Books

Wicked: The Grimmerie, a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Hit Broadway Musical

Average customer rating:

THE BEST BOOK EVER
Great book!
Wicked!
Wicked Book Review
Anything but grim - in fact a real delight!

Wicked: The Grimmerie, a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Hit Broadway Musical
David Cote
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
Son of a Witch: A Novel
Wicked - Piano/Vocal Arrangement
Still I Can't Be Still

ASIN: 1401308201

Book Description

Wicked is not just a musical, it is a phenomenon. Every week 15,000 people pack New Yorks Gershwin Theatre to see the show. The most successful musical on Broadway in 2004, Wicked is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire. It tells the story of Elphaba, the headstrong Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the good witch, growing up in the Land of Oz. The show has cast a spell on fans, many of whom return for second and third viewings. In 2005, the show begins an extensive tour across the United States and Canada, hitting major cities such as Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and many more. This beautifully packaged, whimsical keepsake is designed to resemble the Grimmerie, an ancient book of spells that Elphaba uses in the show. Wicked: The Grimmerie offers fans a behind-the-curtains peek at the musical, profiles of the cast and creative team, and inside stories, with full-color photographs throughout. Some of the irresistible special features include an Ozian glossary, spells, the shows libretto, an illustrated family tree, and a step-by-step look at how Elphaba gets green before each showeverything fans need to relive the Broadway experience day after day.

Customer Reviews:

THE BEST BOOK EVER.......2007-06-08

THIS IS DEFINITELY A BOOK FOR MUSICAL FANS. IT COVERS THE WRITING, BACK STORY, LYRICS, PLOT LINE, ETC. EVERYTHING YOU WANT OR NEED TO KNOW ABOUT "WICKED-THE MUSICAL" IS IN THIS BOOK! AMAZING!

Great book!.......2007-06-02

The book was great! I saw the musical in New York, and was very pleased that I could learn more about it.

Wicked!.......2007-06-01

Love this book! It is a behind the scenecs look at Wicked. Beautiful photos in a wonderful book.

Wicked Book Review.......2007-05-14

GREAT book, GREAT details and excellent overview of the play. Good/Fun coffee table book - everytime I sit down I pick it up and find something new.

Anything but grim - in fact a real delight!.......2007-05-13

Being an Australian and with only access to the broadway cast album of Stephen Schwartz's "Wicked" . . . .the show has yet to make it to Oz (Australia that is, not the magical...... you know what I mean). I was more than eager to know more of this smash hit. "The Grimmerie" does not disappoint. Hard cover with a purposely "distressed" binding, this over 192 page book abounds with vivid color shots of the production, profiles of the characters by the actors who starred and most helpful for one who is yet to enjoy the show face to face, a condensed script linking the lyrics of each song. Whether you've seen the show, have only caught the cast album, or just heard on the grapevine; The Grimmerie, a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Hit Broadway Musical is a must have.

Scene Design and Stage Lighting (with InfoTrac )

Average customer rating:

An indispensable reference book for all theatre techies !
Invaluable guide for novices and professionals

Scene Design and Stage Lighting (with InfoTrac )
W. Oren Parker , R. Craig Wolf , and Dick Block
Manufacturer: Wadsworth Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Theatrical Design and Production: An Introduction to Scene Design and Construction, Lighting, Sound, Costume, and Makeup
The Backstage Handbook: An Illustrated Almanac of Technical Information
The Stagecraft Handbook
A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting
Technical Theater for Nontechnical People

ASIN: 0155061143

Book Description

SCENE DESIGN AND STAGE LIGHTING, Eighth Edition, continues its tradition of being the most detailed and comprehensive text available in the scenic and lighting design and technology fields. Much of the scenery design and technology section has been re-worked with an emphasis on modern technology. Changes in the lighting section reflect current practice and technology. The authors have placed an emphasis on collaboration in all sections of the new text. "Designers at Work" interviews with professional lighting and scenery designers are a new addition to the Eighth Edition. In addition, the entirely re-written section on sound for the theatre reflects the digital age we live and work in.

Customer Reviews:

An indispensable reference book for all theatre techies !.......2000-04-12

Working backstage? Asked by your local community theatre to pitch in doing props? Foolishly said, "Of course I can build a tree(Silly fool only God can)! Here are the helpful hints and clues that will point you in the right direction without looking like a total fool. Design, construction, lights and sound- Oren Parker has it all. This latest edition is my third copy! They just keep getting better and better. This "rumor" best explains the abilities of one of the authors. A colleague once related the story in which Oren Parker showed up in the university scene shop in a three piece suit, painted a full back drop and walked out without a drop of paint on the suit. I'd be interested in knowing how true this is but not any less impressed with how informative this book has been for me. Well worth the exorbitant price.

Invaluable guide for novices and professionals.......2000-04-06

I can't tell you how often I've found myself saying "I'm a carpenter, not a designer!" when asked to design a set. I've always muddled through, but now, with this book in hand, I've found 100% more confidence in my designs. Invaluable for the lighting designer who wants to better understand scenic design, and for the scenic designer who wants to understand lighting design. Buy it!

Average customer rating:

Fabulous info, but needs to be a bit more comprehensive
stage makeup
A Film-Maker's Dream
Meridith
New, but not improved.

Stage Makeup (9th Edition)
Richard Corson , and James Glavan
Manufacturer: Allyn & Bacon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Stage Makeup: The Actor's Complete Guide to Today's Techniques and Materials
The Technique of the Professional Make-Up Artist
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Theatrical Design and Production: An Introduction to Scene Design and Construction, Lighting, Sound, Costume, and Makeup
The Magic Garment: Principles of Costume Design

ASIN: 0136061532

Book Description

Widely referred to as the "bible of stage makeup," the timely revision of this classic text addresses principles and techniques in the use of makeup for the contemporary performer. This extensive exploration of the application and use of stage makeup, and makeup for a variety of performance venues, covers all aspects in detail and contains over 400 photographs, drawings, and diagrams demonstrating step-by-step procedures. Thoroughly updated and revised, this classic text remains accurate and comprehensive, providing information from which all readers - whether students to the field or seasoned, professional makeup artists - will benefit. For anyone involved in the Makeup of theatre, dance or stage productions.

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous info, but needs to be a bit more comprehensive.......2007-04-10

There is no doubt that this book covers all the foundation aspects of the make up needs of the stage performer as well as film basics. A tremendous amount can be garnered and there are some absolutely fabulous techniques discussed especially for character make up. However, I feel that the way the book is organized, as well as how it clumps what colour fotos it has in the back, prevent it from being a truly comprehensive step by step learning text. When showing how a particular artists is doing something, such as the ballerina, it is wise to talk about WHY they are doing something as well. There is a logical reason for it. For the money paid with this text, and its titling as the bible, I think that these few matters can be easily rectified.

stage makeup.......2007-02-17

Excellent book! A must have for any actor, aspiring makeup artist or anyone who is just interested in makeup.

A Film-Maker's Dream.......2003-01-30

I am a film-maker out of Ohio. I used to use Tom Savini's Bizarro, Grande Illusions 1, Grande Illusions 2, and Dick Smith's Do-It-Yourself guides....BUT, after meeting Tom Savini and learning that he considers this book his "bible", I checked it out for myself. WOW! This is the book to get for anyone interested in stage make-up or special effects makeup. It IS a little pricey, but for the information and detail, it cannot be beat. I consider this a companion to the ones listed above. Get em all if you can, but make sure you OWN this one!!!!!

Meridith.......2002-12-30

This is the bible of stage make-up. It has wonderful step-by-step pictures so you see the process. I loved the fact that there was no flowery language to complicate learning. It caters to the beginner and the professional. If you are serious about learning the trade, this is the investment to make. This was a recommended book for me in college and it helped give me an edge over my classmates. If you don't know where to start, or would like to brush up on your technique, this is a great resource.

New, but not improved........2001-01-26

While this book remains a "bible" in its field, my students complain about the price and the lack of color demonstrations. I was hoping the Ninth Edition of this book would have more color photos spread throughout the chapters, but the format has remained very much the same, with many of the same demonstrations and photo descriptions. The new chapters for film and television are a breath of fresh air and I applaud the new techniques aditions.

Theater Games for the Classroom: A Teacher's Handbook

Average customer rating:

Good but young
It been great in my classroom
Not what I thought it would be
Theater Games for the Classroom: A Teacher's Handbook
My bible!

Theater Games for the Classroom: A Teacher's Handbook
Viola Spolin
Manufacturer: Northwestern University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Improvisation for the Theater 3E: A Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques (Drama and Performance Studies)
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Games for Actors and Non-Actors 2nd Edition
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ASIN: 0810140047

Customer Reviews:

Good but young.......2007-05-06

This was on a list of suggested reading from a class I attended with Second City. I bought it hoping to use some of the ideas for my middle schoolers. There are many ideas in the book for younger kids, like songs. There are some good ideas that can be adapted into a middle school room.

It been great in my classroom.......2006-11-10

I teach sixth grade math, and have a group of students for an exploratory class. We talk about current events, esteem building, community building, fun non-academic skills with an emphasis on social awareness. I have been using this book for most of the year so far, and my students look forward to it,a nd ask for it. I don't have a background in theater, but this book has several premade units that have a focus on different skills. The one I am just completing focuses on community building for the group and concentration and focus for the individual. I find it easy to use, and I like the skills that it is building and reinforcing in my students. If you don't want to do a whole unit, the individual exercises and warm-ups can be set up and completed in 5-10 minutes. Great,and quick!
I strongly recommend this for any classroom!

Not what I thought it would be.......2006-05-10

I teach drama/theater in a low income public school. I bought the book because my school has very few resources and I thought this might be useful. As it turned out the book was hardly used during my first year teaching. My biggest problem with this book is that it is not very user friendly for a teacher who just wants to add some fun to a class but not a complex game. In other words the book needs to make the games simpler so the kids can pick them up faster and have more fun. This might not be problem for teachers in high school as your students might be more mature and able to handle more complex games. But for middle school teachers tread lightly. Also if you have a bunch of behavior problems in your class then forgot about it. In my experience I found the worse the behavior the better they were at spoiling fun classroom games. Be warned.

Theater Games for the Classroom: A Teacher's Handbook.......2005-08-28

EXCELLENT!! Inspiring. Well Organized. So many great ideas for the new or seasoned acting teacher.

My bible!.......2002-09-24

As a teacher of drama to many low-income, urban, and "difficult" adolescents, this is the book that I find most useful, alive, and inspiring! Simply wonderful for anyone trying to bring the best out of young actors!

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction
Provocative, appealing and controversial
pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored
Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
Forbidden History: Prehistoric Technologies, Extraterrestrial Intervention, and the Suppressed Origins of Civilization
They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies

ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Provocative, appealing and controversial.......2006-08-02

Fomenko has succeeded to convincingly demonstrate the misconception about what "history" factually is... It is fiction and -like we can read and judge for ourselves- no science. It indeed is "make belief" only. I "discovered" Fomenko while studying the "old" history of Al Andaluz, Spain. Having found too many contradictions in available data, having seen too many forgeries as to pretend the importance of christianity for its decline, I ventured out to find Fomenko, who convinced me that we know little if anything for sure of the epoch before the XI-century. However, the integration of the Arabic-Islamic cultural history into the heavily distorted Western fails... There are some attempts to fit "the budding new religion" (Islam) into Fomenko's scheme, but they are too weak to be taken seriously and too often focussing on Turkey as the region where things started to influence the West, which is untrue at all.
Islam certainly was no "new religion" in the X-century. That the highly cultivated Al Andaluz ruler Mohammed-I could have been "mirrored" down in time into some myth about the "illiterate" founder of Islam itself is highly speculative. Nevertheless, Fomenko convinces me about the processes that were involved in forging a christian history. Intriguing and controversial as his books are, I recommend them as to rethink our current position in time and space and simply verify what was claimed. It is a "good" book, but not for bedtime reading... Mundus vult decipi, the world wants to be cheated. Fomenko's readers will understand why.

pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD.......2006-02-16

Traces of white wine were found in Tutankhamen's tomb however there were no record of white wine in Egypt until the 3rd century AD, 1600 years after the young pharaoh died according to the traditional chronology. http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/mg18925395.400
It can be interpreted as a contribution towards New Chronology theory that pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD.

The Creative Spirit: An Introduction to Theatre

Average customer rating:

Excellent Text for Introduction to Theater
Its OK

The Creative Spirit: An Introduction to Theatre
Stephanie Arnold , and Stephanie Arnold
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

The Merchant of Venice (Folger Shakespeare Library)
Drama: A Pocket Anthology (Penguin Academics Series)
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Promenade and Other Plays (PAJ Books)
The School for Wives and The Learned Ladies, by Moliere: Two comedies in an acclaimed translation.

ASIN: 0072558318

Book Description

This introductory text places the students at the center of theatrical creation and provides coverage of the broad range of contemporary theatre. The Creative Spirit includes complete scripts of five plays: August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Wakako Yamauchi's And the Soul Shall Dance, Tony Kushner's Angels in America, Milcha Sanchez Scott's Dog Lady, and Sam Shepard's Buried Child. The text emphasizes the collaborative and creative processes that go into productions, and includes interviews with theatre artists.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Text for Introduction to Theater.......2004-01-29

THE CREATIVE SPIRIT takes a very refreshing, multicultural view to American Theater, while still giving good, basic information about theater history and the process of theater production. This text was written to accompany introductory theater courses, (perhaps in community colleges or in a theater for non-majors context), not to try to be a definitive guide to all theater. Hence, the subtitle "An Introduction to Theatre."

Reading plays is a huge part of learning about theater, and this text includes many plays for analysis and discussion. The plays included are each unique and important, reflecting the diverse experience of the people of the United States (and probably the students who are reading them), while still teaching the same concepts as if they were reading the plays that most intro textbooks offer. Each play is preceded by contextual information including an author biography, the artistic and cultural influences that contributed to the inspiration of the writing, information about a production of the play, etc.

There are individual chapters about the role of each theater practicioner (director, designer, actor, etc.) which include interviews with professionals who discuss their craft.

New to recent editions is the addition of an entire chapter about musical theater. An important part of American theater, recent and historical musical productions are discussed.

The text is richly illustrated, with many color plates, black and white photos and drawings. Photos of Broadway, regional and college productions are included, as well as historically important people and places.

In addition, the final chapter of the text (at least in the last edition, I have not seen the most recent edition) includes a number or project ideas for students to become the producers of a show, choosing directorial concepts, set and costume designs, etc. At the end of each of the other chapters are suggested discussion questions for that chapter's content as well.

Many of us practicing theater today could even benefit from reviewing some of the basic information in this book, or expanding our knowledge of what's out there by reading about and seeing photos from varied regional productions.

In my mind, THE CREATIVE SPIRIT: AN INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE is an excellent book for what it aims to be.

Its OK.......1999-08-24

I think this book its OK. It gives you more of a theatrical background than theatrical techniques. Backgroung information of theater, though, is essential so that we could understand theater as a whole. The book includes exerpts and many short plays. Like I had said before, it OK.

Average customer rating:

Beware false idols.
dry, but good
Yes, Oscar Brockett is God
An Excellent and Thorough Text Under Great Editorship
Oscar Brockett is God.

History of the Theatre
Oscar G. Brockett , and Franklin J. Hildy
Manufacturer: Allyn & Bacon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

The Wadsworth Anthology of Drama, Brief Edition
Bedford Introduction to Drama 5e
A Source Book in Theatrical History
Theatrical Design and Production: An Introduction to Scene Design and Construction, Lighting, Sound, Costume, and Makeup
Theatre/Theory/Theatre: The Major Critical Texts from Aristotle and Zeami to Soyinka and Havel

ASIN: 0205358780

Book Description

The Ninth Edition retains all of the traditional features that have made History of the Theatre a classic for over thirty years, including over 530 photos and illustrations, useful maps, and the expertise of Oscar Brockett, one of the most widely respected theatre historians in the field. Franklin J. Hildy contributes his scholarship and experience throughout the book and, in particular, to a discussion of English Theatre/Shakespeare (Ch. 5). Reorganized with more uniform chapter lengths and a clearer chronology, the ninth edition continues to provide the most thorough and accurate assessment of theatre history available. For anyone involved with, or interested in, the theatre.

Customer Reviews:

Beware false idols........2007-05-06

Some theatre students and teachers take this book for a theatre history bible of sorts. Unfortunately, this results in readers switching off their critical thinking skills and accepting Dr. Brockett's values and opinions as facts. The scholar makes history and Brockett's history privileges debated concepts such as ritual-origin theory and drastically undervalues accomplishments of othered groups such as 17th century English actresses. (They get a whopping two sentences!) While this book is good for pedestrian and generalized descriptions of major figures and events (from a 20th century perspective), it is far from exhaustive. Alternative historical theories are not given much thought and the author presents opinion and theory as empirical fact regularly throughout the text.
God is dead.

dry, but good.......2001-11-06

Having taken a course that required reading the book I can safely say that it is dry in some sections of history due to the "PC" nature of it's telling. But it's mostly an interesting resource and reference book for theatre buffs and history buffs alike.

Yes, Oscar Brockett is God.......2000-02-19

I had the pleasure of being Brock's student for three years at the University of Texas. The book is phenomenal, easy to read and amazingly complete. The History of the Theatre experience should also be augmented by the opportunity to hear Brockett speak. He is erudite, funny, a lively teacher and an incredible intellect. There is no other book to serve as a reference and introduction to theatre history. No other book and no other teacher so expertly and informatively makes you realize the interweaving of theatre and society throughout its long history. IMHO, Brockett should write the history not just of theatre but of everything. His non-didactic, straight-forward and lively prose would make any work of history or criticism on any subject a delight.

An Excellent and Thorough Text Under Great Editorship.......2000-01-25

As a former student of Franklin J. Hildy's, and a reader of the Brockett text for several theater courses, I must highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a detailed, yet expansive, overview of the history of the theatrical arts throughout the world. Dr. Hildy's passion for and knowledge of the subject matter is rivaled by none and the complete scope of this project would have daunted many editors less competent to undertake such a task. A great reference text as well as course material. I often find mine useful in day-to-day queries as well as research on period and scenic styles.

Oscar Brockett is God........1999-09-17

No other theatrical historian today commands the respect and authority that Oscar Brockett receives, and "The History of the Theatre" is his master work. As complete a guide to theatre history as any on the market, this book abounds with illustrations, maps, and helpful details. When you want ideas about theatre history, find an article. When you want facts and answers, consult the Brockett. A "must have" for any true scholar of the theatre.

Average customer rating:

A definite 'must-have'!
Supposed to be the Bible
How To Avoid Dissapointment: Read This Before You Buy
Too much.....
The best book for beginers and advanced students of the art.

The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism
Ormond McGill
Manufacturer: Crown House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The How-To Book Of Hypnotism

ASIN: 1899836020

Book Description

The most comprehensive text ever to be published on stage hypnotism, this book also has widespread therapeutic applications and contains work never previously published, providing new skills for even the most advanced practitioner of hypnosis. The book's structure ensures that the reader fully understands each aspect before progressing on to the next area. Ormond McGill totally demystifies hypnotism, dispels many of the myths associated with it, and reveals its spellbinding secrets. A continued star of our best-sellers list

Customer Reviews:

A definite 'must-have'! .......2007-06-27

Let me first start with explaining why I bought this book. I was looking for a nice book on the subject of hypnotism, perhaps even a book with some practical tips or 'how-to's' and so I searched and searched and obviously found a LOT of titles on the internet. Since Amazon always has reviews on the more popular books, I thought I'd take a peak there. Well, I'm glad I did!

According to some of the reviews actually posted as a reaction to other books about this subject, the New Encyclopedia Of Stage Hypnotism was a very good book to have, since it's really an encyclopedia in terms of the data it provides and can really serve as one. The only thing people tended to say about this book is that it doesn't give a good 'how-to'.

Well, I'm glad I've bought this book knowing this was a common critic, because they can't be more wrong actually. The largest part is actually about 'how to hypnotize'. The book is nicely divided into two large parts, the first gives a good introduction into what to expect and what hypnotism actually is and goes on into giving a lot of insightful tips, strategies and hypnotizing scripts that have already proven to really work to me. The second part is about what has been done by others over the years and has extensive and valuable instructions about how to make your own show, take care of and prevent lawsuits and all kinds of things you simply need to know if you ever want to take hypnotizing to a professional level.

As the book says in the first part, it's important to rehearse a lot of what has been taught, really until you master it, before continuing to the next phases. I think that's why some people feel 'as if certain secrets are not explained to the reader'. Well, the real secret is simply building up experience by practice. The book does mention this, but perhaps simply not often enough.

Having said this, I think this book is also really great for beginners eventhough the price-tag might seem steep and it is quite a big book for people who want to 'skip to the parts that matter and actually hypnotize someone'. Beginners will really like this book though, because like myself in fact, although I have seen some videos in the past, I had never bought a book on this nor practiced any of this, but I'm sure you would want very accurate and complete descriptions like this book provides. I can imagine a lot of smaller books simply do not give enough information to be of any use, because everything what I have read in the book matters, you can't quite leave things out. I don't think I will buy any more books on this subject either, since basically this book almost gives you EVERYTHING there is on the subject.

All in all, I can really recommend this book to anyone who's interested in hypnotism and especially interested in trying it out for real. This book really is a wonderful way of exploring the vast world of psychology, that at times can be both extremely interesting and entertaining.

Regards,
Erik Franken

Supposed to be the Bible.......2007-01-12

It's supposed to be the Bible of Hypnotism and in a way I guess it is. It covers nearly everything, with heaps of inductions, and yes he's the Master and all that. But I still felt a little cheated. Like there were pieces of information left out - like the secrets of how and why certain things work in some of the tests and inductions. Like a woman who gives you the recipe for her famous chocolate cake but deliberately leaves out the essential secret ingredient. I think because of this, some people will try to duplicate him word for word and fail. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this works for him and he believes he's telling everything. I've definitely seen some of the same inductions worded and explained much more effectively by Gil Boyne. There's a lot of outdated stuff too, which wouldn't work in modern times, but was kind of cute to include, like the "sleep window" publicity routine broadcast LIVE over radio. WOWEE. Cute. He covers magnetism or "power hypnotism" which a lot of other texts do not. Important to check out. It's good to have this book if you're going to be a hypnotist, but I disagree with some people who've told me this is ALL YOU NEED. It's comprehensive, but it's not the BE ALL END ALL. There are other styles and points of view out there. But DO buy it. But keep the mind open to other stuff. After all, there are some hypnotists who don't even believe in hypnosis, and still do it!

How To Avoid Dissapointment: Read This Before You Buy.......2006-07-11

Whether you will love this book...or be sadly dissapointed...depends on what you want from it. Allow me to explain: If you want to learn how to perform stage hypnosis, and are looking for someone to exaplin what to do and how to do it (an easy to follow recepie) this is NOT the book for you. Why? This book is AN ENCYCLOPEDIA, not a "How To" manual. Analogy: You go to a friend's house and feast on a delectable piece of chocolate cake. You decide it would be neat to have the ability to make such a delectable chocolate cake yourself. So you ask your friend for the recepie. How would you prefer that your friend respond:

a.) By giving you a simple, step by step recepie for making her version of chocolate cake, one that teaches you EXACTLY what to do and in what order. Then, walking you through the recepie and actually helping you make your first cake. Or...

b.) By giving you a copy of The Joy of Cooking.

If you answered "a", then you will likely find that Ormond's Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism is not for you. You will be sad to find that it does not give you a simple set of instructions to follow, but rather OVERWHELMES YOU with too much information that actually encumbers learning.

On the other hand, if you are a collector of nice expensive books and want to add this reference text to your hypnosis library, you will likely be very pleased with it. This book is what it claims to be in it's title: An Encyclopedia.

Stage hypnosis is something that you need to understand conceptually, and then begin practicing in order to master.

If you want to learn how to be a comedy stage hypnotist there are a number of first rate instructors who can teach and mentor you through live instruction or through DVD home study. One highly recommended instructor is Geoffrey Ronning. You can Google his name along with the words "Learn Stage Hypnosis" and you will find his web site.

In summary: This book is great for the collector, but a poor choice for one who wants to learn how to perform a comedy stage hypnosis show.

Too much............2006-07-10

This book is too much, and I mean that quite literally. It's too long, too heavy and the style of hypnosis it teaches has been around too long. Slow old fashioned and labourious.

I brought this to compare with my favourite book on stage hypnosis by Jonathan Chase, ' Deeper and Deeper ' available from his site or amazon.co.uk It doesn't compare. McGills tombe reads like a clinical diatribe with no humour or pazazz. And for me if stage hypnosis doesn't have that then it has nothing.

Much of this book is directly 'borrowed' from the works of Coue, Braid and Eisdale and has little or nothing entertaining in it. The routines are simply banal or unoriginal and much of the history of the art is inacurate at best.

I've no doubt that McGill was a wonderful person but his book should pass on as well. Overpriced and over written.

Bill

The best book for beginers and advanced students of the art........2006-04-06

This is the ultimate book of stage hypnosis, I have to say that in the past I studied hypnosis for about 6 years but never learn anything about stage hypnosis, 1 month after reading this book I made my first show, I was very impresed by the clear and logical instruction. 6 months later (June 2005) I have the honor to be in Las Vegas in one of the latest seminars that Ormond McGill presented and my learning curve was amazing thanks to this book.

Today I?m in the way to be a profesional stage hypnotist in my country, thanks Ormond McGill for everything.

Average customer rating:

not only for actors
Essential for actors, teachers, directors, and other humans.
great book to learn improvisation
Meaningful stuff, makes you think.
I own two copies

Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre
Keith Johnstone
Manufacturer: Theatre Arts Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Acting on Impulse: The Art of Making Improv Theater

ASIN: 0878301178

Book Description

Impro ought to be required reading not only for theatre people generally but also for teachers, educators, and students of all kinds and persuasions. Readers of this book are not going to agree with everything in it; but if they are not challenged by it, if they do not ultimately succumb to its wisdom and whimsicality, they are in a very sad state indeed . . . .Johnstone seeks to liberate the imagination, to cultivate in the adult the creative power of the child . . . .Deserves to be widely read and tested in the classroom and rehearsal hall . . .Full of excellent good sense, actual observations and inspired assertions -- CHOICE: Books for College Libraries.

Customer Reviews:

not only for actors.......2007-06-21

I read this book more than 15 years ago. On that time I was an engineering student taken some classes on pantomime. The book was absolutely helpful to undestand some hidden rules in terms of space, rythm, all things that are very dynamic on improvisations.
I also remember another book that my teacher recommended me, 'To the Actor' by Michael Chekhov.
Johnstone's book helps not just for acting. It is a good aid to recognize what helps and what inhibits our behaviour in groups. The book is plenty of examples and every point is well demonstrated.

Essential for actors, teachers, directors, and other humans........2007-01-18

This is an essential book for teachers of any subject, actors, directors, and/or any other human.

great book to learn improvisation.......2006-11-04

Although it is a small book it contains so much information. Very clear and clever, especially the chapter that deals with status.

Meaningful stuff, makes you think........2006-06-13

This was the first improv book that I ever read, and in retrospect I kind of wish I'd read something like Charna Halpern's TRUTH IN COMEDY or Mick Napier's IMPROVISE first. Those books will give you a better introduction to what most of us know of as group improvisation - the "Whose Line is it anyway" sort of thing. They'll give you a better framework to work with.

Keith Johnstone's book, on the other hand, is kind of like a complete rethinking of the Improv framework ... he writes about things I haven't read about anywhere else. And it really made me think about things in a different way.

First of all, I have to admit that the first couple of sections are pretty dry. I had to struggle to get through the section on "Status" ... I was thinking to myself, why did people give this BORING book a good review?? ... I did consider that maybe it's because the man is British (I think), and so the style of writing and the type of humor is a little different than I'm used to.

However, when he gets around to talking about the story/narrative, suddenly there is a flash of brilliance and it all started to make sense ... basically he talks about just letting GO of the things that are inhibiting us, how to stop listening to the voice that is telling us NO all the time ... and, I don't know, there's just something very profound in the way that he discusses it - little insights here and there that are just, for lack of a better word, very MEANINGUL.

For example, he says, of parents and teachers who scold their children, to keep their undesirable 'creativeness' under wraps: "... when these children grow up, and perhaps crack up, then they'll find themselves in therapy groups where they'll be encouraged to say all the things that the teacher would have forbidden during school." SO TRUE. This is what all the group therapies in Psych hospitals do - try to bring back the creativeness of the child. Why do we limit it in the first place??

Basically he stresses that EVERYONE has "weird" thoughts and an "artistic" nature that many of us have learned to say NO to, because they are forbidden or at least not encouraged. He says, "In one moment I knew that the valuing of men by their intelligence is crazy, that the peasants watching the night sky might feel more than I feel, that the man who dances might be superior to myself - word-bound and unable to dance. From then on I noticed how warped many people of great intelligence are, and I began to value people for their actions, rather than their thoughts."

And that's not EVEN getting into the last chapter, on MASKS - at first I was thinking, "OK, this is weird, why is there a huge chapter on MASKS in a book about IMPROV"? But the things he describes there are perhaps the most amazing, and disturbing, of the whole book. It almost makes me fear what I would "do" if I were to follow his instructions and suggestions ... but it's an excited sort of 'fear' - actually I wish I had readier access to instructors who are comfortable in these methods ... well, I can't really describe it much better than that.

I own two copies.......2006-05-04

As teh other reviews of this book mention, this isn't just a book on theatre and acting!

I consider this book my bible, so much so that I have 2 copies - one to read, and one kept in good condition incase it goes out of print!

It is a manual for learning, and teaching. It hold insights into interpersonal relationships, and how groups interact.

Keiths writing is easy to read, and he explains difficuilt concepts with ease.

Poor Dancer's Almanac: Managing Life & Work in the Performing Arts

Average customer rating:

A very good resource for dancers

Poor Dancer's Almanac: Managing Life & Work in the Performing Arts

Manufacturer: Duke University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Dance: The Art of Production
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ASIN: 0822313057

Book Description

Combining how-to information with voices of working artists, Poor Dancer's Almanac is an essential resource tool and source of inspiration for all independent artists—choreographers, performance artists, dancers producers, managers. Created in 1975 and revised again in 1984 this handbook has come to serve as one of the most crucial references for the arts community. In the most up-to-date and comprehensive edition yet, a broad range of issues affecting performers and producers is addressed, interwoven with newly added, more personal contributions from major figures in the performance world.
Organized and compiled by Dance Theater Workshop in New York and authored by more than fifty leading professionals in the field, Poor Dancer's Almanac offers in-depth discussions of everything from personal livelihood to professional career development, from medical care, housing, and unemployment insurance to management, touring, and legal issues. Each chapter is followed by an appendix containing extensive and varied listings, giving names and addresses for finding internship programs, videotaping, flooring, grant-writing, and reference publications. Although centered on New York the Almanac includes lists of resources and contacts for many other states—California, Washington D.C, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, and Ohio. An entirely new section has been added dealing with health issues and the crisis of AIDS.
In personal anecdotes and essays various performers offer their own insights and stories—both of struggles and of successes—to bring to life the practical realities of working in the arts. We hear from Merce Cunningham, Eric Bogosian, Karen Finley, Paul Zaloom, and Bill T. Jones, among others. Illustrated with original drawings by Janie Geiser, this thoroughly revised and updated edition of the Poor Dancer's Almanac will continue to serve as one of the leading sources for those concerned with managing life and work in the performing arts.

Selected contents
The Financial Realities of Performance Art
From Studio to Stage
Promoting Your Performance
What is Management?
Budgeting
Funding
AIDS Explained
Action Medical Insurance for the Arts
Psychological Issues for the Dancer

Customer Reviews:

A very good resource for dancers.......1999-09-08

This book should be required reading for aspiring dancers, particularly those who lack the administrative know-how to manage money, funding, etcetera. It teaches you everything they neglected to tell you in dance class. Makes a great gift!

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