Reviews (2)

Excellent Primer Textbook
I'm an absolute beginner in makeup, even though I'm in my 30's. My recent interest in Theatrical makeup led me to buy this book. I was EXTREMELY delighted to find clear pictures presented on a variety of faces and skin types. The book is layed out very like a college text with examples and exercises. I found it VERY useful in developing a solid foundation (hee hee!) in doing my own and others makeup.

The Very Best Primer in the Biz
At last--a makeup book that doesn't aspire to be the encyclopedic end-all; instead, it teaches techniques that all theatre students should master for the roles they play most often. The full-color photos are second to none, and Thudium's recommendations for makeup products that are kind to young actors' faces -- such as Mehron's wonderful Celebre line -- make this an ideal text for advanced high school students as well as for those attending colleges and universities. I've always been a Corson devotee, but this excellent source has convinced me that, while Corson's book should be available for reference, Thudium's book should be number one on the high school, college, or university instructor's list. ... Read more

Book Description

A Director Prepares is a fascinating and thought-provoking examination of the challenges of making theatre. In it, Anne Bogart speaks candidly and with immense wisdom of the courage required to create "art with great presence." No other book on the art of theatre comes even close to offering this much understanding, experience and inspiration. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Landmark for Theater
Bogart writes from her years of experience and vision in A Director Prepares. Readers merely looking for a book on "how to direct" may want to look elsewhere: this manifesto takes on serious issues faced by theater artists every day. While other books "on directing" explain how to get actors from point A to point B, A Director Prepares examines the shoulders that theatermakers stand on: artistically, historically, politically. And it's not just for Bogart/SITI Company disciples. Like the creation of theater, A Director Prepares requires heightened attention and a clean slate every time you dive into its pages. It's inspiring, but also a challenge to theater makers to rethink how we approach our processes and to question upon whose shoulders we stand.

A Director Does What?
This book was a requirement for my directing class and I must say it did not help me at all. The title is misleading suggesting that a reader actually gets advice on how to prepare for directing. Instead, readers get Bogart's theory on what theater directing is. The book gives aspiring directors a confidence boost where Bogart basically says, "you can do it, just be persistent and brave." If anyone wants to get a book that gives a better description of what directing entails, the best bet is to get the book, A Sense of Direction, written by William Ball.

Inspiring and unpretentious
Far from being a prescription about how to direct, this book offers the wisdom of Anne Bogart's experience as a collaborator, investigator of the human condition, and artist committed to making theatre that is alive and relevant. I have had the pleasure of knowing and studying with Anne, and this book codified and elaborated on so many of the things I wished I'd written down at the time. The book illuminates her way of working more than it promotes any particular aesthetic, and in that, I think it should be incredibly helpful and informative to all theatre artists at any stage in their careers. Some reference point for Anne's work or the work of her SITI Company might make the more esoteric sounding parts of the book clearer for the reader, but all in all, this is a great read. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Simply the Best!!!
Just the idea of having "Our friends" all gathered in this nice looking book along with 10 years of happiness makes me realize what a wonderfull job they did by making us all happy and forget about our problems every thursday night during the past 10 years.
This book is a great way to inmortalize them for ever in our hearts!!! thank you FRIENDS!!...we'll never forget you guys.

Just what fans need!!
Just the idea of having "Our friends" all gathered in this nice looking book along with 10 years of happiness makes me realize what a wonderfull job they did by making us all happy and forget about our problems every thursday night during the past 10 years.
This book is a great way to inmortalize them for ever in our hearts!!! thank you FRIENDS!!...we'll never forget you guys.

A Great Book 'Til the End
This book was terrific! It is the perfect collector's edition for any FRIENDS fan. It includes great interviews from the cast and creators of the show. Also, it has beautiful pictures and summaries from all ten seasons. My personal favourite part was the unforgettable quotes on life and love that we've heard throughout the years.

Friends Forever
The book is really excellent. If you are a true fanatic fan, this is the book for you. The pictures are so cool and wonderful. This is a book that you can have the "friends" all the time and forever! Truly a collector's item.

COLUMBUS OHIO....TEMPER FIT
This is an excellent book, the only reason why your's didn't ship for so long is because the Manufacturer provided the wrong information to amazon.com and all of the bookstores in the United States...This book is to be released at the end of this month....So look for it soon....Unless you were totally cheap and got super saver shipping...Then go ahead and cry for an extra week ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Ha! Take THAT, Broadway!
After years of people saying that I HAVE to see Jeckyl and Hyde or whatever other retread soundalike is currently in favor, along comes Bat Boy! The songs are witty and interestingly composed. The vocal arrangements are strong and the best part is that it's done completely straight...it's left to the audience to find the humour.

Fabulous Script for Everyone!
After I read this play, I immediately fell in love with this story. The characters, music, and theme are so wonderful. Now Bat Boy is my favorite musical ever!

Bat Boy Script
This is a script for an amazing off-Broadway musical: Bat Boy. In the musical, a half-bat/half-boy is discovered in West Virginia and taken by the local vet's family. He learns to talk and struggles to be accepted into the small community. He eventually falls in love with the vet's daughter, but it doesn't work out (interspecies relationships usually aren't a good idea).

This is a very witty script. There are jokes everywhere in the text. The music is also amazing. The actual musical composition and the lyrics are both spectacular.

As a horricomedy, Bat Boy not only makes you laugh, but also makes you stop and think. I'd reccommend this script for anyone who likes parody, comedy, or musical theatre. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In 1953, When Audrey Hepburn burst onto the screen in Roman Holiday, she forever changed the international ideal of elegance, grace, and beauty. Suddenly, glamour and even sexiness seemed attainable for women everywhere; Audrey was uncommonly beautiful, but she was real--hers was a look anyone could aim for, but few could pull off as effortlessly or effectively. By mixing a few classic elements of "Audrey style"--the little black dress, ballet flats with slim capri pants, bold hats and sunglasses--suburban housewives became more Hollywood than Hoboken in an instant.

Here author Pamela Clarke Keogh introduces us to the woman behind the clothes, using words from friends, fellow actors, and designers who dressed her to paint a picture of a truly remarkable woman. A humanitarian, artist, friend, and above all, survivor, Audrey inspired women and men alike to approach life with spirit, grace, and simplicity. The nearly 100 color and black-and-white photographs, paired with original sketches from such fashion luminaries as Givenchy, Manolo Blahnik, and Vera Wang, show that Audrey was much more than a beautiful, well-dressed personality; her courage and individuality come shining through in every page. --Leah Ball ... Read more

Reviews (56)

For audrey fashionistas
This book is somehat hypocritical - the text urging us to find our own, individual style which is what Audrey would have wanted, among inserts urging us to slavishly imitate Audrey's clothes and makeup! The photo of the author in a very audrey-esque black turtleneck notwithstanding, this is a good effort, with wonderful photos making up for the slight and overlaudatory text. (Givenchy could have written a bit more, I thought, maybe he is not a very literary man) Check out 'Adieu Audrey', another (superior) tribute.

Fabulous tribute to a woman w/style & beauty beyond compare!
As an avid admirer of Audrey Hepburn, I have long been aware that she was not just exceptionally beautiful, but genuinely kind and generous as well. This book serves as not only a tribute to a personal grace, beauty, and stylishness beyond compare, but manages to also capture her history as a great humanitarian. I was enthralled by the elegant photographs and the insightful prose accompanying them. Like Audrey, this book is the epitome of grace, beauty, style, warmth, and substance. Exceptional subject AND exceptional author, indeed! I will return to this volume again and again for many years to come. It deserves 5+ stars!!

A perfect book about a perfect lady
I really like this book-it really shows what an absolutely beautiful lady she was-she certainly was very sensual and sexy.She knew how to project herself without going overboard-
the lady had class and it really showed.There aren't any actresses like Audrey anymore-I really miss her.

I highly recommend getting this book.

Delivery doesn't match topic
A book like this should have more pictures. The ones it does have don't have captions. The writing is fairly ameteurish but does have some interesting stuff despite being from an angle I didn't like. I didn't like the big black pages with the white lettered quotes not just because some of the quotes weren't especially good, but because you can't read the middle that is in the binding and seems to be poor quality ink or paper. All around this book is just okay, great topic, poor delivery.

The Zen of Audrey's Style
A fun book for all Audrey admirers with a gentle warning to unquestioning mimics: The essence of Audrey is not to follow. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Love him or hate him, there's no denying the vast influence Frank Rich wielded as chief drama critic for the New York Times. Those he praised usually enjoyed great success; those he damned accused him of conspiring against their productions. Now, here's a volume, almost forbidding in length, that encompasses his work over 14 theater seasons. More than 330 reviews and articles brimming with plays and players, shows and showmen--famous and obscure, enduring and forgotten.Readers are likely to find something that--depending on their vintage--serves as a discovery or a reminder. Do you recall that Mike Nichols and Elaine May once appeared in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (The 1980 production accentuated Edward Albee's dark comedy, but left Rich "hungry for blood.") Or that FOB in the very same year launched the New York career of David Henry Hwang ("an unwieldy, at times spotty work"--one that nonetheless "hits home far more often than it misses"). Jump forward eight years to the same playwright's M. Butterfly and the circle is complete, as Rich lavishes praise upon Hwang's work, calling it one of his favorite new plays. Whatever readers may think of Rich's opinions (and he isn't shy about sharing them), they'll delight in his prose--at once witty and illuminating, sympathetic and sarcastic.

Revealed too in this tome is Rich's admiration and love for several mentors and peers, exemplified in moving tributes to the legendary critics Kenneth Tynan and Walter Kerr. Also poignant are footnotes to several reviews, outlining the real-life tragedies that befell mighty showmen like Gower Champion of 42nd Street. Rich traces the terrible toll AIDS has taken on Broadway, describing an era in which the celebrated and the unsung alike succumbed to the epidemic. Little wonder then, that Tony Kushner's Angels in America, rooted in the age of AIDS, makes such a profound impression on the critic: "I was so overwhelmed by Angels after a matinee in London that I canceled my theatergoing plans for that night; I needed time to think." All this makes Hot Seat more than just a compendium of reviews. It serves as a history and a highly entertaining read rolled into one, a portrait of the theater and, ultimately, of the critic himself. --Roy Wadia ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Those who can't do.......
Frank Rich was a petty, venal little fellow who used his lofty position in a mannner unsuitable for a drama critic of his alleged stature. One well known example goes that he gave a somewhat favorable review to a show, telling the producers where it needed the most work... the producers complied by doing everything rich asked ( some say with Rich's help), and lo and behold..at it's broadway premiere it received a positively glowing frank rich review! It is an absolute truth that part of the reason Broadway is at its lowest point in history now is because of Frank Rich. No producer would sink millions into a show just to have Rich ,entertaining the sheep who read his column, tear apart anything that didn't appeal to his limited tastes.

Shame on the mindless drones who need someone else to give them an opinion about a show, or a movie, or a piece of music, and shame on anyone who would buy this trash( surely just to read the venomous attacks on various shows, since that is how this crap is being marketed..and people love to watch a car wreck) and support a sorry S.O.B. like Frank Rich who almost single handedly wiped out one of Americas great contributions to the arts..the musical.

Let's Not Forget
While Rich's book may be a somewhat useful book of reviews he created for the New York Times, it must be remembered how he nearly ruined Broadway by writing hostile reviews of shows written by creative people he didn't like and glowing reviews for his personal favorites. He and his soon to be wife (Alex Witchel) who wrote the Friday Broadway column in times gave new meaning to the words "conflict of interest" and nearly destroyed Broadway in the process.

those were the days
i miss frank rich's reviews so much. they were brilliant and insightful and funny. i loved re-reading them in this book. i love you frank!

A rich and vibrant account of Frank Rich's Broadway.
What better way to view 10+ years on Broadway than through the eyes of a theatre critic? The so-called "Butcher of Broadway" has collected a large number of his reviews in this volume, and it is a must-read for anyone who remembers the theatre of the 1980s, or wants to experience it for the first time. Rich's reviews are insightful, well-written, and succeed very often at drawing you into the shows, and making you feel like you are part of the audience. The addition of editorial comments, from a modern day perspective, helps put some of the events his reviews and articles detail into an even greater context. Whether you agree with everything Mr. Rich says or not, there are few better windows into the twelve or so years of New York theatre while he was the theatre critic for The New York Times.

Almost as exciting as being there.
This is one of the best purchases I've made in a long while. I sat up way past my bedtime pouring over this wonderful book. Frank Rich became the NY Times Theatre Critic shortly after I began making annual pilgrimages to NYC and staying abreast of what was happening both on and off-Broadway. Consequently, almost every show I've seen over the years is reviewed somewhere in this book. And how wonderful it is to re-visit some of those cherished experiences through his eye! Reading Rich's reviews of "Dreamgirls", "Amadeus", and "Angels in America" again gave me chills. His reviews of "Moose Murders" and "Carrie" had me laughing out loud. And his review of the 3,389th performance of "A Chorus Line" left me in tears. But more than just these isolated moments, the book as a whole provides a rich, varied overview of the commercial theatre during the last decade and a half, obviously written by a man who loved his job and knew what he was talking about. It's a must! ... Read more

Book Description

In this book, Napier takes an irreverent, but constructive look at the art and practice of improvised scenes. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Deeper Look at Improv
This book is well written, easily read and full of very useful tips for the serious improviser. Improvisation is all about making connections and you can't help but make more connections to this art form after reading this book. The more experience you have as an improviser, the more you will get out of this book. It's like an improv booster shot.

Insightful, But Cynical

This book has an "Annoyance Theatre" feel to it-it's fresh and insightful, and seductively anti-establishment. The author serves up a cynical new spin on old improv technique, and even slams improv's "old guard" in the process.

If you're a sassy, cynical improviser who knows everything (which includes every improviser on earth) you'll be hypnotized by the book's "bleeding edge" tone.

But the rebellious "us vs. them" tenor of Napier's book is so sexy, so enticing, that you may miss the irony: Napier slams the improv establishment, (but he *is* the establishment, having formed his own theatre, and having lead Second City to a rebirth.) Napier thwarts the concept of formal technique and methodology, (but then proceeds to lay down his *own*.) Napier dismisses old improv rules as observation-turned-dogma, (but then serves up several pages of his *own* observations.) Sure, the advice is great, but why does he still talk like Sparticus leading a slave rebellion? He's already king. The enemy is imaginary.

IMPROVISATION does fall short as a complete reference. It ends up being more like a book of "best practices for seasoned improvisers." New improvisers will end up feeling like they just got kicked in the junk.

I wish this book shared his real anti-establishment vision:
x What's the next wave for this art form?
x What is improv's future impact on the theatre, TV and other scripted media?
x Is there any way to unite the improv theatre community, rather than divide it into "us vs. them?"

Think you know everything there is to know about improv?
So, you know all "the rules," you've been improvising for years, you think you know all you need to know, and yet you find your work stagnant?

This book will help you re-examine why and how you improvise. Mick Napier is quite simply the finest improv instructor today. He's taken the torches of Del Close and Martin DeMaat and is moving improvisation forward. If you think Spolin, Halpern and Johnstone wrote all that can be written about improv, you're sadly mistaken.

This is, quite frankly, the best hands-on guide to improvisation you will ever read.

Praise from a cynic
Improv books tend to fall into three categories:

(1) New ideas poorly articulated (Improvisation for the Theatre for example - the bible of improv that is impossible to read cover to cover)

(2) Books that cover old ground in an easy to read way that is effective for someone trying to learn improv (Keith's second book, my own book: The Ultimate Improv Book [hopefully ;>])

(3) Books with 'improv' in the title that are more collections of games or (worse) exercise-teaching plans without any learning outcomes.

This book does not fall into any of those categories. I'm amazed it was published.

It's a book for people who already know improvisation. But Mick argues that the most accepted ways to teach improvisation are not only ineffective, they are COUNTER effective.

And he makes a great argument.

I had already started on the path he lays out (I've no longer teach 'blocking' off the top, instead concentrating on reducing fear and encouraging failure), but I have not gone nearly as far as he suggests (Not teaching blocking ever). It's a bold step and I am going to try it in the next class I teach.

In short, who should buy this book?

(1) If you are already an improviser. You've been trained (somewhere) and are looking for a challenging new way to look at your crafty

(2) You are an instructor who is looking for a new way to teach (not new games, but new principles)

Who should also buy this book:

(1) If you are buying your first improv book. Buy this book, but also pick up one of the standards - know what you are not learning - if only so you can discuss it with other improvisers (I know Mick would not suggest this, but we don't agree on everything)

(2) If you are set in your ways and figure you know the right way to do improv - buy this book and see if you can open your mind a little. I would be interested to hear counter arguments to Mick's ideas.

I am calling all my improv friends and telling them to buy this book. It's the first book with something new to say in a long time.

Congratulations Mick. I wish you had written this book earlier.

Edward J Nevraumont
Co-author: The Ultimate Improv Book

this is a good book
if you want to buy this good book, you should go to annoyanceproductions dot com and follow the links for buy mick's book. you will end up back here at amazon, and annoyance productions will get a small percentage from the sale to go towards their new theater. ... Read more

Book Description

The Tony Award-winning musical,
now adapted into a lavishly illustrated book

Into the Woods is the imaginative account of what happens when the lives of new and old fairy-tale characters dramatically and humorously come together. Cinderella, Jack (of bean-stalk fame), Little Red Ridinghood, and the Baker and his Wife set out for the forest on a quest to find "happily ever after." Along the way they meet Rapunzel, a Wicked Witch, a lascivious Wolf, vengeful Giants, a couple of charming Princes, and their own destiny. With wit and wisdom, the authors have given us a parable about the loss of innocence, the joys and sorrows of adulthood, and the price paid for getting the things you really want. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Perhaps the Greatest Musical Ever Written... Now in a Book!
Into the Woods...How can you forget the name and all of its characters if you've seen it before, and if you have not, then it includes such timeless fairy tale names as: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), Little Red Riding Hood, and many others. James Lapine's brilliant script and Stephen Sondheim's astounding score are all in this book! Don't miss out on reading this fantastic book with your kids or for pleasure! This book is great for pleasure reading or if you are looking for an amazing musical to put on. Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down! And if you liked the book...you won't hesitate to buy the video of the original Broadway cast and the CD or cassette! Having all 3 mentioned items and watching, listening, and reading over and over still isn't enough! You will love it too.

Plays Capture 6th Grade Interest
This is a wonderful play to introduce students to music, theater, Sondheim, and fairy tales. In my class we read many of the original Grimm Fairy Tales (Dover Ed.) and the Perrault Fairy Tales (Dover) discussing the tales, but also color symbolism, different forms of magic, totems, threshold creatures, etc. Pretty heady stuff for sixth graders, but they LOVE it! Finally we read this wonderful interconnection of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, Baker and His Wife, Little Red Riding Hood, and more while they are on a quest tale to get things to undo spells. Everyone takes parts and it is AWESOME!! The book is certainly not just for kids, there are very dark themes underlying all of the "fun". These can be discussed and its great to see kids find more to a story than its literal meaning. The VHS tape is then shown, which can be ordered here. This is a taping of the Broadway stage production and is mesmerising. Students think it's awesome. (I do suggest previewing, though. The wolf certainly is "untamed nature" and his coat stops just above what probably should be hidden in a mixed group of sixth graders. :) We just fast forward those three minutes.) This is a great unit. If you would like more info, please contact me via e-mail. This is wonderful stuff, though certainly not Disney!!

A MUST for any lover of this show...
I cannot mention how much I loved this book. I recently finished a production of this show and we gave this book as a gift to the production crew members. After looking through it, most of the cast placed their own orders. Not only is it a new way to look at this great story, but there are also small pieces of insight into certain characters and situations that you do not get anywhere else.
Every illustration in this book is exquisite...I would frame any of them. My favorite is of the pulling out of Rapunel's hair by the Baker's Wife. The illustrations are just like the show, funny where they should be (Little Red in the Fur) and grim where they should be (Rapunzel's death).
This is a great and rarely seen collector's piece, as well as a great gift for anyone with a love of the show.

this is an awesome show!
I was involved in a production of this show and I just have to say that so far, it's one of my favorite shows out of all the ones that I've been involved with. The music is enchanting and the story is one that we should all carry in our hearts:Everywhere we look, we are affected by or are affecting someone else by the choices that we make. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the show.

I Love Into the Woods...
This book is great to have before seeing the show or listening to the soundtrack... you'll completely understand what's happening in the story. I should also say, just in general.... Into the Woods is back on Broadway now, and I just saw it yesterday on its opening day with front row seats in the orchestra. I was worried the new production might not surpass the original, and that I would be disappointed since I love love Bernadette Peters and all... but it really blew my mind! The set and costumes were so much more appropriate, more fairytale-esque. There were lyric and staging changes, a little more dancing around, and Milky-White was alive this time which made her like another character. The musical has a lot of catchy tunes but also a good storyline, and though there is a lot of symbolism that if seen literally might not be appropriate for kids, they usually are too young to notice or understand it at all. So anyone can see it, and everyone finds it funny, everyone likes it. And the current production is better than you could have dreamed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Modoc is the joint biography of a man and an elephant born in a small German circus town on the same day in 1896. Bram was the son of an elephant trainer, Modoc the daughter of his prize performer. The boy and animal grew up devoted to each other. When the Wunderzircus was sold to an American, with no provision to take along the human staff, Bram stowed away on the ship to prevent being separated from his beloved Modoc. A shipwreck off the Indian coast and a sojourn with a maharajah were only the beginning of the pair's incredible adventures. They battled bandits, armed revolutionaries, cruel animal trainers, and greedy circus owners in their quest to stay together. They triumphed against the odds and thrilled American circus audiences with Modoc's dazzling solo performances, only to be torn apart with brutal suddenness, seemingly never to meet again. Hollywood animal trainer Ralph Helfer rescued Modoc from ill-treatment and learned her astonishing story when Bram rediscovered her at Helfer's company. His emotional retelling of this true-life adventure epic will make pulses race and bring tears to readers' eyes.--Wendy Smith ... Read more

Reviews (97)

Best show & Elephant on earth - Best book on earth
"Modoc is a love story, a gut wrenching saturday afternoon kind of love story that should not be attempted without a full box if tissues within easy reach."- Detroit free press This quote is on the front cover of Modoc and is definetly true. Modoc is the best yet saddest book i have ever read. i have read a lot of books and Modoc is the only one in which i have actually cried in. This book doesn't even have to be for animal lovers to like. Modoc shows how close animals and people really are and how smart animals really can be. Modoc is a story of a boy named Bram and his elephant Modoc and the journeys he and the boy have together. some sad, some exciting, and some just plain fun. i reccomend this book to anybody of any age i am only 11 years old and still truly enjoyed this book. It is truly the best book i have ever read.

heartwarming, breathtaking, and wonderfully written for all
Modoc has to be the most amazing story ever told about one's love for the animal kingdom. I was astonished with the retold accounts throughout the text........always reading on to find out what happened next to Bram and his beloved Modoc. I can honestly say it is my favorite book of all time for it touched my heart and actually did bring tears to my eyes as I completed it aboard an airline. I've handed it down to my sister to be read to my 6-year-old nephew. He's intrigued with the story and loves hearing it aloud. It's a book for all ages indeed!

Awesome book!
I normally dont like reading books at all. I always catch myself thinking about different things like whats going on in my life, and not remebering anything that i just read. When i read Modoc, i caught myself thinking about other things, however those other things were everything thats been going on in modoc's life other than my own.

Fascinating Story
This is truely one of the best books I have ever read. It is a touching and poignant story of the relationship between a boy/man and his elephant. No other story that I have read has captured the bond between human and animal as convincingly as this. Other reviewers are too hung up on the accuracy of the author's claim that the story is true. He clearly states at the beginning that there is a certain amount of "hearsay" and poetic license taken with the story. I could not put this book down. It hooked me from the beginning and didn't let go until long after I had read the book. This book begs to be made into a movie. Don't miss it.

AN ENDEARING STORY FOR ALL
This is the most touching and beautiful story I have ever read. I am grateful to Ralph Helfer for telling it. I would recommend the book to everyone. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not just Family Fun...
Sarah Kane is anything but family friendly. Her plays are raw, brutal, and yet beautiful in an ironic way. She takes all of the hate that exists in this world and uses it to show us the beauty that can come from the ruble of a blown up building. There is no way to actually describe Sarah Kane to you to make you want to buy her book. I was forced to buy it because of a class at my college, but I don't think I'll be selling this one back. I never thought I would enjoy a play such as Blasted. If you want to understand what my review actually means, buy the book, read a couple of her pieces and then read this again. I'm sure you will understand then.

BRUTAL BUT BEAUTIFUL!
One of the strongest women writers that lived, she revolutionized theatre and her death was unfortunate robbed theatre of her potential. A Great collection of her complete work at a great price. Cleansed was my favorite in the collection. Her work is so poetic, stark, honest, painful, and brutal.

Traumatic, funny, devastating
These are the most electric scripts to arrive in a long while. Sadly, the source was snuffed in 1999. Kane's writing is at once repellent and seductive. "Blasted" is exceptional, riffing on Beckett blatantly, but still signature of a visionary voice: inyerface, exuberant, filthy, poetic, profound. As a debut, it is truly remarkable. "Phaedra's Love" and "Cleansed" push the envelope past the hyper-real into lightning-bright brilliance, and with thunderous emotional depth. How does one stage this stuff? Kane's challenging work sets the imagination--and ultimately, the soul--on fire.

A true poet of the theatre
Sarah Kane's plays present the horrors which characterize the world of the late 20th century. The plays contain scenes of incredible brutality. Ordinarily, I avoid violence in books, plays and films but these plays haunt me with the beauty of their generous humanity. Her last two plays--Crave and 4:48 Psychosis are beautiful poems of hopelessness. If you are interested in contemporary theatre, YOU MUST READ SARAH KANE. The story of her life and death, while unspeakably sad, should not overshadow the extraordinary talent of this gifted writer and remarkable human being. ... Read more

Book Description

Finally, a book as glorious as its subject: this lush showcase for everyone who loves musicals covers the 101 most influential, popular, and enduring Broadway shows--all of which have toured the country and been performed in theatres large and small everywhere. Each listing includes expert commentary that sets the play in historical and cultural context, plus features on the creators and performers, plot synopses, cast and song lists, production details, backstage anecdotes, and more. Four or five beautifully reproduced photographs from each show--the majority never before published--accompany the text and make the shows leap off the page. Appendices and special features include cast albums, poster artists, revivals, guilty pleasures, Off-Broadway musicals, notable flops, and much more. ... Read more

Book Description

Theoretically, the actor ought to be more sound in mind and body than other people, since he learns to understand the psychological problems of human beings when putting his own passions, his loves, fears, and rages to work in the service of the characters he plays. He will learn to face himself, to hide nothing from himself -- and to do so takes an insatiable curiosity about the human condition.
from the Prologue

Uta Hagen, one of the world's most renowned stage actresses, has also taught acting for more than forty years at the HB Studio in New York. Her first book, Respect for Acting, published in 1973, is still in print and has sold more than 150,000 copies. In her new book, A Challenge for the Actor, she greatly expands her thinking about acting in a work that brings the full flowering of her artistry, both as an actor and as a teacher. She raises the issue of the actor's goals and examines the specifics of the actor's techniques. She goes on to consider the actor's relationship to the physical and psychological senses. There is a brilliantly conceived section on the animation of the body and mind, of listening and talking, and the concept of expectation.

But perhaps the most useful sections in this book are the exercises that Uta Hagen has created and elaborated to help the actor learn his craft. The exercises deal with developing the actor's physical destination in a role; making changes in the self serviceable in the creation of a character; recreating physical sensations; bringing the outdoors on stage; finding occupation while waiting; talking to oneself and the audience; and employing historical imagination.

The scope and range of Uta Hagen here is extraordinary. Her years of acting and teaching have made her as finely seasoned an artist as the theatre has produced. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Total Must-Read
If you are a serious actor, you cannot claim skill without having read this classic. It will blow your acing mind.

actors, students, all must read and re-read this book
All I can say is that this is simply the most wonderful, intelligent, helpful and frank book on acting. Uta Hagen was a talented performer and teacher and every actor MUST own this book.

More like an updated edition, yes
My own acting teacher, who has herself been a student of Ms. Hagen's, has suggested that Ms. Hagen actually prefers that students of acting refer to this book rather than her previous one ('Respect for Acting'), because in it, not only does she expand on the ideas presented in the earlier work, but she also actually revises some of the ideas she presented in the first book.

Great follow up to Respect for Acting
After having read Respect for Acting, I had discovered that Ms Hagen had written another book. Immediately I went out and bought it. While I found it every bit as fascinating as the first I must say a lot of it is repeats from the first book. Even some of the wording is the same. That said, it is still a wonderful read. her ideas are more concise, her craft more honed, and her expansion well worth the cover price. I especially liked the first chapter where she discusses The Actor's World. Here she goes into a bit of history we all would be better off to know, and she tells a little more about herself. When she talks about the McCarthy hearings, and in particular her radio speecah afterwards, I was moved to tears. Her words on Edwin Booth have sparked my interest in him and the "Golden Era of the Actor." Uta has done it again. Now if only I could meet her.

More Like a Second Edition
Although the synopsis found above suggests this book is entirely new, looking at it as a second edition to her first acting book, RESPECT FOR ACTING, is probably more accurate. It is still full of the tangible practice techniques an actor needs, but it has been updated with additional sections her previous book didn't include. RESPECT FOR ACTING was separated into three parts: One-The Actor; Two-The Object Exercises; and Three-The Play and the Role. In A CHALLENGE FOR THE ACTOR there are four parts: One-The Actor; Two-The Human Techniques; Three-The Exercises; and Four-The Role. Hagen doesn't simply rehash what she wrote in her first book; she's refined her techniques and expanded them. The two of her books used in conjunction might be the only reference books an actor needs on the craft of acting. First rate writing from one of the most revered and respected actresses to ever take the stage. ... Read more

Book Description

"The present work . . . a continuation of the earlier [is] a study of one literary genre, the drama . . . both in its passive and active relations with the life of the time and with the theatre, the medium without the aid of which the possibilities of the drama as an art form remain only half realized, like a musical score which is never performed."
from the author's preface ... Read more

Book Description

A richly illustrated book that re-creates the making of one of BroadwayÂ’s biggest hits, based on EliotÂ’s Old PossumÂ’s Book of Practical Cats. Color photographs and drawings by John Napier. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A very good book!
With crisp,easy-to-see pictures,lyrics and costume sketches,
this book captures CATs purr-fectly!I enjoyed having the lyrics printed out so I can sing along with the video and CD!
If you're a CATS fan,you must have this book!

For CAT lovers everywhere!
My child is a huge fan of the musical CATS and I bought this book for him so he could have pictures of all of his favorite characters. He loves this book and I found it definitely worth the price! The pictures are beautifully done, the colors are vibrant and it's a great companion to the CATS video that we already own. I definitely reccomend this for CATS fans!

This cat thinks This Book has been overrated
I loved the stage musical and didn't understand a word except for "Memories". And I love the video to death. But this book is no way a companion to the video, unless you're just looking for the words to the songs. In that case you've spent way too much (the lyrics can be had on the WEB)! The cast in this book is different than the Video and if you have young kids who love the video like mine do, they are going to ask (and say)"Why daddy does Gus look different, or that's not Gus". The only worth while text is from Andrew Llyod Webber and it happens to be the shortest article of the 4 included. I was disappointed to say the least and in hind sight find that 99% of the reviews are "irrationally" positive and not at all realistic.

Cats!
Well There's Not much to it...
Some info about T. S. Eliot, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Others
Lyrics from the Songs which i like
And Pictures of the Original Broadway Cast
A bit pricey for just that...
Still A Good Book...

Meow!
I am a big fan of Cats(we're talkin' realy big!I know all the lyrics and dances)and I found this book a great addition to my Cats Collection,which includes greasepaint, Old Possum's Book, T-Shirt,hat, sweatshirt,ORIGINAL BROADWAY COSTUME WORN BY CYNTHIA ONRUBIA(VICTORIA), fan-made costume, A WIG WORN BY VEERLE CASTELYN(JEMIMA), 5 CDs, Video, 2 DVDs, ticket stubs, autographs, program, magnets, letters from actors, and a WIG WORN BY CYNTHIA ONRUBIA THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY VICTORIA. This book is wonderful and added to my huge collection. It might not be as valuble as the two wigs or the costume, but it is still a cool book! ... Read more

Book Description

This celebrated survival guide for actors is still considered "the Bible of the Biz"-the most comprehensive book on the business of acting, informed by an inside view of how casting decisions are actually made-and it has now been updated and expanded to cover new on-line ways actors can promote their picture, rsum and video clips; interviewing and auditioning tips for the new crop of young actors; enhancing one's image; and finding jobs in emerging markets. Of course, the book still draws from dozens of industry professionals for authoritative advice on financial survival, networking, meeting agents and casting directors, the performing unions, selecting a wardrobe, studying a role-all the essential information actors have steadily relied on since 1987. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

If you only buy one book on "the biz" this year, this is it!
Look no further. This is the book that tells it like it is. You can spare yourself years of needless mistakes by taking the advice in this book to heart. Take it from two of the industry's top professionals...the important information every actor needs to succeed. This book could mean the difference between pounding the pavement and signing the contract!

a good start
I read this book when I first decided to risk a career in acting several years ago. It was very helpful in that it covered all the basics (and not-so-basics) that I would need to learn: terminology, career steps, pitfalls, different industries and cities. I still occasionally refer to it.

Yes, it is a little outdated now, and I would imagine it's more useful to those in LA or NYC with its heavy focus on TV and film, but I appreciated the little section on acting in Chicago. All in all, its breadth makes it a good investment.

FYI, for Chicago actors (bless your hearts), be sure to pick up "The Book," published by the trade paper PerformInk. A great (and necessary) resource guide to acting in Chicago.

Good
I like this book but is has been around for a while.
There are a couple of new books out there that are as good or better,
depending on where you are in your career.
Check our Twelve Step Plan To Beciming an Actor in LA.
It is a fabulous guide for anyone breaking in the business.

Sam Hammel
LA

Great book
I bought this book because I heard it was "the bible" for actors. I read it and what do ya know, it was pretty darn good. Lots of info and stuff you need as an actor. Resume tips, unions, audition prep, the works. But really, all you need to know is to get a good agent. And if you have a great look and you are Caucasian, your chances are looking better than ever. That's it, this is the secret. No need to spend days reading this [junk].

Excellent Resource and Must-Have
A very straight-forward resource for any aspiring actor. Novice or otherwise, this book gives the inside scoop and is honest about it. As I'm not one to want to put myself out-on-a-limb (no pun intended) without some plan of action and notion of how to stay solvent, what I really like about this book is the author's ability to fill in all the practical details and guide the reader through "The Business." In this day and age, where scams abound in and around Tinsel Towne, I wouldn't leave home to pound the pavement without first having read this book. I can't say enough good things about it! ... Read more

Book Description

Used to teach beginning acting on more campuses than any other text, Acting One contains twenty-eight lessons based on experiential exercises. The text covers basic skills such as talking, listening, tactical interplay, physicalizing, building scenes, and making good choices. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great book from an insightful author
I have read through Cohen's "Theatre" and "Acting One" and both are outstanding books on theatre for any actor.It is almost as good as Sidney Lumet's "Making Movies," but without all the funstories about movie stars.This is one book I actually read for fun, andkeep it in my glove compartment when I prepare for auditions.I am glad Iam going to the school where this man teaches.

Useful but overstuffed introductory acting text
The First Six lessons--goal and obstacle, the other, tactics, expectation, and their summary "GOTE" -- are excellent and concise.Unfortuantely, the book covers a great deal more ground than anintroductory class could hope to cover.THe other chapters make goodreading, and a student who decides s/he's serious about pursuing acting asa craft would be well served by owning this text.The casual student wouldbe less well served.

An excellent text for both the instructor and student.
His concepts of conflict and theatricality are excellent. Goal, Obstacle, Tactic and Expectation (GOTE)lead to a complete understanding of the actor's craft.For the beginner, this concept is absolutly necessary; theyoung actor now has a deep understanding of what makes an action theatricaland interesting.Through Cohen's work,the actor can understand and applyStanislvaski's "beats." ... Read more

Book Description

Now in its 23rd edition, Dramatists Sourcebook-the best-selling guide for opportunities for stage writers-is completely revised, with more than 900 opportunities for playwrights, translators, composers, lyricists and librettists, as well as opportunities for screen, radio and television writers. In an easy-to-use format, the Sourcebook details script-submission procedures for more than 350 theatres seeking new plays; more than 150 prizes and sections on submission guidelines, fellowships and grants, organizations, script preparation, agents, colonies and residencies, workshops, publishing opportunities and a submission calendar. Thoroughly indexed, with an invaluable calendar of submission deadlines, this is an indispensable reference work for any playwright.

Amazon.com

This is by far the must-get theater book of the year. With dazzling punk graphics that will quickly win book industry awards, the volume contains the entire libretto of the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical about love and loyalty among starving AIDS-stricken artists in New York's East Village. But editors Evelyn McDonnell and Katherine Silberger wisely understand that the story of the show's creation is as compelling as the musical itself--so more than half of this volume is devoted to an oral history of the composer/lyricist/librettist Jonathan Larson, who came to New York hoping to revolutionize musical theater--then died of an aortic aneurysm the night of the show's final preview. It's an event book for an event musical. ... Read more

Reviews (90)

A good book for a great musical!
This book changed the face of rent for me. I had seen the musical, about three times, and it never really clicked for me, what it all meant. Then I got the book. I saw what true struggles, this book came from. I realized what it meant to be an artist, starving for the next day, starving for a piece of the good life. While I read this book, I went through the entire course of human emotions. When rent went into the workshop, I smiled, when Jonathan died the night before he was to make it to "GLORY", I cried. Few books have had this effect on me. The music alone is enough to make you cry. If you want to truly find out what rent means, read the book, and when it gets to the script, pop in the cd. What makes this book great is the stunning reality, of the stuggle for fame, the struggle for life, and the life long struggle for love. Overall the visual effects of this book are stunning. From the front cover to the end. The actors bios at the end are a nice to! uch. I have never seen any other musical book, go this indepth. A truly great buy.

I laughed and cried as I read this incredible book!
This book takes you through the life and dreams of a man whom I believe was a genius, Jonathan Larson. There are tons of amazing quotes from him and those close to him . This book gave me a chance to learn even more about my absolute favorite musical, and it felt like I almost got to know Jonathan Larson. The large pictures of cast members performing each song in the libretto make it easier to explain the plot to friends. I seriously cried when reading about how Jonathan Larson died and everyone's reactions to his death. Overall, this is an awesome piece of literature for any Renthead or musical theater fan. NO DAY BUT TODAY!!!!

A must for all RentHeads
When I first discovered RENT, I heard that all RentHeads have "The Bible", which is this book. I bought it, and it took me into a world of RENT, and also the sad story of Jonathan Larson.

In the contents of this book, there are interviews with Jonathan Larson's friends and family, and also the original Broadway cast. Also, in this incredible book, lies the RENT libretto, along with pictures to go along with each song.

I learned so much from this book, and so would anyone who wanted to learn about RENT. This is a must for all RentHeads!!

Also known as "The Rent Bible"
If you have any interest in the play, the lyrics, the story or Jonathan Larson ... get this book. A MUST HAVE for any Renthead. No Day But Today!

Every Fan's Necessity
This book can only be described as beautiful. It's content, the pictures, everything is a true dedication to the work of Jonathan Larson.

The book begins as a biography to the creator of Rent, Jonathan Larson and his original vision of the play and of life itself. Reading his story was quite inspirational. If only he were alive to see his success and how he has touched many people's lives.

The remainder of the book is the whole libretto for Rent complete with pictures from a stage performance. The presentation of the libretto and pictures is wonderful. Honestly, I was in complete awe the first time I saw it.

There are also in-depth interviews with the cast and people behind the scenes, and some rare photos.

This book is the Rent fan's necessity. And, as I said before, could be seen as a true inspiration thanks to Jonathan Larson. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Must Have Reference
Dr. Carlson does the remarkable by condensing the dominant Western theatre ideals and theories into a series of chapters. Major names and works are cited along with the theories. While a work of this sort cannot go into great detail, this book is a must have for anyone interested in theatre history and theory. ... Read more