Download or read book Sam Mendes at the Donmar written by Matt Wolf and published by Hal Leonard Corporation. This book was released on 2003 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Matt Wolf's book chronicles ten amazing years for the Donmar and for Mendes, combining accounts of numerous productions and extensive interviews with Mendes himself and more than sixty Donmar alumni: Sondheim, Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Alan Cumming, Helen Mirren, Stephen Dillane and Jennifer Ehle, to name but a few. This celebration of the Donmar's tenth anniversary is full of candid conversation, analyses of its successes as well as its failures, and trenchant behind-the-scenes reporting. It is also the Donmar's farewell to Sam Mendes, who is leaving the theatre to pursue other opportunities on the stage and screen. As director of American Beauty, for which he won an Academy Award, and Road to Perdition, his future is as bright as his past.
Download or read book Orpheus Descending written by Tennessee Williams and published by Dramatists Play Service, Inc.. This book was released on 1983 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THE STORY: As The New York Times describes, The play tells of a woman storekeeper and a handsome, guileless youth who comes in off the highway. A guitar-player, he is a rural Orpheus who descends to rescue his love--not in Hades, precisely,
Download or read book Anna Christie written by Eugene O'Neill and published by Courier Corporation. This book was released on 2016-02-17 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This 1922 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama from Orsquo;Neillrsquo;s early career concerns the reunion of a barge captain and his daughter after 20 years. The fatherrsquo;s disaffection for the seafaring life and the daughterrsquo;s love for a sailor elicit a shocking confession. Students and enthusiasts of modern theater will prize this inexpensive edition of a moving drama of social realism.
Download or read book Teddy Ferrara written by Christopher Shinn and published by Dramatists Play Service, Inc.. This book was released on 2013-11-25 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It’s Gabe's senior year of college and his future looks bright: He runs the Queer Students Group, he finally has a single room and he recently started dating a great guy. But when a campus tragedy occurs that makes national headlines it ignites a firestorm and throws Gabe's world into disorder. When new evidence surfaces, Gabe discovers that the events surrounding the tragedy aren't as straightforward as they seem, and he is forced to question popular assumptions—and his own life's contradictions.
Download or read book The Oxford Handbook of the British Musical written by Robert Gordon and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2016-11-21 with total page 777 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Oxford Handbook of the British Musical provides a comprehensive academic survey of British musical theatre offering both a historical account of the musical's development from 1728 and a range of in-depth critical analyses of the unique forms and features of British musicals, which explore the aesthetic values and sociocultural meanings of a tradition that initially gave rise to the American musical and later challenged its modern pre-eminence. After a consideration of how John Gay's The Beggar's Opera (1728) created a prototype for eighteenth-century ballad opera, the book focuses on the use of song in early nineteenth century theatre, followed by a sociocultural analysis of the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan; it then examines Edwardian and interwar musical comedies and revues as well as the impact of Rodgers and Hammerstein on the West End, before analysing the new forms of the postwar British musical from The Boy Friend (1953) to Oliver! (1960). One section of the book examines the contributions of key twentieth century figures including Noel Coward, Ivor Novello, Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Joan Littlewood and producer Cameron Macintosh, while a number of essays discuss both mainstream and alternative musicals of the 1960s and 1970s and the influence of the pop industry on the creation of concept recordings such as Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) and Les Misérables (1980). There is a consideration of "jukebox" musicals such as Mamma Mia! (1999), while essays on overtly political shows such as Billy Elliot (2005) are complemented by those on experimental musicals like Jerry Springer: the Opera (2003) and London Road (2011) and on the burgeoning of Black and Asian British musicals in both the West End and subsidized venues. The Oxford Handbook of the British Musical demonstrates not only the unique qualities of British musical theatre but also the vitality and variety of British musicals today.
Download or read book The Methuen Drama Dictionary of the Theatre written by Jonathan Law and published by A&C Black. This book was released on 2013-10-28 with total page 833 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Methuen Drama Dictionary of the Theatre is an essential reference tool and companion for anyone interested in the theatre and theatre-going. Containing over 2500 entries it covers the international spectrum of theatre with particular emphasis on the UK and USA. With biographical information on playwrights, actors and directors, entries on theatres and theatre companies, explanation of technical terms and theatrical genres, and synopses of major plays, this is an authoritative, trustworthy and comprehensive compendium. Included are: synopses of 500 major plays biographical entries on hundreds of playwrights, actors, directors and producers definitions of nearly 200 genres and movements entries on over 100 key characters from plays information about more than 250 theatres and companies Unlike similar products, The Methuen Drama Dictionary of the Theatre avoids a dry, technical approach with its sprinkling of anecdotal asides and fascinating trivia, such as how Michael Gambon gave his name to a corner of a racing track following an incident on BBC's Top Gear programme, and under 'advice to actors' the sage words of Alec Guinness: 'First wipe your nose and check your flies', and the equally wise guidance from the master of his art, Noël Coward: 'Just know your lines and don't bump into the furniture.' As a companion to everything from the main stage to the fringes of theatrical fact and folklore, this will prove an irresistible book to all fans of the theatre.
Download or read book The Vertical Hour written by David Hare and published by Samuel French, Inc.. This book was released on 2007 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "David Hare's new play The Vertical Hour is a thought-provoking exploration of how the political can sometimes intersect, collide with and ultimately dismantle the personal. While the play is positively brimming with cogent and fascinating arguments involving the current political situation, the production only fitfully succeeds in bringing this story to life. Hare fills The Vertical Hour with several of these ethical and philosophical quandaries that serve not only as dramatic interplay between the three main characters, but, also metaphorically as the basis for several of the arguments politicians and intellectuals are having these days concerning the role that America and the West have taken in Iraq, the Middle East and beyond."--Publisher's website.
Download or read book Directors Close Up written by Jeremy Paul Kagan and published by Scarecrow Press. This book was released on 2006 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From script development through pre-production to production and post-production, famed directors offer personal insights into every step of the creative process. They also reveal their candid takes on the best and worst aspects of their profession. This second edition features personal materials from many of the directors, including storyboards, script notes, sketches, and on-set photos. Directors Close Up will be of interest to both professional and aspiring directors; as well as to film fans that will enjoy this inside look into making movies.
Download or read book Theatreland written by Paul Ibell and published by A&C Black. This book was released on 2009-07-01 with total page 514 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Paul Ibell's Theatreland combines historical narrative with a unique exploration of how London's theatre works today.
Download or read book Anything Goes written by John Barrowman and published by Michael O'Mara Books. This book was released on 2009-10-10 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Anything Goes is revelatory and insightful, told with real heart and characteristic Barrowman charm. This is a wonderful tale of how one boy achieved his dreams.
Download or read book Catching the Light written by Mark Leipacher and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2012-06-27 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sam Mendes and Simon Russell Beale have forged one of the most successful working partnerships in contemporary theatre history. Across twenty years and eight productions their collaboration has evolved, matured and keeps thriving through their work on stage; six Shakespeare and two Chekhov plays form their common body of work so far. Mark Leipacher’s correspondence with Mendes and Beale and his thorough research into archival material on their collaborations, offers the reader a detailed account of the productions and, uniquely, Mendes’ and Beale’s own observations on their method of work and on the discoveries they made in each of the plays. How do moments of magic on stage arise in the rehearsal room? Catching the Light, full of anecdotes and gems of knowledge, is an indispensable read for actors, directors, students and anyone who loves the theatre. Features a foreword from Kevin Spacey, Artistic Director of the Old Vic.
Download or read book Behind the Doors of Notorious Covent Garden written by Elizabeth Sharland and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2009-11-16 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Covent Garden, the cultural heart of London, is notorious for its history, ghosts, and the Old Market. Discover the special places unique to this area. It would be interesting to read about the latest fashionable shops, popular pubs and hotels that existed in Covent Garden a hundred years ago but there is no accurate record as far as I know. This book, therefore, may be of interest in 100 years hence when we are all gone. There are biographies of the people who lived and worked here of course, and some of the restaurants and theatres they visited are still in existence, but in 100 years time, they may be all gone, too. While doing research for this book I came across the writings of theatre people, who had lived and worked in Covent Garden, when I was a student, and who had inspired me, although they were a little before my time. They have a chapter in this book. Clemence Dane, (Winifred Ashton) Alan Dent, Angus McBean, James Agate all wrote about the area and their stories make fascinating reading.
Download or read book Affair of the Heart written by Michael Billington and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2021-09-23 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A book of selected theatre reviews from 1992 to 2020 from one of the foremost authorities on British theatre. Starting each chapter is a brief commentary on the developments of that era and the social, political and cultural context within which this theatre was being produced. Also included are key obituaries and letters in response to reviews written, providing a rich collection of curated archival material. Following on from his first collection, One Night Stands, Michael Billington's chronicle offers a rich, authoritative insight into British theatre over the last 3 decades from his unique professional perspective. It begins with Tony Kushner's UK premiere of Angels in America at the National Theatre in 1992 and culminates with Inua Ellams's celebrated adaptation of Chekhov's Three Sisters at the same venue almost 30 years later. En route, we're exposed to the fallibility of theatre criticism through his much-regretted original criticism of Sarah Kane's Blasted and its role in identifying major talents at the first opportunity. Having recently retired from his 48-year position as the Guardian newspaper's drama critic during which time he wrote around 10,000 theatre reviews, Michael Billiington was Britain's longest-serving theatre critic. Through his work, he was present at an eye-watering number of premieres during this time and witnessed first-hand the exciting developments in British theatre over the past 30 years and the substantial pressures it faced - never more so than today.
Download or read book Ultra talk written by David Kirby and published by University of Georgia Press. This book was released on 2007 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Ultra-Talk, David Kirby poses a simple question: What makes a cultural phenomenon truly great? Exploring a wide variety of "king-sized cultural monuments," Kirby argues that one qualification for greatness is that a phenomenon be embraced by both the elite and the general public. Further, he argues, it must be embraced repeatedly over time. Kirby turns his critical eye to subjects that have been studied and written about, sought after avidly, discussed passionately, and even resisted vigorously around the world. Auto racing, Dante, folk music, food, Leonardo da Vinci, films, poetry, religion, striptease, television, and the internet are just some of the topics he examines. In Rome, heads of state kneel before Bernini's statue of Saint Teresa in ecstasy, says Kirby, and so do people who can't read. And everyone watches TV. Ultra-Talk pays homage to the work of two towering writers and critics. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Giacomo Leopardi both stated that a book was valid only if it had been accepted by both an intellectual elite and a vast public. Kirby would have added a second requirement: that the book's--or cultural monument's--popularity must have traction over time. By standing on the shoulders of Goethe and Leopardi, Kirby offers a way to read, see, and savor a post-theoretical worldview that everybody can share.
Download or read book Cyprus Avenue written by David Ireland and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2016-04-21 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Gerry Adams has disguised himself as a newborn baby and successfully infiltrated my family home. Eric Miller is a Belfast Loyalist. He believes his five-week old granddaughter is Gerry Adams. His family keep telling him to stop living in the past and fighting old battles that nobody cares about anymore, but his cultural heritage is under siege. He must act. David Ireland's black comedy takes one man's identity crisis to the limits as he uncovers the modern day complexity of Ulster Loyalism. Cyprus Avenue was first performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on 11 February 2016, before transferring to the Royal Court Theatre, London in April 2016.
Download or read book The Theatre of Rupert Goold written by Sarah Grochala and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2020-11-12 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the late 1990s, Rupert Goold has garnered a reputation as one of the UK's most exciting and provocative theatre directors. His exhilarating, risk-taking productions of both classic texts and new plays have travelled from regional stages to the National Theatre, the West End, Broadway and beyond. Through his artistic directorship of Northampton's Royal & Derngate, the touring theatre company Headlong and London's Almeida Theatre, he has radically transformed, not only the companies themselves, but the landscape of British theatre. This is the first book to survey and analyse the full range of Goold's work to date and is a vital resource for students, scholars and fans of his work. Based on extensive interviews with Goold and some of the playwrights, designers, actors and other creatives who have collaborated with him, The Theatre of Rupert Goold provides an account of Goold's work from the beginnings of his career to the present day, offering a backstage view of the creative processes behind some of his most successful productions including: Paradise Lost, Faustus (Royal & Derngate); Macbeth (Chichester Festival Theatre); The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet (RSC); Six Characters in Search of an Author, ENRON (Headlong); Time and the Conways (National Theatre); Charles III and Ink (Almeida). The Theatre of Rupert Goold is an accessible and fascinating guide to Goold's approach to making theatre, an approach that asks provocative questions of the modern world in the most theatrical ways imaginable.
Download or read book Look I Made a Hat written by Stephen Sondheim and published by Knopf. This book was released on 2011-11-22 with total page 481 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The second volume of Sondheim's collected lyrics is both a remarkable glimpse into the brilliant mind of a legend, and a continuation of the acclaimed and best-selling Finishing the Hat. Picking up where he left off in Finishing the Hat, Sondheim gives us all the lyrics, along with excluded songs and early drafts, of the Pulitzer Prize–winning Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins and Passion. Here, too, is an in-depth look at the evolution of Wise Guys, which subsequently was transformed into Bounce and eventually became Road Show. Sondheim takes us through his contributions to both television and film, some of which may surprise you, and covers plenty of never-before-seen material from unproduced projects as well. There are abundant anecdotes about his many collaborations, and readers are treated to rare personal material in this volume, as Sondheim includes songs culled from commissions, parodies and personal special occasions—such as a hilarious song for Leonard Bernstein’s seventieth birthday. As he did in the previous volume, Sondheim richly annotates his lyrics with invaluable advice on songwriting, discussions of theater history and the state of the industry today, and exacting dissections of his work, both the successes and the failures. Filled with even more behind-the-scenes photographs and illustrations from Sondheim’s original manuscripts, Look, I Made a Hat is fascinating, devourable and essential reading for any fan of the theater or this great man’s work.
