The Essential Theatre,
11th Edition

Preface.
PART I: FOUNDATIONS.
1. The Nature of Theatre.
2. The Audience and Criticism.
3. The Play.
PART II: VARIETIES OF THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE.
4. Festival Theatre: Greek, Roman, and Medieval Theatre Experiences.
5. Creating a Professional Theatre: Elizabethan England, Italian Commedia dell'Arte, and Seventeenth-Century France.
6. Theatre in the 1800s.
7. Modernism in the Twentieth Century: 1900–1960.
8. Decentralization and Subsidization: New Directions.
9. Contemporary Theatre and Its Diversity.
10. Musical Theatre.
11. Asian and African Theatre.
PART III: THEATRICAL PRODUCTION.
12. Theatrical Space and Production Design.
13. Playwriting and Dramaturgy.
14. Directing and Producing.
15. Acting.
16. Scene Design.
17. Costume Design and Makeup.
18. Lighting and Sound Design.
Glossary.
Bibliography.
Index.

• Oscar G. Brockett

  Oscar G. Brockett will always have an international reputation as a theatre historian. A Distinguished Scholar honoree of the American Society of Theatre Research, he received career achievement awards from both the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology. In addition, he was a recipient of the Robert Lewis Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Theatre Research. After receiving his Ph.D. from Stanford University, he taught at several major American universities and at the University of Bristol in England. He also served as president of the American Theatre Association, dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas, editor of THEATRE JOURNAL, and editorial board member of the ASIAN THEATRE JOURNAL. He held the prestigious University of Texas Z.T. Scott Family Chair in Drama and was director of the Center for Dramatic and Performance Studies for several years. Dr. Brockett authored many articles in leading journals and several books, including HISTORY OF THE THEATRE. At the time of his passing, he was serving as a distinguished teaching professor at the University of Texas at Austin and the dean of the Fellows of the American Theatre.

• Robert J. Ball

  Robert J. Ball has ample experience as a successful teacher of Introduction to Theatre and Theatre Appreciation courses at a number of large and small universities, including Trinity University, the University of Texas, and Vanderbilt University. He is also a practicing actor and director with numerous professional credits in American regional theatres, as well as credits for national and international touring productions. Dr. Ball received his Ph.D. in theatre history and criticism from the University of Texas and is currently the chair and artistic director of the Theatre Arts program at the University of the Incarnate Word.

• John Fleming

  John Fleming, a former Brockett student, was chosen by the Brockett estate to extend the legacy of Oscar Brockett's foundational text. He has taught Introduction to Theatre, Theatre History, and a variety of other classes at the University of Texas, Auburn University, and Texas State University. His books and articles focus on contemporary theatre, while his plays have been popular with undergraduate audiences. After many years as chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Texas State University, Dr. Fleming now serves as dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

• Andrew Carlson

  Andrew Carlson is managing director of the Oscar G. Brockett Center for Theatre History and Criticism at the University of Texas at Austin, where he teaches Introduction to Theatre, Dramatic Literature, Dramaturgy, and Shakespeare. He is a professional dramaturg and actor, who writes about theatrical practice in scholarly contexts. In addition, he is an artistic associate with the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, Minn., where he has performed roles such as Hamlet (HAMLET), Edmund (KING LEAR), and Hotspur (HENRY IV, PART I).

• An all-new chapter devoted entirely to musical theatre covers the developments, significant figures, major works, and various incarnations that comprise the most popular genre of theatre.

• The chapter on acting has been completely revised to present a diversity of contemporary approaches to acting.

• Ten new "Then and Now" text boxes link select topics in theatre history to the present-day. These insightful boxed features--and accompanying photos--spotlight the way the past continues to influence the present, not only in theatre but also in popular culture, including films, contemporary comedy, and even flash mobs.

• Many of the more than 80 vivid new photos feature contemporary productions as well as actors and actresses that students will recognize from film and television illustrating that theatre does not exist in isolation but rather is an art form that is a vibrant part of the cultural makeup of the contemporary entertainment industry.

• The 11th Edition extends the Enhanced 10th edition's use of dates for major figures and works. The dates are not intended for memorization, but rather provide a sense of context of where a work fits within an artist's lifetime as well as--via implied comparison to the "Theatre in a Broad Context" timelines--where it fits within a sociological context.

• An all-new chapter devoted entirely to musical theatre covers the developments, significant figures, major works, and various incarnations that comprise the most popular genre of theatre.

• Completely revised and up to date, the chapter on acting presents a diverse assortment of contemporary approaches to acting to reflect the latest practices from the field.

• Ten all-new "Then and Now" boxed features link select topics in theatre history to the present-day. These text boxes and accompanying photos turn the spotlight on the way the past continues to influence the present in theatre as well as in popular culture--including films, contemporary comedy, and even flash mobs.

• The 11th Edition is packed with more than 80 new photos. Many feature contemporary productions along with actors and actresses you will easily recognize from film and television--illustrating that theatre does not exist in isolation but rather is an art form that is a vibrant part of the cultural makeup of the contemporary entertainment industry.

• Building on the Enhanced 10th edition, the text includes dates for major figures and works to provide a sense of context of where a work fits within an artist's lifetime as well as where it fits within a sociological context.

• Expanded versions of the "Theatre in a Broad Context" timelines help students situate theatrical events and developments within a larger historical context. A timeline has been added to cover Asian and African theatre in Chapter 11 as well as the new Chapter 10: Musical Theatre.

• Based on instructor and student feedback as well as the authors' own experiences as teachers, the material in Part 2 is organized to make the historical overview of theatre's many expressions more clear, as Chapters 6, 7, 8, and 9 feature increased attention to the major playwrights of the modern and contemporary periods and all plays include a date of first production, thereby offering a clearer sense of context.

• Providing easy reference, the examination of the differences between the early modernist movements of realism, symbolism, expressionism, surrealism, futurism, and dadaism is included in a feature box that contrasts all the different features of each.

• Chapters 14–18 include a series of questions to help students attending a performance more fully consider and analyze the work of the different theatre artists.

• Numerous "Practitioners and Theorists" boxes are included in the later chapters to give students more perspectives on the different kinds of designers--scene, costume and makeup.

• Expansive versions of "Theatre in a Broad Context" timelines help you easily situate theatrical events and developments within the larger historical context.

• Based on user feedback as well as the authors' own experiences as teachers, the material in Part 2 is organized to make the historical overview of theatre's many expressions more clear. Chapters 6, 7, 8, and 9 provide expanded attention to the major playwrights of the modern and contemporary periods, and all plays include a date of first production--giving you a stronger sense of context.

• Providing you with a quick reference, the examination of the differences between the early modernist movements of realism, symbolism, expressionism, surrealism, futurism, and dadaism is included in a feature box that contrasts all the different features of each.

• Chapters 14–18 include a series of questions to help you more fully consider and analyze the work of the different theatre artists when you attend a performance--enabling you to maximize your experience.

• Numerous "Practitioners and Theorists" boxes are included in later chapters to give you multiple perspectives and insight on the different kinds of designers--scene, costume and makeup.

Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

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