Upstaged

In this novel for teens, Ellie loves musical theater and is used to getting leading roles, but after she moves to the big city, she has to share a part with a talented girl who seems determined to outshine her.

A shy seventh grader learns to step into the spotlight in this heartwarming middle-grade novel by acclaimed author, Diana Harmon Asher Shira Gordon is painfully shy. She rarely speaks and blushes at everything. And yet, when she’s alone in her room, she’ll sing and dance, dreaming she were different. So when her best friend forces her to audition for their school’s production of The Music Man, she’s mostly hoping the play will get canceled . . . but a tiny part of her hopes she’ll get in. And she does. As a member of the barbershop quartet. Playing a dude with a mustache is not exactly her dream role, but Shira is surprised by how much she loves rehearsing with her quirky new friends. When her teacher asks her to understudy the lead role, Marian the Librarian, she reluctantly accepts. It’s not easy to understudy Monica Manley, an eighth-grade diva who will not be upstaged. And things get even more complicated when a mysterious prankster starts playing tricks on Monica and Shira’s crush joins the cast. But something keeps Shira going, and it might just be Marian herself. Sure, Marian is a leading lady, but she’s also misunderstood, lonely . . . and shy. And if a star can be shy, then maybe, just maybe, a shy person can be a star.

First Published in 2006. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

"Don't look at them, look at me," a peacock seemed to be saying as he posed magnificently between the audience and the Shakespearean play being performed by Theatre Set-Up in the open air at Trevarno, Cornwall, effectively upstaging it. "I am really worth looking at!" Fed up with the noise that was disturbing his rest in the tree above the play, his was a deliberate attempt to stop it. Often though, the interference of creatures in the company's performances was accidental... "It is dreadful thing to see the wig that transforms your character being carted off by a fox!" cried an actress as she watched a fox race off with the red wig she had set in the open-air stage right changing area of Wollaton Hall, Nottingham. Evidently he had rescued the wig from this improvised theatre arena, mistaking it for one of his cubs! This was typical of the chaos that birds, bats, cats, dogs, sheep and horses could make of open-air performances in heritage sites. Add to that the confusion that rain, storms, wind and hot sun could add to the experience and an element of adventure unknown in regular indoor venues prevailed. This book tells the anecdotes of these adventures in this kind of theatre experienced by the international, professional Theatre Set-Up company (see www.ts-u.co.uk), which survived the vicissitudes of touring mostly open-air performances of Shakespeare in heritage sites from 1976 to 2011, performing throughout the UK from 1979 and in mainland Europe from 1993. Venues and gear of the company were transferred to The Festival Players in 2011. Its tours in 1979, 1980 and 1981 pioneered the genre, a species of theatre which has since then proliferated, providing many actors with paid employment and heritage sites with performances of plays presented conveniently with the minimum of fuss, cost and accoutrements. The companies bravely performing in this kind of theatre all experience the kinds of incidents recorded in this book, which salutes their courage and determination to "Carry on Regardless"! About the Author: Dr Wendy Jean Macphee was a teacher and lecturer in English, drama and music from 1960 to 2012 and was founder, administrator, artistic director, actor and musician for Theatre Set-Up. She now writes books (see Secret Meanings in Shakespeare Applied to Stage Performance, www.wjm-travelogue.net and www.wjm-pyramid.uk).

A president who distances himself from stagecraft will find himself upstaged. George H. W. Bush sought to “stay the course” in terms of policy while distancing himself from the public relations strategies employed during the administration of Ronald Reagan, his predecessor. But Bush discovered during his one-term presidency that a strategy of policy continuity coupled with mediocre communication skills “does not make for a strong public image as an effective and active leader in the White House", as author and scholar Lori Cox Han demonstrates in A Presidency Upstaged. Incorporating extensive archival research from the George Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M University—including documents only recently available through requests made under the Freedom of Information Act—Han thoroughly examines the public presidency of George H. W. Bush. Han analyzes how communication strategies, relationships with the press, and public opinion polling shaped and defined his image as a leader. The research for this study also includes content analysis of press coverage (both print and television) and major public addresses during the Bush administration. "Lori Cox Han skillfully uses archival materials, interviews and leading academic studies to present a thorough analysis of George H.W. Bush's public presidency. Her book is a valuable addition to the literature on presidential communications, media, and politics, and also stands as a very useful resource on the events of the first Bush presidency."-Mark Rozell, professor of Public Policy, George Mason University and author, Power and Prudence

Zack is back—and taking on the school play! Bah humbug! Zack Delacruz wants to win the role of Scrooge in Davy Crockett Middle School’s production of A Christmas Carol—and Abhi’s admiration, too. But he’s not the only one trying out for the play. So are José (El Pollo Loco), Marquis, and Janie, who dreams of being all three ghosts. What role will Zack end up playing on stage . . . and in his life? Bowling balls, gurgling stomachs, complete chaos, and quick detective work turn this year’s drama into a spectacular scene that will have actors rising to new heights—literally—and leave readers rolling in the aisles.

If middle school were a race, Joseph Friedman wouldn’t even be in last place—he’d be on the sidelines. With an overactive mind and phobias of everything from hard-boiled eggs to gargoyles, he struggles to understand his classes, let alone his fellow classmates. So he spends most of his time avoiding school bully Charlie Kastner and hiding out in the Resource Room, a safe place for misfit kids like him. But then, on the first day of seventh grade, two important things happen. First, his Resource Room teacher encourages (i.e., practically forces) him to join the school track team, and second, he meets Heather, a crazy-fast runner who isn’t going to be pushed around by Charlie Kastner or anybody else. With a new friend and a new team, Joseph finds himself off the sidelines and in the race (quite literally) for the first time. Is he a good runner? Well, no, he’s terrible. But the funny thing about running is, once you're in the race, anything can happen.

Management of atypical breast lesions continues to evolve. There is considerable controversy as to whether these entities represent risk factors for future breast cancer or whether they are instead precursor lesions. A better understanding of the prognostic and therapeutic implications of each of these lesions is important for assessing subsequent breast cancer risk. Risk assessment tools are available for screening high risk patients and understanding the utility and limitations of these tools is important for all clinicians involved in the care of patients. There have been significant advances in breast cancer screening in the last several year including breast tomosynthesis, automated breast ultrasound, molecular imaging, as well as accelerated breast MRI protocols. This has raised the question: Do women at risk for breast cancer need additional breast cancer screening using these newer imaging modalities? In addition, with these advances in imaging, can women with atypical proliferative lesions be observed rather than undergoing surgical excision as some suggest? The role of observation, surgical excision and even prophylactic mastectomy in women with atypical proliferative lesions continues to be debated; however there is data that can guide physicians in the management of these patients. Pleomorphic Lobular carcinoma in-situ (PLCIS) is a distinct pathological entity within LCIS and there is no consensus regarding surgical margins or the need for adjuvant treatment to prevent recurrence. Recently, ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) has been the subject of much controversy: is it truly a cancer or is it instead a precursor lesion. The traditional management of DCIS with lumpectomy and radiation is now being debated and recent data demonstrates that low grade DCIS can be managed with observation. Clinical trials are now accruing patients with low and intermediate grade DCIS to observation and close surveillance, and not surgical excision. Finally, new guidelines for chemoprevention with the use of tamoxifen and raloxifen for women with atypical proliferative lesions, LCIS, PLCIS, and DCIS are available and should be discussed as an option when guiding management of these patients. This book will provide a comprehensive review of this field and will serve as a valuable resource for clinicians, general surgeons, breast surgeons and surgical oncologists, as well as researchers with an interest in the management of atypical breast lesions. The book will review new data about breast cancer, risk factors for breast cancer, pathological features unique to each entity, the characteristic findings on imaging, risk stratification for genetic testing, as well as the current evidence-based management of each of these breast lesions. Our text will provide assessment tools for risk prediction of breast cancer. We will provide data on the current imaging modalities, as well as advanced screening options available for diagnosis and following these patients. Current management of many of these lesions continues to be controversial in regard to observation with close surveillance versus the need for surgical excision of these lesions based on future risk or whether these lesions are precursor lesion. For ductal carcinoma in-situ, the debate continues in regards to whether this disease entity is a precursor lesion that can be managed with observation or hormonal therapy, or is DCIS cancer and treated with lumpectomy and radiation. Several studies have been published where patients are managed with observation and treatment with hormonal therapy before surgical management. New trials have already begun accruing patients with low to intermediate grade DCIS where patients will be managed with observation versus hormonal therapy only. Management of DCIS continues to evolve and current management will be discussed This text will provide a concise but comprehensive summary of the current management of patients with atypical breast proliferative lesions and some benign breast lesions and will help guided management of these patients. All chapters in this text will be written by experts in the field in each of these disease entities. They will all include the most up to date research and clinical information to enhance our understanding and treatment of patients.

Twelve-year-old Zack Delacruz has remained happily unnoticed at his middle school... until now. When he sees his classmate being teased by the school bully, Zack surprises everyone--including himself--by breaking out of his shell and standing up to the tormentor. Somehow this act of bravery gets Zack put in charge of the sixth-grade dance fund raiser with none other than the bully himself! Zack's situation goes from bad to worse when he learns that his best salesperson for the chocolate bar fund raiser has been EATING--not selling--her candy bars. Zack never wanted to be the class hero, but with the hopes of the entire sixth grade on the line, can he come up with a new plan to save the dance?