Stage Writers Handbook

Written in a straightforward manner, with complicated matters clearly explained, Stage Writers Handbook is truly a work no writer for the stage can afford to be without. Here, for the first time, Dana Singer gathers the information and ideas stage writers need to conduct their careers in a businesslike manner, with all the protections the law provides.

There are increasing opportunities for new writers of plays, be it for stage, screen or radio - but also increasing demands. This highly practical and informative book looks at how to get started and how to become a successful playwright in any area.

Offers advice, for both professional and amateur stage managers, on putting on a show, discussing its three phases, and includes information on the organizational structure of theaters and how to manage human behavior

In this clear, practical guide, the processes and techniques of stage writing are illuminated through case studies of 7 classic and contemporary plays. Encouraging stage writers to recognize and develop their own "voice," the book includes chapters on building relationships with the audience, the actor, the director, and the designer; understanding and using the physical space of the sta≥ finding and developing a dramatic story; creating believable dramatic characters and dialogue; building a strong play structure; and writing effective stage directions. The book combines exercises in textual analysis with 8 practical scriptwriting projects; based on photos and scenarios, these projects lead new playwrights to complete original scenes. Val Taylor is a theater director, writer, script consultant, and teacher.

An invaluable guide to the traditions and best practices of the professional stage actor, from first rehearsal to final curtain. Professional stage actors are expected to have ready knowledge of a multitude of unwritten yet well-established protocols. Traditionally, this knowledge was passed along from one generation of stage actors to the next via word of mouth, or were learned by having one’s missteps corrected—until now. In The Stage Actor’s Handbook, these protocols have finally been assembled into one volume, allowing theatre artists to know in advance what is expected of them. A definitive guide for professionals and aspiring professionals alike, this book details best practices on everything from rehearsal demeanor to backstage etiquette. It also shares the theatre’s unique vernacular and revered superstitions, as well as field-tested guidelines on touring, interactions with the public, and more. Written by established theatre pros Michael Kostroff (The Producers, Les Misérables)and Julie Garnyé (Cats, Come From Away), The Stage Actor’s Handbook features bits of wisdom contributed by legendary stage actors, including Bebe Neuwirth, John Lithgow, Chita Rivera, Alfred Molina, Billy Porter, Betty Buckley, Harvey Fierstein, Sam Waterston, Jason Alexander, Cynthia Nixon, and Sir Patrick Stewart.

The theatre is an essential art form that is forever evolving. A well-written play can make us laugh, cry, cringe, or reflect. It can confirm what we already know, or it can introduce us to new worlds. It can relax us, or incite us to action. Writing for the Stage – A Playwright's Handbook is a step-by-step guide to dramatic writing. Drawing on proven methods and professional insights, this book explores the mechanics of playwriting and the skills needed to create a compelling story. It aims to help readers understand the art and craft of writing for the stage and avoid some of the pitfalls. Topics covered include defining a play; starting points; the importance of structure; the first draft and rewrites; placing the work and negotiating rehearsals and, finally, the playwright in a devising context.

This essential handbook is aimed at students, graduates, and all aspirants to stage managership, whether amateur or professional, whether the production is on a large or small scale. "The clearest and most practical comprehensive work on the subject that I have seen."--The Stage

This book brings together nearly 40 academics and theatre practitioners to chronicle and celebrate the courage, determination and achievements of women on stage across the ages and around the globe. The collection stretches from ancient Greece to present-day Australasia via the United States, Soviet Russia, Europe, India, South Africa and Japan, offering a series of analytical snapshots of women performers, their work and the conditions in which they produced it. Individual chapters provide in-depth consideration of specific moments in time and geography while the volume as a whole and its juxtapositions stimulate consideration of the bigger picture, underlining the challenges women have faced across cultures in establishing themselves as performers and the range of ways in which they gained access to the stage. Organised chronologically, the volume looks not just to the past but the future: it challenges the very notions of ‘history’, ‘stage’ and even the definition of ‘women’ itself.

The Stage Lighting Handbook is well established as the classic practical lighting guide. The book explains the process of designing lighting for all forms of stage production and describes the equipment used. This new edition includes up-to-date information on new equipment and discusses its impact on working methods.