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Directing & Dramaturgy

Directing: A Handbook for Emerging Theatre DirectorsDirecting: A Handbook for Emerging Theatre Directors
Rob Swain
A great new guide for the aspiring or emerging director. Covers all the basics and profiles the techniques of some of the trailblazers of stage direction. Further insight comes from the many interviews with working practitioners, theorists, and critics. Softcover, 328 pp. $29.00.


The Art of Active DramaturgyThe Art of Active Dramaturgy

Lenora Inez Brown
From first meeting to final performance this concise and practical guide illuminates the role of the dramaturg in the theatre. Written by the former head of dramaturgy at DePaul University, The Art of Active Dramaturgy is based on decades of practice and all the most current research. Softcover, 212 pp. $32.95.


Ghost Light: An Introductory Handbook for DramaturgyGhost Light: An Introductory Handbook for Dramaturgy

Michael Mark Chemers
The dramaturg's primary responsibility is to query the creative possibilities at every point of the production process, from play selection to costume design, and then research the various options and find ways to transform that knowledge into useful ideas. Perfectly suited to the needs of both the student and professional, Ghost Light is a valuable addition to all theatre libraries. Softcover, 211 pp. $37.50.


So You Want to Be a Theatre Director?So You Want to Be a Theatre Director?
Stephen Unwin
Directing plays is difficult. The aim of this book is to lay out what skills are needed, and to give some sense of how to develop them. Starting at the very beginning of the process, Stephen Unwin takes us step-by-step through: choosing a play, casting, design, rehearsals, and, finally, staging the finished product. The emphasis is on the professional theatre, but this book is useful in other contexts -- amateur dramatics, university drama, school plays and so on. Softcover, 248 pp. $33.00.


Theatre CraftTheatre Craft

John Caird
Brilliantly informative and fabulously witty this all encompassing A to Z on all areas of the art of directing is an essential reference tool for the modern theatre practitioner. From Acting, Adaptation and Agents, to Sound Effects, Superstitions, Trap Doors and Wardrobe. Theatre Craft is a refreshing and inspiring book for directors and anyone else in the theatre. Softcover, 800 pp. $45.00.


Improvisation in Rehearsal

John Abbott
Packed with useful exercises and improvisation scenarios, and examples from a wide variety of plays, Improvisation in Rehearsal reveals how improvisation enriches and enlivens the creation of characters, back-stories, relationships, shared histories and emotional lives. The book also demonstrates how improvisation can be used as a powerful tool in the foundation of a strong company, and when searching for the hidden depths and dynamics in a scene. Softcover,204 pp. $27.95.


Kazan on DirectingKazan on Directing

Elia Kazan
Responsible for revolutionizing theatre and film with dynamic action, poetic staging, and rigorous naturalism, Elia Kazan was the mid-twentieth century's most celebrated director. This remarkable book, drawn from his notebooks, letters, interviews, and autobiography, reveals Kazan's method: how he uncovered for himself the "spine" or core of each script and each character; how he analyzed each piece in terms of his own experience; how he determined the specifics of his production, from casting and costuming to set design and cinematography. Softcover, 341 pp. $22.00.


Creating Life on Stage: A Director's Approach to Working on Stage

Marshall W. Mason
Before the curtain goes up, an intense collaborative process transforms the words of a writer's script into a production that involves thousands of details, hundreds of decisions, and dozens of dedicated people. Making that collaboration a successful journey is a director's job, and in Creating Life on Stage, you'll find out how a major American director does it. Softcover, 252 pp. $25.95.


Fundamentals of Play DirectingFundamentals of Play Directing

5th Edition
Lawrence Carra & Alexander Dean
This landmark work has influenced generations of stage directors and is considered the most influential treatment of the art of directing. Both theoretical and practical, it offers content on the major technical and visual issues that beginning directors will find invaluable. Softcover, $49.95.

Stanislavsky and Directing: Theory, Practice and InfluenceStanislavsky and Directing: Theory, Practice and Influence
Anna Migliarisi
Inspired by the first conference ever held in Canada on Stanislavsky, Stanislavsky and Directing is an ideal introduction to the revolutionary ideas of this major figure in history of world theatre. This book will be of great use not only for practitioners working in the Stanislavsky tradition, but to academics as well who wish to obtain a more visceral understanding of the master's legacy. Softcover, 345 pp. $34.95.


Mainly On Directing Gypsy, West Side Story, and Other MusicalMainly On Directing Gypsy, West Side Story, and Other Musicals

by Arthur Laurents
Playwright, screenwriter, director, Arthur Laurents has been at the birth and rebirth of the American musical theatre's greatest creations for the past five decades. At the age of ninety one, he has just directed the wildly acclaimed new production of West Side Story on Broadway.
This book revels in the author's love for and understanding of, musical theatre, the people who make it and the audiences who attend.
He writes from experience, in rich detail about his work and the work of other great directors. There isn't a page in this book that doesn't entertain or give the reader a fascinating insight into the art of directing.
This is a book inspired by love, which we can be thankful for. Hardcover $28.95.


Directors/Directing: Conversations on Theatre Directors/Directing: Conversations on Theatre
Christopher Innes & Maria Shevtsova
Insightful, in-depth and evocative, this is a collection of conversations with nine of the most innovative theatre directors of our time in Europe and North America: Eugenio Barba, Lev Dodin, Declan Donnellan, Elizabeth LeCompte, Robert Lepage, Simon McBurney, Katie Mitchell, Peter Sellars, and Max Stafford-Clark. Softcover, $27.95.


The Director's CraftThe Director's Craft

Katie Mitchell
The Director's Craft is a unique and completely indispensible step-by-step guide to directing for the stage. Written by one of the most adventurous and respected directors working today, this book will be an indispensable item in every student and practitioner's kitbag. It will inspire everyone, from the beginner just starting out to the experienced practitioner looking to reinvigorate their practice. Softcover, 241 pp. $28.50.


How to Stage Greek Tragedy TodayHow to Stage Greek Tragedy Today

Simon Goldhill
Addressing the issues and challenges facing all directors and performers-not to mention the growing audiences-of ancient dramas produced on the modern stage, renowned classicist Simon Goldhill responds here to the growing demand for a comprehensive guide to staging Greek tragedy today. Softcover, 250 pp. $21.95.


A Practical Guide to PantomimeA Practical Guide to Pantomime

Tina Bicat
Pantomime is for the hundreds of people who find themselves involved in putting a pantomime on stage, and most particularly for those working on limited budgets in smaller venues. This guidebook will help you solve the particular problems of directing and choreography, costuming, backstage chaos, and creating spectacular effects with limited resources. Softcover, 160 pp. $32.95.


Dramaturgy and PerformanceDramaturgy and Performance

Cathy Behrndt & Synne Turner
Dramaturgy and Performance is one of the first books to examine the role of the dramaturg in the UK, extending the focus beyond writer development to look at production dramaturgy and devising processes. Highly accessible in style, this invaluable resource provides a comprehensive overview of the concept of dramaturgy and the practice of the dramaturg for both undergraduate students and practitioners. Softcover, 229 pp. $27.95.


Taking Stock: The Theatre of Max Stafford-ClarkTaking Stock: The Theatre of Max Stafford-Clark
Philip Roberts & Max Stafford-Clark
Max Stafford-Clark's career as a theatre director is one of the longest, richest, and most influential of any of his peers at work in the British theatre today. It also has a striking homogeneity and integrity. This book offers an inside account, mostly in the first person, of the making of some of the most influential theatre productions of the last four decades. Softcover, 266 pp. $37.00.


The Wooster Group Work BookThe Wooster Group Work Book

This is an extraordinary book which chronicles the working practices of one of the world's leading performance companies. Rehearsal methods, source materials, as well as the creative thinking and reflections of director Elizabeth LeCompte and her main artistic collaborators are included as the book focuses on five performance pieces which are considered classics of the contemporary stage. Combining journal extracts, actors' notes, stage designs, stage managers' logs with stunning photos, this is an indispensable resource for students and anyone interested in contemporary performance. Large format, softcover. $49.95.


And Then, You ActAnd Then, You Act
Anne Bogart
And Then, You Act contains eight new essays on art, theatre and the collaborative creative process by award-winning theatre director, Anne Bogart. Where her last book, A Director Prepares, detailed the process of preparation for an artist, this book is about the importance of action during times of difficulty, whether personal or political. Softcover, 140 pp. $35.50.


Joan Littlewood: Routledge Perfomance PractitionersJoan Littlewood: Routledge Perfomance Practitioners
Nadine Holdsworth
A theatrical and cultural innovator, Joan Littlewood's various contributions to theatre made a huge impact on the way in which theatre was generated, rehearsed and presented during the 20th century. This book combines an overview of Littlewood's career in relation to the wider social, political and cultural context, an exploration of Littlewood's theatrical influence, a detailed case study of the origins, research, creative process and thinking behind Littlewood's most famous production, Oh What a Lovely War, as well as a series of practical exercises designed to illustrate Littlewood's key approaches to rehearsal. Softcover, 154 pp. $36.95.


The Theatricality of Robert LepageThe Theatricality of Robert Lepage

Aleksandar Sasa Dundjerovic
Robert Lepage, one of the pioneers and the main exponents of mixed-media performance, is internationally renowned for a notoriously distinct aesthetic. In the first book to explore Lepage's practical work, Aleksandar Dundjerovic offers a comprehensive analysis of his creative process and transformative mise-en-scene. Softcover, 252 pp. $32.95.


Directing: The Art and CraftDirecting: The Art and Craft

John Glossop
Teachers at all levels will find Directing: The Art and Craft informative and entertaining. The book is filled with personal anecdotes that demonstrate and make vivid John Glossop's suggested approaches to working with students. Softcover, 95 pp. $17.95.


And Then, You ActAnd Then, You Act

Anne Bogart
And Then, You Act contains eight new essays on art, theatre and the collaborative creative process by award-winning theatre director, Anne Bogart. Where her last book, A Director Prepares, detailed the process of preparation for an artist, this book is about the importance of action during times of difficulty, whether personal or political. Softcover, 140 pp. $27.95.


The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amateur TheatricalsThe Complete Idiot's Guide to Amateur Theatricals

John Kendrick
You're no idiot, of course. You'd like to mount a theatre production without unscripted disaster scenes or backstage drama. But when it comes to the reality of sets, rehearsals, and promotion, you definitely need direction. If this is the case, then this book will show you how to add professional flair to your next school or community play. Softcover, 372 pp. $21.00.


So You Want to be a Theatre Director?So You Want to be a Theatre Director?
Stephen Unwin
Starting at the very beginning, Stephen Unwin takes the reader step-by-step through: Choosing a Play, Casting, Design, Rehearsals, and Running the Play. The result is the perfect 'how-to' book on theatre directing. Softcover, 248 pp. $33.00.


Changing DirectionChanging Direction: A Practical Approach to Directing Actors in Film and Theatre

Lenore DeKoven
Changing Direction is a guide to directing actors based on the author's years of experience in the classroom and on set, as well as in her highly sought-out workshops in New York and Los Angeles. DeKoven covers everything from script to character development, rehearsals, casting, and working with the camera. Relevant to directors and actors of TV, film, and theatre, this book will help you become a better, more effective director or actor. Softcover, 193 pp. $31.95.

How to Stage a Play, Make a Fortune, Win a Tony, and become a Theatrical Icon How to Stage a Play, Make a Fortune, Win a Tony, and become a Theatrical Icon
Charles Markowitz
Based on the author's personal experiences, this concise handbook follows a director's journey from the casting process to opening night, revealing the hidden or unspoken aspects of play and stage production that are rarely, if ever, described in theatre manuals. Veteran director Charles Marowitz discusses topics such as rehearsals, characterization, tempo-rhythm, dramaturgy, and actor-and-audience psychology, demystifying an art form that is often dealt with only in terms of abstract concepts and ideology rather than the mundane, nitty-gritty nuts-and-bolts requirements of just "getting the show on the road." Softcover, 152 pp. $18.95.

The Viewpoints BookThe Viewpoints Book
Anne Bogart & Tina Landau
Over the past twenty years, Viewpoints training has ignited the imaginations of choreographers, actors, directors, designers, dramaturgs and writers. Viewpoints is taught all over the world and used by countless theatre artists in the rehearsal process, yet its theory and application have rarely been documented. Now Ann Bogart and Tina Landau, two of the field's most gifted and innovative directors, have created a book that distills the philosophy and provides a step-by-step recipe for using Viewpoints as a training and rehearsal technique. Softcover, 224 pp. $25.95.

Fifty Key Theatre DirectorsFifty Key Theatre Directors
Shomit Mitter & Maria Shevtsova
In this splendid guide to theatre directors, fifty of the most brilliant and influencial innovators of the stage -- Vsevolod Meyerhold, Erwin Piscator, Peter Brook, Augusto Boal, Tadashi Suzuki, Ann Bogart, Robert Lepage, and several others -- are discussed in detailed entries. Each entry examines a director's key productions, ideas and rehearsal methods, effectively combining theory and practice. The result is an ideal guide to international theatre of the twentieth and twenty-first century. Softcover, 286 pp. $38.95.

Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and DesignersScript Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers
Third Edition
James Thomas
Based on the premise that plays should be objects of study in and of themselves, this book teaches an established system of classifications that examines the written part of a play. Students will immediately be able to incorporate the concepts and procedures they learn into their practical creative work. Actors, directors, and designers will benefit from clear and comprehensive examples, end-of-chapter questions, and summaries meant to stimulate their creative process as they engage in production work. Softcover, 336 pp. $46.50.

Hidden Territories: The Theatre of GardzieniceHidden Territories: The Theatre of Gardzienice
Wlodzimierz Staniewski & Alison Hodge
This is the first full-length articulation by Wlodzimierz Staniewski of his philosophy and practice. This remarkable theatre director, with collaborator Alison Hodge, gives a fascinating insight into his company's principles and techniques. Also included is a CD-ROM which enables the reader to experience the stunning visual and aural complexity of the performances through extensive video footage of productions, rehearsals and training. Softcover, 148 pp. $53.95.

Directing Amateur TheatreDirecting Amateur Theatre
Helen E. Sharman
Directing Amateur Theatre is an informative guide to the skills and responsibilities necessary to stage a successful amateur show. Written by a director with extensive experience, this book guides the reader through every stage of the director's role from choosing the right play, running auditions, managing the back stage crew and the rehearsal process, to the week of the show. Softcover, 142 pp. $32.95.

Notes on DirectingNotes on Directing
This highly practical manual has been endorsed by a veritable ‹who‰s whoþ of the contemporary theatre including Edward Albee, Tom Stoppard, Dame Judi Dench, Rupert Graves, Sir Ian McKellen among many others. Judi Dench says ‹ This book is a gem -- witty and full of insight. It should be required reading for every aspiring director.‰We would add that actors will find this book invaluable. $29.95.

Eyes on StalksEyes on Stalks
John Fox
Beautifully illustrated throughout with photographs and original drawings from the artist's sketchbook, this vivid account brings to life the working practices of one of Britain's leading arts companies, Welfare State International. Written by the company's artistic director, John Fox, this wonderous and inspirational book is ideal for anyone interested in contemporary performance, art, and theatre. Softcover 272 pp. $39.95.


Between the LinesBetween the Lines: The Process of Dramaturgy
Judith Rudakoff and Lynn M. Thomson
Between the Lines: The Process of Dramaturgy is a series of lively and informative conversations undertaken by Canadian Judith Rudakoff and American Lynn M. Thomson with selected dramaturgs from Canada and USA.

In an accessible, conversational style that will appeal to audience members as well as theatre professionals, these engaging, frank explorations touch on each dramaturg's highly individualized work process, developed over careers that in themselves present a panoramic overview of the development of the profession in both countries. These discussions also investigate a wide range of ideas and theories about the role of dramaturgy, and highlight examples from specific projects and particular work experiences.

Between the Lines: The Process of Dramaturgy is a sampling of adventures in dramaturgy across many borders and boundaries: from geographical to aesthetic and beyond. Along with the many parallels and distinctions that these conversations with Canadian and American dramaturgs bring into focus, readers will also find a shared and abiding concern with issues of identity and artistic voice. Throughout the book, the remarkable variation in described duties, responsibilities and experiences will offer readers a sense of the multitude of possibilities that dramaturgy presents as a profession.

Canadian dramaturgs included are Urjo Kareda, Peter Hinton, Bob White, Jenny Munday, D.D. Kugler, Maureen LaBonte and Bill Glassco. American dramaturgs included are Michael Bigelow Dixon, Morgan Jenness, Anne Cattaneo, Shelby Jiggetts-Tivony, Norman Frisch and Mark Bly.


Devised and Collaborative TheatreDevised and Collaborative Theatre: A Practical Guide
Tina Bicat and Chris Baldwin
Devised and Collaborative Theatre offers detailed advice on every aspect of the devising process and valuable insights into the process of making theatre collectively. It is written for all companies who are interested in non-text based theatre and designed to solve the technical problems that occur when starting work without a clear idea of the finished product. Softcover, 160 pp. $41.95.


Tips: Ideas for Directors
Tips: Ideas for Directors
Jon Jory
In the introduction to this book, Jory notes that over the course of his long directing career, there have been many moments when a tip from a veteran could have helped him short-cut a problem, and save valuable time. In that spirit, this book offers many bits of golden advice on all aspects of directing, from casting to text interpretation to staging. A practical, no-nonsense guide. Softcover, $27.95.


Between Director and Actor
Stategies for Effective PerformanceBetween Director and Actor: Stategies for Effective Performance
Mandy Rees & John Staniunas
Divided in to specific sections, for specific acting challenges, this collection of "notes" -- suggestions, hints, strategies, and tips -- is geared towards maximizing the collaboration inherent to the performing arts. For both actors and directors, this book is a handy reference guide to help improve and refine their crafts. Softcover, 204 pp. $27.95.


The Empty SpaceThe Empty Space

Peter Brook
One of the world's most famous directors gives us the distillation of his knowledge and experience of the theatre. A brilliant book, should be read by many besides those passionate few to whom it will be required reading. $16.99.



What Is Dramaturgy?What Is Dramaturgy?
Edited by Bert Cardullo
Dramaturgs, or literary managers, play an enormous role in theatre production, yet the concept of "dramaturgy" is poorly or vaguely understood by many theatre professionals. In this insightful collection of essays, dramaturgs, writers and directors discuss the functions and facets of dramaturgy, and why the role of dramaturg can have an enormous impact on the success of a production. Softcover, $55.95.

In Contact With The GodsIn Contact With The Gods: Directors Talk Theatre
Edited by Maria M. Delgado & Paul Heritage
This inspiring collection of interviews features 18 of the top contemporary directors, including Peter Brook, Augusto Boal, Robert Lepage, Ariane Mnouchkine, Jonathan Miller and Giorgio Strehler, among others. Illustrated with black and white photos and featuring the best epilogue I've ever read: a discussion between Peter Brook, Jonathan Miller and Oliver Sacks about the process of staging "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat ". Softcover, $27.95.


Play Directing In The SchoolPlay Directing In The School: A Drama Director's Survival Guide
by David Grote
Directing high school or elementary theatre has its own unique challenges and rewards, and this book meets them head on. Written especially for the novice director, Play Directing In The School takes you from the process of choosing a script to the finicky task of casting to rehearsal process. Chapters include "Acting & Student Actors," "Recurrent Problems," and "Building A Theatre Program. " Softcover, $26.95.

Staging Musical TheatreStaging Musical Theatre: A Complete Guide for Directors, Choreographers & Producers
by Elaine A. Novak & Deborah Novak
This book has it all! From lists of major play companies and musical theatre rights holders, to advice on analyzing scripts, to descriptions of rehearsal management, Staging Musical Theatre tells you everything you need to know to put together a successful, energetic show. Softcover, $28.99.    

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Last modified July 18, 2012.
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