in its workforces and repertoires; it partners with leading theatre companies around the UK on a range of projects, schemes and creative works. The National Theatre Studio provides support and resources for both emerging and established theatre-makers of outstanding talent, and contributes to the National’s ongoing search for and training of new artists. 'A gem of a book… Lucy Kerbel has done hard-working directors and artistic directors, of spaces large and small, a great service.' Kate Mosse, from her forewordTrade Review'Essential... impressive scope and sweep... exhilarating. With luck, theatres will take note and playwrights will be inspired' * Times Literary Supplement *'Highly readable... remarkably eclectic... What makes this such a good read is the author's passion for her subject but also an ability to summarise the guts of a play in very few words, while at the same time putting them into a historical and social context.' * British Theatre Guide *'A remarkable assemblage... will prompt many a new production in the years ahead' * Michael Quinn, The Stage's Books of the Year 2013 *'Rich and rewarding... this is an intelligently assembled collection, each play insightfully interrogated, its claims for inclusion persuasively argued. Producers, directors and actors will find much here to intrigue and excite.' * The Stage *'Whether you are looking for a thought-provoking play to liven up the amateur repertoire, a play for a room above a pub or one to fill a provincial stage, this book will ensure that you are spoilt for choice.' * Drama Resource *'A cornucopia of riches. Lucy Kerbel has done theatre writing great service with this book of significance' * Theatre in Wales *'A must-have for any teacher or director... the long-overdue first step on the path to redressing an age-old imbalance' * Teaching Drama Magazine *'Wonderful... the perfect blend of academic and creative forces' * Female Arts *'A marvellous record or social history of society and its attitude and representation of women through the ages... full of surprises, discoveries and jogs to our memory' * ReviewsGate.com *
£9.89
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Plautus and Terence Five Comedies
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThese five new translations . . . take to its logical, lively conclusion the long-held but oft-ignored reality that Plautus and Terence were writers for the stage. These versions have verve: playability, liveliness, accessibility, unlike anything on library shelves today. Of modern-day attempts at Plautus-inspired music, for example, only Stephen Sondheim has excelled the inspired zaniness of Douglass Parker’s lyrics. There is much virtue to be measured here. . . . After reading these plays we might spend considerable thought on the possibility that conservative translations in the style of Barsby are less authentic--if such a thing can be measured--than those of Berg and Parker. . . . This is a deceptively important book, meriting a wide, attentive readership. . . . [Berg and Parker's] theater-friendly versions offer a vision of the future of Roman comedy, both scholarly and popular. The profession will be well repaid to take an appreciative look. --David Frauenfelder, North Carolina State UniversityDeena Berg and Douglass Parker’s Plautus & Terence: Five Comedies is a fascinating postmodernist rendition of some of the most postmodernist--metatheatrical, self-referential, sophisticated, stylized--literature classical antiquity has to offer. The sparkling and eminently performable translations are a hard act to precede, but the translator’s delightful introductions are a worthy match for their subjects. . . . Highly recommended. --John Wright, Northwestern UniversityThis splendid sampling of Roman comedy is particularly welcome because Parker and Berg have combined the best known (and perhaps finest) comedies of Plautus and Terence (The Brothers Menaechmus, here 'Double Bind,' and Miles Gloriosus, here 'Major Blowhard,' and Adelphoe, 'The Brothers') with two rarer and rather special comedies: 'The Wild Wild Women,' Plautus' exuberant Bacchides, and 'The Mother-in-Law' (Hecyra), perhaps Terence's most modern comedy, important as evidence from ancient comedy for the evolution of the sentimental or psychological drama of everyday life. The translators are to be congratulated on their choices and their truly up-to-date versions; Parker is a veteran whose punning wit and swashbuckling idiom in his very actable Plautus scripts contrast nicely with the simple elegance of Berg's Terence." —Elaine Fantham, Princeton UniversityTable of ContentsMajor Blowhard = Miles Gloriosus. Double bind = Menaechmi. The wild, wild women = Bacchides / Plautus -- The mother-in-law = Hecyra. The brothers = Adelphoe / Terence.
£33.99
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc The Jew of Malta with Related Texts
Book SynopsisFeatures a modernised text of Marlowe's play with annotation on the page, a comprehensive Introduction, and related texts, including selections from Machiavelli's "Prince", Gentillet's "Anti-Machiavel", and Bacon's "The Advancement of Learning".Trade ReviewA provocative edition, one which belongs on the shelves of student and scholar alike. --Martha Oberle, Frederick Community College, Maryland, in The Sixteenth Century Journal
£11.39
Taylor & Francis Ltd Historical Wig Styling Ancient Egypt to the 1830s
Book SynopsisHistorical Wig Styling: Ancient Egypt to the 1830s, 2nd edition, is a guide to creating beautiful, historically accurate hairstyles for theatrical productions and events. This volume covers hairstyles from Ancient Egypt through Romantic/Biedermeier styles of the 1820s and 30s. Chapters begin with an overview of historic figures who influenced the look of each period and their styles, followed by step-by-step instructions and photographs showing the finished look from every angle. The book also explores the necessary supplies and styling products needed to create the perfect coif, tips for proper wig handling, a brief history of the makeup for each historical period, and basic styling techniques useful when working with wigs or real hair. New hairstyles featured in this edition include:- Ancient Egyptian male dreadlocks- Ancient Grecian male curls- Ancient Roman braided goddess- Braided Medieval lady- Regency Table of Contents1. Introduction to Wig Styling Techniques 2. Ancient Egyptian Era, 3500 BC-300 BC 3. Ancient Greece, 2900 BC-200 BC 4. Ancient Roman styling, 600 BC-476 AD 5. Medieval Ages, 476-13TH Century 6. Renaissance Era, 1350-1550 7. The Elizabethan Era,1500-1603 8. The Cavalier/Jacobean Period, 1603-1660s 9. Restoration/Baroque Era, 1660-1710 10. Georgian/Rococo Period, 1711-1789 11. Regency/Empire Period, 1789-1820 12. Romantic/Biedermeier Period, 1820-1830s Appendix 1. Glossary of hairstyling terms Appendix 2. List of Historical Films set in each era Appendix 3. List of Wig and Hair Suppliers
£34.19
Rilting Music, Inc. A Little Night Music Revised Edition
Book Synopsis
£56.25
Hal Leonard Corporation A Little Night Music
Book Synopsis(Applause Libretto Library). "Throwing caution to the winds, I assert that A Little Night Music comes as close as possible to being the perfect romantic comedy musical." Brendan Gill, The New Yorker "Heady, civilized, sophisticated and enchanting. Good God! An adult musical." Clive Barnes, The New York Times
£15.73
Grand Central Publishing Hamilton
Book SynopsisA backstage pass to the groundbreaking, hit musical Hamilton, winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Eleven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, including the award-winning libretto, behind-the-scenes photos and interviews, and exclusive footnotes from composer-lyricist-star Lin-Manuel Miranda, now streaming on Disney+ with the original cast. Lin-Manuel Miranda''s groundbreaking musical Hamilton is as revolutionary as its subject, the poor kid from the Caribbean who fought the British, defended the Constitution, and helped to found the United States. Fusing hip-hop, pop, R&B, and the best traditions of theater, this once-in-a-generation show broadens the sound of Broadway, reveals the storytelling power of rap, and claims our country''s origins for a diverse new generation.Hamilton: The Revolution gives readers an unprecedented view of both revolutions, from the only two writers able to provide it. Miranda, along with Jeremy
£37.50
Taylor & Francis Ltd The Makeup Artist Handbook
Book SynopsisLearn first-rate techniques and tips from some of the best makeup artists in the business in the new edition of The Makeup Artist Handbook. Renown makeup pros Gretchen Davis and Mindy Hall bring an impressive set of experience in all areas to the book, including work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Steve Jobs, The Wolf of Wall Street, Blue Jasmine, Star Trek, Pearl Harbor, HBO's Looking and many other films and TV shows. This full-color, comprehensive new edition offers brand new photographs and on-the-job examples to demonstrate makeup techniques and fundamentals on topics such as beauty, time periods, black and white photography and up-to-date information on cutting-edge techniques like computer-generated characters, makeup effects, mold-making, air brushing, and plenty of information on how to work effectively on set.Table of ContentsCONTENTSPreface Acknowledgments/Dedications Chapter 1 Shapes Chapter 2 The Body Chapter 3 Color Chapter 4 Lighting Chapter 5 Technology Chapter 6 Foundations Chapter 7 Basics Chapter 8 Beauty Chapter 9 Design Chapter 10 Hair Chapter 11 Airbrush Chapter 12 Effects Chapter 13 How to Be a Pro Cosmetics, Tools, Labs, and Effects The Crew Glossary Professional Library The Pros Unions Index
£41.79
Taylor & Francis Samuel Becketts Krapps Last Tape
Book SynopsisWe lay there without moving. But under us all moved, and moved us. - KrappSamuel Beckettâs most accessible play is also one of the twentieth centuryâs most moving dramas about aging, memory, and disappointment. Daniel Sack offers the first comprehensive survey of Krappâs Last Tape (1958) with a general reader in mind. Structured around a series of questions, five approachable sections contextualize the play in the larger career of its Nobel-Prize-winning writer, explore its major thematic concerns, and offer comparative analyses with Beckettâs other signal works. Sack also uses discussions of significant productions, including those directed by the playwright himself, to ground interpretation of the play in terms of its performance and provide a useful resource to directors and actors. Both a critical and personal exploration of this haunting play, this volume is a must-read for anyone with an interest in Beckettâs work.Table of Contents1. What Happens 2. Who Happens 3. How it Happens 4. When it Happens 5. Where it Happens Bibliography
£14.17
Hal Leonard Corporation In the Heights
Book SynopsisIN THE HEIGHTS: THE COMPLETE BOOK AND LYRICS OF THE BROADWAY MUSICAL
£12.99
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc The Figaro Plays
Book Synopsis[Beaumarchais'] fame rests on Le Barbier de Seville (1775) and Le Mariage de Figaro (1784), the only French plays which his stage-struck century bequeathed to the international repertoire. But his achievement has been adulterated, for ‘Beaumarchais’ has long been the brand name of a product variously reprocessed by Mozart, Rossini, and the score or so librettists and musicians who have perpetuated his plots, his characters, and his name. The most intriguing question of all has centered on his role as catalyst of the Revolution. Was his impertinent barber the Sweeney Todd of the Ancien Régime, the true begetter of the guillotine? . . . Beaumarchais' plays have often seemed to need the same kind of shoring up as his reputation, as though they couldn't stand on their own without a scaffolding of good tunes. Yet, as John Wells' lively and splendidly speakable translations of the Barber, the Marriage, and A Mother's Guilt demonstrate, they need assistance from no one. [Beaumarchais] thought of the three plays as a trilogy. Taken together, they reflect, as John Leigh’s commentaries make clear, the Ancien Régime’s unstoppable slide into revolution. --David Coward in The London Review of BooksTrade Review[Beaumarchais'] fame rests on Le Barbier de Seville (1775) and Le Mariage de Figaro (1784), the only French plays which his stage-struck century bequeathed to the international repertoire. But his achievement has been adulterated, for 'Beaumarchais' has long been the brand name of a product variously reprocessed by Mozart, Rossini, and the score or so librettists and musicians who have perpetuated his plots, his characters, and his name. The most intriguing question of all has centered on his role as catalyst of the Revolution. Was his impertinent barber the Sweeney Todd of the Ancien Régime, the true begetter of the guillotine? . . . Beaumarchais' plays have often seemed to need the same kind of shoring up as his reputation, as though they couldn't stand on their own without a scaffolding of good tunes. Yet, as John Wells' lively and splendidly speakable translations of the Barber , the Marriage , and A Mother's Guilt demonstrate, they need assistance from no one. [Beaumarchais] thought of the three plays as a trilogy. Taken together, they reflect, as John Leigh's commentaries make clear, the Ancien Régime's unstoppable slide into revolution. --David Coward in The London Review of Books
£13.29
Penguin Putnam Inc Othello
Book Synopsis
£8.54
Oxford University Press Witches and Jesuits
Book SynopsisIn his Pulitzer prize-winning 1993 book Lincoln at Gettysburg, Garry Wills showed how the Gettysburg Address revolutionized the conception of modern America. In Witches and Jesuits, Wills again focuses on a single document to open up a window on an entire society. He begins with a simple question: If Macbeth is such a great tragedy, why do performances of it so often fail? After all, the stage history of Macbeth is so riddled with disasters that it has created a legendary curse on the drama. Superstitious actors try to evade the curse by referring to Macbeth only as the Scottish play, but production after production continues to soar in its opening scenes, only to sputter towards anticlimax in the later acts. By critical consensus there seems to have been only one entirely successful modern performance of the play, Laurence Olivier''s in 1955, and even Olivier twisted his ankle on opening night. But Olivier''s ankle notwithstanding, Wills maintains that the fault lies not in ShakespearTrade ReviewA lively and provocative read... makes `Macbeth' come alive as a play. * New York Times *
£14.84
Oxford University Press The Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre
Book SynopsisThis is an authoritative and comprehensive guide to the history of theatre, ranging from Ancient Egyptian festivals to contemporary performance arts. Lavishly illustrated in black and white and colour throughout, this is the perfect book for theatre goer and student alikeTrade Reviewtellingly charts the impact not just of exceptional individuals but of social and economic factors and technological change on theatre. A spread of deftly selected illustrations informatively and handsomely embellishes the text. * TLS *Table of Contents1. THE FIRST THEATRES; 4. ITALIAN RENAISSANCE THEATRE; 8. EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY THEATRE; 12. ORIENTAL THEATRES
£25.64
Cambridge University Press Gentlemen of a Company English Players in Central and Eastern Europe 15901660
Book SynopsisThis is the first book of its kind in English. It is a comprehensive and scrupulously researched account of the theatrical activity, of professional groups of players who left England for Central and Eastern Europe between the years 1590 and 1660.Table of ContentsList of illustrations; Preface; Introduction; Part I. The Baltic Route: 1. Gdansk; 2. Elbing; 3. Königsberg; 4. Pomerania; 5. Livonia; Part II. The Noble Patrons: The Habsburgs and the Vasas: 6. Warsaw; 7. Bohemia; 8. Austria; Part III. The Theatres: 9. The Gdansk fencing-school; 10. The Royal Theatre in Warsaw; Appendixes; Notes; Bibliography; Index.
£30.99
Peepal Tree Press Ltd Vaulting Ambition: Jamaica’s Barn Theatre 1966
Book SynopsisFor more almost forty years, Jamaica’s Barn Theatre was a crucial part of the development of a Caribbean theatre that extended beyond the Europhile elite. When it began in 1965, there were scarcely any plays written by Caribbean playwrights to perform. By its presence The Barn encouraged the work of dramatists such as Dennis Scott, Ashani Harrison and Carmen Tipling, and above all the work of Trevor Rhone, with whom Yvonne Brewster enjoyed a close if sometimes tumultuous theatrical relationship.Yvonne Brewster's splendid retelling of the making of the Barn captures the phenomenon of youthful ambition, creative optimism and rollicking intellectual excitement that characterized the spirit of young people fired with the zeal of imagining a postcolonial self as distinct from a colonized self. The men and women who started the Barn were shaped by Jamaica’s independence or the idea of it, though their spirit was as much shaped by the giddy youth culture of the sixties blossoming in London, where some were trained, as by developments in Jamaica where ska, reggae and Rasta were coming together in a not always lucid mix to create a sense of possibility. As much as it is an invaluable record of the plays performed in the context of a changing Jamaican society, Vaulting Ambition is an engaging and affectionate account of the sometimes larger than life personalities who were involved and the often difficult material circumstances in which theatre was made. Above all, the memoir gives us the inimitable voice of Yvonne Brewster, raconteur extraordinaire.
£9.49
Faber & Faber Matchbox Theatre
Book SynopsisMatchbox Theatre presents a sketch show in miniature: thirty short entertainments by Michael Frayn, author of Skios and Noises Off, ''the funniest farce ever written'' (New York Times).These tiny plays are offered here for performance in the smallest theatre in the world: the theatre of your own imagination. The scripts are provided. Everything else -- casting, set design, ice-cream sales -- is up to you . . .
£11.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Charlotte The True Story of Scandal and Spectacle
Book SynopsisThe amazing true story of Charlotte Cibber, a child of the theatre who scandalized proper society - whenever possibleTrade Review'Precocious, gifted, charismatic, and eccentric, Charlotte Charke illuminated the eighteenth century with the fleeting brightness of a shooting star. Kathryn Shevelow has written a remarkable book which admirably captures this most elusive of social rebels' Amanda Foreman, author of Georgiana 'Shevelow writes well and wittily, and captures the gamut of the eighteenth-century theatrical world, from its heights in Drury Lane - which went to Charlotte's bewigged head - to its depths among rural travelling players, where she ended up as a result' Sunday Times 'Charlotte is a remarkably learned and even more remarkably entertaining history - not only of a truly fascinating and startlingly-original woman, but also of her times and culture. Kathryn Shevelow brings to life the madness, absurdity and baseness of 18th-century Britain, and the recreates for modern readers the fascinating peculiarities of its theater world. This is a brilliant piece of popular history' David Liss, author of A Conspiracy of Paper 'Quite the spectacle was Charlotte: actress, cross-dresser and general hell-raiser' Washington Post
£7.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Revolutionary Messages
Book SynopsisPublished here in its entirety in English, Artaud's Revolutionary Messages collects Antonin Artaud's political, aesthetic and philosophical writings during his travels to Mexico in 1936. Written around the same time as his seminal work The Theatre and its Double, it captures a crucial point in Artaud''s life shortly before he was admitted to a mental asylum in which he was to spend a significant part of his later life. Revolutionary Messages contains conferences that Artaud gave at the University of Mexico, articles from the daily Mexican newspaper El Nacional Revolucionario and a study of three seminal artists of the time influenced by or from Mexico: Franz Hals, Ortiz Monasterio and Maria Izquierdo. Not only will you gain crucial insight into Artaud's time in Mexico and his vision of a total revolution, which he places in distinction to Marxist and Surrealist conceptions of revolution, but you will deepen your understanding of th
£20.89
Duke University Press Performance
Book SynopsisIn this invitation to reflect on the power of performance, Diana Taylor explores the multiple and overlapping meanings of performance, showing how it can convey everything from artistic, economic, and sexual performance, to providing ways of understanding how race, gender, identity, and power are performed.Trade Review"Performance offers scenarios... for active pedagogy, inviting students and others to explore and perhaps undo the links between images and writing, texts and performances, so as to conduct their own performatic appropriations." -- Loren Kruger * Critical Inquiry *"Taylor's fascinating, multicultural analysis of performance explores not only what performance is but also what it does—what it allows one to see, to experience, and to theorize—and 'its complex relation to systems of power.' . . . Recommended." -- M. S. LoMonaco * Choice *"The book is performative and multivocal, combining images of performances in the Americas, Taylor’s narrative essays, and important excerpts from key texts on performance by academics, activists, and artists....The result is a work that gives ample space to artists/artivists as the creators of tactics rather than to performance studies scholars who analyze nonperformance phenomena as performance." -- Patricia Ybarra * TDR: The Drama Review *"Introduction, reflection, and provocation coalesce most successfully in Taylor’s passionate insistence on the necessity of performance and its academic study. Performance, Taylor argues, has real effects, but the nature of those effects is not pre-determined. The wielder determines the worth of the weapon. These passages alone would suffice to make the book a trusted companion of students and senior scholars alike." -- David Calder * New Theatre Quarterly *"This book is a valuable introduction to performance art and performance studies. It is deftly argued and elegantly composed. Taylor concludes by saying that performance is ‘world-making’ and that we need to understand it (208). This book helps us to do just that." -- Adrian Curtin * Studies in Theatre and Performance *“Incredibly important. Performance is a proffer of a new way of looking and thinking about performance.” -- Robert Summers * CAA Reviews *Table of ContentsPreface 1. Framing [Performance] 2. Performance Histories 3. Spect-Actors 4. The New Uses of Performance 5. Performative and Performativity 6. Knowing through Performance: Scenarios and Simulation 7. Artivists (Artist-Activists), or What's to Be Done? 8. The Future(s) of Performance 9. Performance Studies Notes
£18.89
Taylor & Francis Ltd Stage Management
Book SynopsisNow in its twelfth edition, Stage Management is the comprehensive go-to manual on stage management in all theatre environments.Revered as the authoritative resource for stage management, this text is rich with practical resources, including checklists, diagrams, examples, forms, and step-by-step directions. In addition to sharing their own expertise, Stern and Gold have gathered practical advice from working stage managers of Broadway, off-Broadway, touring companies, regional, community, and 99-seat Equity waiver theatres. This new edition has been fully updated with new technology and best practices, including: New websites for stage management tools and software Updated Equity rules Additional safety and emergency protocols New voices from practicing stage managers in text boxes and case studies scattered throughout the book. This practical guide is written for students of Stage MTable of Contents1. What IS a Stage Manager? 2. Characteristics of a Great Stage Manager 3. Understanding the Script 4. Scheduling and Company Rules 5. Getting Acquainted with Your Theatre 6. Running Auditions 7. Budgeting 8. Pre-Production/First Rehearsal 9. Rehearsal Procedures 10. Working as a Team 11. Running Props 12. Supervision of Shifts 13. Running the Technical Rehearsal 14. Calling the Show 15. Working with the House Manager 16. After Opening 17. Strike, Remounts and Tours 18. Emergency Procedures 19. Working with Unions 20. Stage Manager Resources 21. Following Through 22. Getting a Job 23. High School Stage Management
£42.74
Globe Pequot Press Everything Was Possible
Book SynopsisHave you ever been curious about what it takes to get an original Broadway musical to opening night? Ted Chapin, college student at the time, had a front row seat at the creation of Stephen Sondheim''s Follies, now considered one of the most important musicals of modern time. He kept a detailed journal of his experience as the sole production assistant, which he used as the basis for Everything Was Possible: The Birth of the Musical Follies, originally published in 2003. He was there in the drama-filled rehearsal room, typing the endless rewrites, ferrying new songs around town, pampering the film and television stars in the cast, travelling with the show to its Boston tryout and back to New York for the Broadway opening night. With an enthusiast''s focus on detail and a journalist''s skill, Chapin takes the reader on the roller-coaster ride of creating a new and original Broadway musical. Musical theater giants, still rising in their careers, were working at top form on what became
£21.25
Taylor & Francis Ltd The Projection Designers Toolkit
Book SynopsisThe Projection Designer's Toolkit is an insider's guide to the world of professional projection design, serving as a reference for the planning and execution of each step in the projection design process.The text addresses the design process within the context of a professional projection designer's workflow, focusing on specific tools of the trade, best practices for communicating your design to collaborators, tips and tricks, determining budget, working with assistants, and more. Featuring interviews with some of the top names in the industry, the book offers an unprecedented insight into the professional projection designer's process across a wide range of fields, from Broadway and regional theatre to corporate design and music touring. The book also includes in-depth discussion on production process, system design, cue and content planning, content design, digital media fundamentals, media servers, video equipment, and projection surfaces. Additionally, itTable of ContentsPart 1: Understanding the Field 1. Projection Design for the Theatre 2. Production Personnel and Collaboration 3. Projection Design Personnel Part 2: Design and Production Workflow 4. Production Process Overview 5. Preliminary Design Steps 6. Communicating the Design 7. System Design 8. Cue and Content Planning 9. Content Design and Considerations 10. Digital Media as Content 11. Load-In through Opening Part 3: The Tools of the Trade 12. Video Systems and Components 13. Video Projectors and Emissive Displays 14. Projection Surfaces 15. Media Servers Part 4: Deliverables 16. Draftings, graphics, and Paperwork Part 5: Working Outside of the Theatre 17. Projection and Media Design in Other Sectors
£34.19
Taylor & Francis Prop Building for Beginners
Book SynopsisProp Building for Beginners outlines the basic concepts of prop building by featuring step-by-step instructions to create twenty of the most commonly featured items in theatrical and filmed productions. This book uses a combination of projects to expose readers to a wide range of materials and tools that they might find in a basic scenery or costume shop, serving both as a guide to building simple props and as a crash course in the variety of items a props person may have to build. The projects require a variety of tools, techniques, and materials so that a practitioner who completes all of them will have received a complete introduction to the basics of prop building.Assuming no previous knowledge of prop building, this is the perfect primer for students, hobbyists, or community theater enthusiasts looking to enter the prop shop.Prop Building for Beginners includes access to full-scale printable versions of the patterns featured in the book.Table of ContentsIntroductionSafetyA Note About PatternsPart 1: Projects1. Letter2. Old Book3. Lantern4. Treasure Chest5. Chalice6. Roast Chicken7. Skull8. Key9. Scepter10. Loaf of Bread11. Crown12. Sword13. Tree Branch with Leaves 14. Folding Fan15. Coin Purse16. Haversack17. Dead Bird18. Wooden Crate19. Rehearsal Cube20. Upholstered Foot StoolPart 2: Materials21. Paper and Papier-Mâché22. Foam and Clay23. Fabric24. Wood 25. Glue and Tape26. PaintSpecial ThanksGlossary Index
£34.19
Samuel French Ltd American Psycho
Book SynopsisBased on the electrifying novel by Bret Easton Ellis, the musical tells the story of Patrick Bateman, a young and handsome Wall Street banker with impeccable taste and unquenchable desires. Patrick and his elite group of friends spend their days in chic restaurants, exclusive clubs, and designer labels. But at night, Patrick takes part in a darker indulgence, and his mask of sanity is starting to slip…
£12.80
University of Minnesota Press But He Doesn't Know the Territory : The Story
Book SynopsisChronicles the creation of Meredith Willson’s The Music Man—reprinted now as the Broadway Edition Composer Meredith Willson described The Music Man as “an Iowan’s attempt to pay tribute to his home state.” Now featuring a new foreword by noted singer and educator Michael Feinstein, this book presents Willson’s reflections on the ups and downs, surprises and disappointments, and finally successes of making one of America’s most popular musicals. Willson’s whimsical, personable writing style brings readers back in time with him to the 1950s to experience firsthand the exciting trials and tribulations of creating a Broadway masterpiece. Fresh admiration of the musical—and the man behind the music—is sure to result.Trade Review"This is the first-person perspective of a deeply canny and meticulous chronicler who managed to preserve the creative process as if it were spontaneously happening, catching the mundane moments and details that illuminate and humanize the story. The moment-to-moment ups and downs, ins and outs, and subtly shifting creative process that careen forward like a roller coaster all somehow make sense, and those details illustrate in most vivid terms what it feels like to solve a puzzle for which you’re not certain you have all the pieces."—Michael Feinstein, from the Foreword"Dollars to doughnuts, Meredith Willson dotes on brass bands. In The Music Man, he has translated the thump and razzle-dazzle of brass-band lore into a warm and genial cartoon of American life."—Brooks Atkinson, New York Times, 1957
£13.49
Hal Leonard Corporation Theatre/Theory/Theatre: The Major Critical Texts
Book SynopsisAvailable for the First Time in Paperback!ÞFrom Aristotle's ÊPoeticsÊ to Vaclav Havel the debate about the nature and function of theatre has been marked by controversy. Daniel Gerould's landmark work ÊTheatre/Theory/TheatreÊ collects history's most influential Eastern and Western dramatic theorists ä poets playwrights directors and philosophers ä whose ideas about theatre continue to shape its future. In complete texts and choice excerpts spanning centuries we see an ongoing dialogue and exchange of ideas between actors and directors like Craig and Meyerhold and writers such as Nietzsche and Yeats. Each of Gerould's introductory essays shows fascinating insight into both the life and the theory of the author. From Horace to Soyinka Corneille to Brecht this is an indispensable compendium of the greatest dramatic theory ever written.
£17.09
Hal Leonard Corporation Sunday in the Park with George
Book Synopsis(Applause Libretto Library). This 1995 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical was inspired by the painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat. A complex work revolving around a fictionalized Seurat immersed in single-minded concentration while painting the masterpiece, the production has evolved into a meditation on art, emotional connection, and community. This publication contains the entire script of the musical. " Sunday is itself a modernist creation, perhaps the first truly modernist work of musical theatre that Broadway has produced ... a watershed event that demands nothing less than a retrospective, even revisionist, look at the development of the serious Broadway musical." Frank Rich, The New York Times Magazine
£15.73
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Musical Theatre
Book SynopsisMusical Theatre: A History is a new revised edition of a proven core text for college and secondary school students and an insightful and accessible celebration of twenty-five centuries of great theatrical entertainment. As an educator with extensive experience in professional theatre production, author John Kenrick approaches the subject with a unique appreciation of musicals as both an art form and a business. Using anecdotes, biographical profiles, clear definitions, sample scenes and select illustrations, Kenrick focuses on landmark musicals, and on the extraordinary talents and business innovators who have helped musical theatre evolve from its roots in the dramas of ancient Athens all the way to the latest hits on Broadway and London's West End. Key improvements to the second edition: A new foreword by Oscar Hammerstein III, a critically acclaimed historian and member of a family with deep ties to the musical theatre, is included The 28 chapterTrade ReviewKenrick demonstrates his considerable knowledge in this enjoyable, well-written volume . . . Specific examples about particular performers (e.g., Al Jolson) and shows (e.g., Franz Lehar's Merry Widow) enliven the text . . . A section of photos, most not the usual views, is a modest addition. In place of references, the author lists titles cited in a useful annotated bibliography. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers. * Choice *A comprehensive history of stage musicals . . . As informative as it is entertaining, Musical Theatre is richly illustrated with anecdotes of shows * The Pass *This eminently readable account delivers from curtain up … The text is supplemented by some wonderful archive photos which bring the productions discussed to life. The extensive bibliography is very useful and includes reference to online resources … An informed and entertaining survey of Musical Theatre which will appeal to both the novice and the knowledgeable. * Drama Magazine *Table of ContentsForeword by Oscar Hammerstein III (Author of The Hammersteins) Introduction: “Let’s Start at the Very Beginning” Chapter 1: Ancient Times to 1800 – “Playgoers, I Bid You Welcome!” Chapter Two: Continental Operetta (1840 – 1900) – “Typical of France” Chapter 3: Music Halls and Minstrel Shows: When Ribaldry and Racism Sang and Danced Chapter 3: “The Music of Something Beginning” – American Explorations (1624-1890) Chapter 5: Object All Sublime - Gilbert & Sullivan (1880-1900) Chapter 6: Vaudeville and Burlesque - From Small Time to Big Time Chapter 7: The Merry Widow - Refusing to Say “I Love You” Chapter 10 – A New Century: Herbert, Cohan & Berlin (1900-1913) Chapter 9: Florenz Ziegfeld – The Follies and Beyond Chapter 12: Jerome Kern and American Ascendance (1914-1919) 0> Chapter 11: Career in Profile – Al Jolson Chapter 12: The 1920s - Part I Chapter 12: The 1920s Part II Chapter 14: Depression Era Miracles (1930-1939) Chapter 10: Rodgers & Hammerstein – A New Beginning (1940-1960) Chapter 17 – After Oklahoma (post-1943) 1 Chapter 17: Anatomy of a Hit – My Fair Lady (1956) Chapter 18: Career in Profile – Ethel Merman Chapter 19: Abbott, Robbins & Fosse (1950-1963) Chapter 20: More Golden Age Musicals - (1950s-1960s) Chapter 21: The 1960s – “The Parade Passes By” Chapter 22: 1970s Part I - Sondheim & Prince Chapter 12: The 1970s – “You Gotta Hang on till Tomorrow” (1970-1979) Chapter 24: The 1980s – “And the Wind Begins to Moan” Chapter 25: The 1990s - “The American Dream” Chapter 26: The 2000s – “Where Did We Go Right?” Chapter 27: The 2010s - Tourists Reign Supreme Chapter 28: The Future Glossary Annotated Bibliography
£22.79
Edinburgh University Press BenHur
Book SynopsisJon Solomon's new book offers an exciting and detailed study of the Ben-Hur brand, tracking its spectacular journey from Wallace's original novel through to twenty-first century adaptations, and encompassing a wealth of previously unexplored material along the way
£35.15
Nick Hern Books Shakespeare's Lost Play: In Search of Cardenio
Book SynopsisGregory Doran's account of his quest to re-discover Cardenio, the lost play written by Shakespeare and John Fletcher. A thrilling act of literary detection that takes him from the Bodleian Library in Oxford, via Cervantes' Spain to the stage of the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford. Fully illustrated throughout, Shakespeare’s Lost Play tells a fascinating story, which, like the play itself, will engross Shakespeare buffs and theatregoers alike. Doran’s much-praised production of Cardenio for the Royal Shakespeare Company marked the culmination of years spent searching for a famously 'lost’ play co-authored by William Shakespeare. In this book, Doran takes us with him on his quest to unearth every extant clue and then into the rehearsal room as he pieces together a play unseen since its first performance in 1613. The result, as the Guardian attested, is ‘an extraordinary and theatrically powerful piece, one that should both please audiences and keep academic scholars in work for years’.Trade Review'Part detective story, part lively summary of the historic research and theatrical processes involved in resurrecting a lost play... It is one of the pleasures of Shakespeare's Lost Play that the reader picks up an education in a whole range of topics' * Around the Globe magazine *'Throughout Doran is a charming and invariably helpful guide... Furthermore, he successfully communicates his passion for the theatre and enables the reader to understand the wealth of labour that lies behind a complicated production' * Times Literary Supplement *'Reading this book is like entering a marvellous emporium... the delight is in the detail.... endlessly entertaining and informative.' * ReviewsGate.com *'Fascinating' * The Stage *
£13.49
University of Massachusetts Press Staged News: The Federal Theatre Project's Living
Book SynopsisIn 1935, a group of journalists and theater artists embarked on an unusual collaboration. With funds from the Federal Theatre Project (FTP), a Depression-era employment initiative established by President Roosevelt's New Deal, they set out to produce news for the theatrical stage. Over the next four years, the New York–based team created six productions, known as the Living Newspapers. Covering a variety of public issues that included affordable housing, the plight of Dust Bowl farmers, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and labor law, Living Newspaper productions would reach hundreds of thousands of spectators and inspire adaptations across the country.Staged News interprets the Living Newspaper's process and repertoire amid journalists' changing conceptions of their profession. Jordana Cox spotlights marginalized "newsmakers," particularly Black artists, who challenged the parameters of public knowledge and assumptions surrounding newsworthiness. This timely analysis uncovers how a vital theatrical form sprouted from a changing news landscape and reimagined what journalism could do for people seeking democratic change.Trade Review“Cox brilliantly chronicles the embrace of imagination by newspaper reporters and theatre makers. This engaging, beautifully written book reveals how their staging of the news inspired democratic participation while questioning the idea of journalistic objectivity.”—Harvey Young, author of Theatre and Race “Jordana Cox deftly traces the twinned histories of US theater and journalism in the 1930s, drawing on extensive archival material to detail how innovations in journalistic practice and imagination shaped many of the Federal Theatre Project’s most significant Living Newspaper productions. This is a timely and insightful book.”—Marlis Schweitzer, author of Bloody Tyrants and Little Pickles: Stage Roles of Anglo-American Girls in the Nineteenth Century “Journalism historians have paid little attention to the subject of Living Newspapers. In this carefully researched history, Cox uncovers how this New Deal program illuminated the limitations of journalism while offering an alternative and collaborative model for truth-telling—a model with lasting value.”—Carolyn Kitch, author of Pages from the Past: History and Memory in American Magazines “Cox’s writing style is smooth and fluid, and she has mined archives that others have missed. A book on Living Newspapers that focuses on their journalistic status is way overdue.”—Laura Browder, author of Rousing the Nation: Radical Culture in Depression AmericaTable of Contents Preface Acknowledgments A Note on Terminology Introduction THEATER, NEWS, AND JOURNALISTIC IMAGINATION Chapter One GETTING A FEEL FOR THE OFFICE Reimagining the Newsroom Chapter Two THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION Reimagining News Publics Chapter Three THE LITTLE MAN AND THE LOUDSPEAKER Reimagining News Media Chapter Four THE KEEPER OF RECORDS Reimagining Representation Conclusion OUTSIDE AND AFTER THE NYLN Reimagining Living Newspapers Notes Index
£23.36
Taylor & Francis Ltd The Prop Building Guidebook
Book SynopsisNow in its third edition, The Prop Building Guidebook: For Theatre, Film, and TV walks readers through techniques used in historical and contemporary prop making and demonstrates how to apply them to a variety of materials.Experienced prop maker Eric Hart covers the tools and techniques used by professional prop makers throughout the entertainment industry. He outlines a construction process that gives readers the foundational knowledge to choose the best materials and methods for each prop and the background information to know the advantages of these choices. This new edition includes updated information and techniques throughout, including: Over a hundred new images and diagrams Updated terminology, products, and brands used internationally Expanded sections on 3D printing, vacuum forming, foam patterning, and more A new chapter on prop design New information on international safety standards, cleaning, and sanitation More recipes and step-by-step instruction for various finishes Illustrated by hundreds of full-color photographs, this is the most comprehensive guide to prop construction available for professional and student prop makers in theatre, film, and tv.For additional how-to videos, instructional documents, and supplemental information, visit www.propbuildingguidebook.com.Trade ReviewPraise for The Prop Building Guidebook"I really enjoyed the first Prop Building Guidebook. Eric Hart is a real pro in the prop business. If I lived on the East Coast, it would be great to do a project with him. I have been a professional prop maker in Hollywood for 43 years and still learned a lot from the first book! Looking forward to Book II."Paul Pearson, President of Custom Movie Props and prop builder on Starship Troopers, 14 seasons of Star Trek, and Daredevil"The Prop Building Guidebook is indispensable, whether you’re a working props professional or an amateur enthusiast. From basic skills to complex builds, and from the thinking behind a prop and the research required, to figuring out how a prop needs to work—it’s all here. Eric Hart has mastered his wide range of skills in many productions, and is generous and eloquent in sharing them."Ross MacDonald, prop artisan on Boardwalk Empire, The Hateful Eight, and National Treasure: Book of Secrets"If you do crafts, models, cosplay, or anything that involves imagination, engineering, and a unique eye in design and execution, get this book. If you are a serious student in the discipline of Props Design, get this book! The book is inspiringly comprehensive and a must for professionals and academics alike. Eric has given you the keys to the Kingdom and then shows you how to masterfully replicate them."Jay Duckworth, founder of the Prop Summit and props master on Hamilton, Shakespeare in the Park, the Public TheaterTable of Contents1. What is a Prop? 2. Safety and Health 3. Shop Spaces and Tools 4. Supplies and Materials 5. Choosing Materials 6. Props Design and Execution 7. Structure and Frames 8. Carpentry 9. Metal 10. Plastics 11. Flat Patterning 12. Fabric 13. Sculpting 14. Molding and Casting 15. Shells and Composites 16. Texture and Surface Prep 17. Painting and Coating 18. Graphics 19. Formal Training 20. Your Portfolio
£35.14
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Theatre and Dramaturgy
Book SynopsisWhat is a dramaturg? What is dramaturgy? What are the political implications for the way that plays produce meaning in performance?Over the last decade, the role of the dramaturg has become more common in the theatrical process, but it is still a new term for many theatre-goers. Theatre & Dramaturgy offers a working definition of what dramaturgy means, and asks how understanding theatre from the perspective of dramaturgy can help us understand the world around us.This concise study examines how western histories and practices of theatre have functioned to achieve their effects, through understanding dramaturgy as the arrangement or structure of the work in time and space both at the fictional level and in relation to performance. Exploring the relationship between plays and their meaning in production, this guide focuses on how understanding dramaturgy is critical to understanding how plays achieve their effects.Table of ContentsIntroduction What is Dramaturgy? Dramaturgy & Drama Dramaturgical Approaches Dramaturgy & Plays Dramaturgy & Production 1: DRAMATURGY & THE AUDIENCE i. Dramaturgies of Entertainment Acting ‘for’ the Audience Theatricality ii. Dramaturgies of Autonomy Modernism Ignoring the Audience Autonomy & Absorption Autonomy & Landscape Legacies of Modernism A Comforting Convention? iii. Dramaturgies of the Political Naturalism The Epic Theatre Brecht’s Legacy Get out of the Theatre (and into Performance) iv. Dramaturgies of Participation A Plethora of Forms Participation & Politics 2: DRAMATURGY & POWER Dramaturgy & Economy Dramaturgies of Winners and Losers Dramaturgy & Marginalisation Dramaturgies of Imagining Otherwise Theatre & Climate Crisis Coda Further Reading Index
£9.99
Nick Hern Books An Actor's Alphabet: An A to Z of Some Stuff I've
Book SynopsisIn this candid and empowering A to Z of being an actor, Julie Hesmondhalgh draws on her decades of experience on stage and screen – including in massively popular television shows such as Broadchurch, Happy Valley and Coronation Street – to lift the lid on the realities of life in today's industry, and show you how to navigate it. She shares practical advice on preparing for roles (don't be afraid of looking like a dick), managing the ups and downs of your career (and how to be out of work without losing your mind), dealing with failure (and success), not constantly comparing yourself to others (bloody hard, but try), looking after your mental health, and the power of knowing when to say 'no'. Passionate about the arts, she makes a compelling case for their importance to society, but also calls out the industry on where it continues to fall short – including a clear-eyed assessment of what needs to change to make it safer and healthier, more accessible and inclusive. Written with refreshing honesty and self-deprecating humour, An Actor's Alphabet is a book for anyone who dreams of becoming an actor, wants to be a better one, or just wants to learn what being one is really like. 'Endearingly honest, funny and eye-opening. I loved it!' Francesca Martinez 'Like its author, this book is brimming with wisdom, intelligence, empathy and humanity... An absolute must!' Maxine Peake 'This is the best book on acting and being an actor I've read… Julie Hesmondhalgh is the mentor/best friend/guide we all need in these troubled times' Paul Chahidi 'Wonderful… not just a book about acting, but also about life. Us. The world. Humanity. Battling through this shit and finding time for a hug. I adore it.' Russell T Davies 'A must-read, whether you've been on the artist's journey for years or are just starting out' Shobna Gulati 'This book is bold, brash, sincere and angry. It regrets nothing and questions everything… Treasure it like we should treasure Julie' Jack Thorne 'A generous gift to actors, full of honesty, hope and wit. There is loads of tangible advice, not just for acting but for life' Anna Jordan 'Julie's book is honest, challenging and helpful. A great read' Andy NymanTrade Review'Brilliantly conversational and no-nonsense... very personal, focused on the things that mean something to her. She writes with passion; wise words that cover subjects from class to parenting, sex to tax... shows a huge generosity' * Reviews Hub *'Very interesting… has a warmth and humanity that isn't often found in training manuals or self-help books... will be extremely useful for anyone taking their first steps into this unstable industry and will raise plenty of smiles of recognition from more experienced members of the profession, but it will also give the general reader insight into the struggles of forging a long-term career in the performing arts' * British Theatre Guide *'Honest and revealing... Hesmondhalgh has risen imaginatively to the challenge of the A-Z format, and the result is interesting, informative and unusual... the sound advice she gives and the different topics she covers are very relevant to students considering a career in acting or other branches of the profession... She writes with honesty, humour and sincerity... a comprehensive and up-to-date toolkit for all those involved in and teaching within the profession' * Word Matters (Journal of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama) *
£9.49
Taylor & Francis Theatre Histories
Book SynopsisThis updated fourth edition of Theatre Histories offers a critical overview of global theatre, drama, and performance, spanning a broad wealth of world cultures and periods, integrating them chronologically or thematically, and showing how they have often interacted.Bringing together a group of scholars from a diverse range of backgrounds and approaches to the history of global theater, this introduction to theatre history places theatre into its larger historical contexts and attends to communicationâs role in shaping theatre. Its case studies provide deeper knowledge of selected topics in theater and drama, and its âœThinking Through Theatre Historiesâ boxes discuss important concepts and approaches used in the book.Features of the fully updated fourth edition include: Deeper coverage of East Asian and Latin American theater. Richer treatment of popular culture. More illustrations, photographs, and information about online resources. New case studies, include several written by authoritative scholars on the topic. Pronunciation guidance, both in the text and as audio files online. Timelines. An introduction on historiography. A website with additional case studies, a glossary, recordings of the pronunciation of important non-English terms, and instructor resources. A case studies library listing, including both those in print and online, for greater instructor choice and flexibility. This is an essential textbook for undergraduate courses in theatre history, world theatre and introduction to theatre, and anyone looking for a full and diverse account of the emergence, development, and continuing relevance of theatre to cultures and societies across the world.
£65.54
Oxford University Press Inc Yankee Doodle Dandy
Book SynopsisPlaywright, composer, actor, director, and producer George M. Cohan looms large in musical theater legend. Remembered today for classic tunes like You''re a Grand Old Flag and Give My Regards to Broadway, he has been called the father of musical comedy, and his statue stands in the heart of the New York theater district. Cohan''s early twentieth-century shows and songs captured the spirit of an era when staggering social change gave new urgency to efforts to define Americanism. He was an Irish American who had the audacity to represent himself as the Yankee Doodle emblem of the nation, a vaudevillian who had the nerve to unapologetically climb the ranks and package his lower-brow style as Broadway. In Yankee Doodle Dandy, the first book on Cohan in fifty years, author Elizabeth T. Craft situates Cohan as a central figure of his day. Examining his multifaceted contributions and the various sociocultural identities he came to embody, Craft shows how Cohan and his works indelibly shaped the American cultural landscape. Informative and engaging, this book offers rich reading for Broadway musical aficionados as well as scholars of musical theater and American cultural history.
£21.84
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Hay Fever
Book SynopsisThis 1925 comedy of manners that''s funny yet also unorthodox and unsettling... a celebration of abnormality and at the same time a disquieting study of both the pleasures and the pains of not being able to restrain oneself. - Evening StandardWhen four guests, all invited by different members of the Bliss family, arrive for a weekend at their country house near Maidenhead, they''re expecting a idyllic retreat. But this peaceful promise is quickly trounced when the self-absorbed eccentricities of the Blisses are trained on the guests, who leave the country mansion humiliated and embarrassed.First produced in 1925, Hay Fever is a technical masterpiece, seamlessly combining high farce with a comedy of manners, and delivering Coward his first major commercial success.This new edition is published in Methuen Drama''s iconic Modern Classics series to coincide with the 125th anniversary of Coward's birth and features a new introduction by Michael Billington.
£10.44
John Wiley & Sons Inc Respect for Acting
Book SynopsisTable of ContentsEditor’s Note by Jesse Feiler xiii Foreword by Katie Finneran xv Foreword by David Hyde Pierce xix Acknowledgments xxiii Part One The Actor Introduction 3 1 Concept 11 2 Identity 22 3 Substitution 34 4 Emotional Memory 46 5 Sense Memory 52 6 The Five Senses 60 7 Thinking 65 8 Walking and Talking 69 9 Improvisation 73 10 Reality 75 Part Two The Object Exercises Introduction 81 11 The Basic Object Exercise 91 12 Three Entrances 95 13 Immediacy 102 14 The Fourth Wall 106 15 Endowment 112 16 Talking to Yourself 119 17 Outdoors 124 18 Conditioning Forces 129 19 History 134 20 Character Action 139 Part Three The Play and the Role Introduction 145 21 First Contact with the Play 147 22 The Character 152 23 Circumstances 158 24 Relationship 165 25 The Objective 174 26 The Obstacle 180 27 The Action 184 28 The Rehearsal 192 29 Practical Problems 201 30 Communication 213 31 Style 217 Epilogue 222 The Studio Story, by Uta Hagen 224 Address to the Austrian Academy, by Herbert Berghof 239 Sources, by Uta Hagen 244 About Uta Hagen 252 About Haskel Frankel 254 Index 255
£17.84
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Womans Voice
Book SynopsisPatsy Rodenburg OBE is a world expert on teaching voice, speech and presentation skills to individuals and companies across corporate and creative industries, as well as working with actors in theatre, film and television. Currently, she is Professor of Text and Poetry at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, UK, after serving as Head of Voice from 1981 until 2016. Over the past 40 years, she has been pioneering the only existing MA in Training Actors (Voice) and has sat on the board of directors for the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2020, she established The Patsy Rodenburg Academy, which provides a safe and creative space for teachers, leaders, actors and all others to explore storytelling, while developing leadership, theatre and voice skills.She has coached some of the world's leading business figures, including CEOs and board-level executives at leading global institutions such as the London Stock Exchange, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, HSBC, Goldman Sachs, The Royal BritishTable of ContentsPrologue Chapter 1 – The Beginnings Chapter 2 – Cages Chapter 3 – Brilliant Women Chapter 4 – Whole Presence, Whole Voice Chapter 5 – The Unquestionably Equal Woman Chapter 6 – Equal? Chapter 7 – Mother Margaret and Nanna Winifred Chapter 8 – Winnie Chapter 9 – My Father Chapter 10 – Education Chapter 11 – Vocation Chapter 12 – Voice and Rhetoric Chapter 13 – The Fading Memory of Women’s Power Chapter 14 – John Chapter 15 – Scarls Chapter 16 – Focusing on Voice Chapter 17 – Handmaidens Chapter 18 – Breaking Free – Going Deeper – Demanding More Chapter 19 – 2006: Moving On – The Revolution of Thriving, not just Surviving Chapter 20 – Facing the Inevitable Chapter 21 – Where is your Voice? Chapter 22 – Masks of Survival Chapter 23 – Form and Content Epilogue Index
£18.04
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Musical Theatre Histories
Book SynopsisMusical theatre is often perceived as either a Broadway based art form, or as having separate histories in London and New York. Musical Theatre Histories: Expanding the Narrative, however, depicts the musical as neither American nor British, but both and more, having grown out of frequent and substantial interactions between both centres (and beyond). Through multiple thematic histories', Millie Taylor and Adam Rush take readers on a series of journeys that include the art form's European and American origins, African American influences, negotiations arounddiversity, national identity, and the globalisation of the form, as well as revival culture, censorship and the place of social media inthe 21st century.Each chapter includes case studies and key concept boxes to identify, explain and contextualise important discussions, offering an accessible study of a dynamic and ever evolving medium.Written and developed for undergraduate students, this introductory textbook providTrade ReviewThe history of musical theatre has been told countless times, and often in the same way; so it is refreshing to read a study of the musical that offers a myriad tellings of the tale. Like holding a diamond up to Broadway and West End shows, each chapter in Taylor and Rush's fascinating book offers a different perspective. For students and scholars of the musical, the book provides a rich seam of thought-provoking discussions written in an accessible and engaging way. Bouncing between Britain and America in its central focus, it explores the musical as a ‘transnational’ form – one that has developed on either side of the Atlantic, yet one that has always been caught in a tussle between two different worlds. In the expert hands of Millie Taylor and Adam Rush, readers will experience an exciting set of transatlantic adventures in musical theatre. * Dominic Symonds (Professor of Musical Theatre, University of Lincoln, UK) *Table of Contents‘Why We Tell the Story’: Introduction Historiography and Context(s) Deciphering Multiple Histories How to Read this Book Chapter 1 - ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’: From Operetta to Poperetta European Origins Musical Comedy and Broadway Operetta (1900-1940) American Origins Into the Twentieth Century The Musical Play and Beyond (1940-1960) Fragmentation and the Concept Musical The Megamusical, or Poperetta Conclusion Chapter 2 - ‘New Music’: From Ragtime to Rap Ragtime and Early African American Music Early African American Musical Theatre Shuffle Along, And All That Jazz The Rise of Minstrelsy and ‘Coon Songs’ Dreamgirls and Motown Rap, Hip-Hop and Hamilton Conclusion Chapter 3 - ‘Waving Through A Window’: From Intertext to Instagram Literary Adaptations Stage and Screen Interactions The Wonderful World of Oz Singin’ in the Rain and the Hollywood Film Musical Disney and the Animated Musical Cast Recordings You Already Know You’re Gonna Love It… Television Musicals Social Media and the Worldwide Web (of Showtunes) Conclusion Chapter 4 - ‘Easy to be Hard’: From Censorship to Sex Legal Censorship in Britain, 1485-1843 A Changing Landscape, 1843-1968 Censorship in America, 1620-1967 Politics meets Finance Hair (and all that followed) Self-Censorship and Political Correctness Conclusion Chapter 5 - ‘Stand Up’: From Gender Duality to Diversity Late Victorian Britain Music Hall and Variety Early Twentieth Century Transatlantic Transfers The ‘Golden Age’ – Post-World War II Diversity and Difference – After the 1960s Into the Twenty First Century Conclusion Chapter 6 - ‘Another National Anthem’: From Ourselves to the Other Before the Great War World War II and Post-War Reconstruction 1990s British Resurgence (as Mythologised in American Musicals) Challenging American Mythology Hybrid Influences in Musical Theatre Conclusion Chapter 7 - ‘A Whole New World’: From The Mikado to the Megamusical Colonialism Culture within Colonialism The Cultural Dimension of Globalisation Global Producers and International Productions Conclusion Chapter 8 - ‘Journey to the Past’: From Revival to Revisal Reviving Gypsy 1970s American Revivals New Models and Styles (Concert and Small-Scale Productions, Actor-Musicianship, Opera House Productions) Revision and Reinvention Conclusion Abstracts + Keywords Bibliography
£23.74
