From Book News, Inc.
A textbook for either an introductory course for theater majors, or a course on theater appreciation for non majors. Undergraduate level. Latest edition, 1988; first published 1976. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.


Book Description
The Eighth Edition of THE ESSENTIAL THEATRE will help you get your students excited about theatre. The combined authorship of an authoritative theatre historian and his former student, an active theatre historian himself, make this the book perfect for your introductory theatre course. In the 35 years since it was first published, THE ESSENTIAL THEATRE has established a reputation as one of the most comprehensive, authoritative surveys of the theatre in academia. Now in a new full color format with many representations of current and classic performances, this text will encourage your students to become active theatergoers and fans. THE ESSENTIAL THEATRE works in tandem with its companion anthology, PLAYS FOR THEATRE. The scripts in PLAYS serve as a foundation for discussion of the various types of theatrical experience explored in the text.


About the Author
Oscar G. Brockett enjoys an international reputation as a theatre historian. A Distinguished Scholar honoree of the American Society of Theatre Research, he has received career achievement awards from: the Association for Theatre in Higher Education; the United States Institute for Theatre Technology; and is a recipient of the Robert Lewis Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Theatre Research. After receiving his Ph.D. from Stanford University, he taught at several major American universities and at the University of Bristol in England. He has also served as President of the American Theatre Association, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at University of Texas, Editor of Theatre Journal, and on the editorial board of the Asian Theatre Journal. He held the prestigious University of Texas Z.T. Scott Family Chair in Drama and was the Director of the Center for Dramatic and Performance Studies for several years. Dr. Brockett is the author of many articles in leading journals and has written several books, including History of the Theatre and The Essential Theatre. He is currently a Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and the Dean of the Fellows of the American Theatre.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Eighth Edition of The Essential Theatre will help you get your students excited about theatre. The combined authorship of an authoritative theatre historian and his former student, an active theatre historian himself, make this the book perfect for your introductory theatre course. In the 35 years since it was first published, The Essential Theatre has established a reputation as one of the most comprehensive, authoritative surveys of the theatre in academia. Now in a new full color format with many representations of current and classic performances, this text will encourage your students to become active theatergoers and fans. The Essential Theatre works in tandem with its companion anthology, Plays For Theatre. The scripts in Plays serve as a foundation for discussion of the various types of theatrical experience explored in the text.

SYNOPSIS

Brockett (U. of Texas at Austin) and Ball (U. of the Incarnate Word) present the new edition of an introductory theatre textbook. They first address the nature of theatre, from its societal role to dramatic structure and style, before turning their attention the various types and schools of theatre that have existed through time and in different cultures, hoping to demonstrate the way theatre reflects cultural change. The final section looks at more nuts and bolts issues such as production design, dramaturgy, directing, acting, scene design, lighting and sound, and costumes. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

FROM THE CRITICS

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