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  • 1.  Top Books for Theatre Classrooms

    Posted 03-21-2014 14:14
    Looking for a list of "must-have" books for the theatre classroom. These could include books for the teacher OR monologue and scene books.

    Any advice you have, please share!

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    John Stephan
    Teacher of Language and Dramatics Arts

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  • 2.  RE:Top Books for Theatre Classrooms

    Posted 03-21-2014 14:27

    My classroom text book is called: "Theatre: Art in Action." I love it! Written by college theatre professors. Covers acting, directing, producing, tech and history.

    "Mastering Shakespeare" - author is from Oregon Shakespeare Festival - I use it all the time! It details out the vital information for performing 15 or so famous Shakespearean monologues.

    Hope this helps!


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    Beverly Quinn
    Theatre Arts Teacher and Director
    Serrano High School


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  • 3.  RE:Top Books for Theatre Classrooms

    Posted 03-21-2014 16:42
    My must haves:
    On the Technique of Acting - Michael Chekhov
    Tips & Tips II - Jon Jory
    Shakescenes - Shakespeare for two - John Russel Brown
    Books of ten minute plays for scene work (30 ten minute plays for 2 actors etc.,)
    A sense of Direction - William Ball
    13 by Shanley - John Patrick Shanley
    Neil Simon mono & Scene books

    I have many more in our library, but these are the ones I consider essential.


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    Jeffrey Davis

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  • 4.  RE:Top Books for Theatre Classrooms

    Posted 03-22-2014 00:42
    The books that I reference the most when planning for lessons and activities are:

    - Robert Cohen's Acting One
    - J. Michael Gillette's Theatrical Design and Production
    - Bogart & Landau's The Viewpoints Book: A Practical Guide to Viewpoints and Composition
    - Kristin Linklater's Freeing the Natural Voice
    - Patsy Rodenburg's The Right to Speak
    - Phillip Bernardi's Improvisation Starters
    - Larry Silverberg's Meisner for teens: A Life of True Acting

    Now I have tons of other books that I love to use.  These are just a few that I find useful for my prep work.  I do have a few scene collection books, but I typically just collect full play scripts.  This makes it easy for me to have the students read the entire play.  I will say that this is something that has grown over time.  I would not have the budget to buy everything all at once.  

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    Steven Fleming
    Howard County Public School System


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  • 5.  RE:Top Books for Theatre Classrooms

    Posted 03-23-2014 11:34
    Theatre Games for Young Performers
    More Theatre Games for Young Performers
    Towards a Poor Theatre-- Grotowski
    Introduction to Theatre Arts, Zimmerman
    Drafting for The Theater
    The Stock Scenery Handbook
    The Empty Space

    I have a lot of books in my office; however, like other posts-- I tend to return to a few books from time to time.  Much of my teaching approach was influenced early on by a pivotal course I took in Creative Dramatics, which has colored my lesson planning, teaching and coaching design over the years.  However, I find that I go back to these texts over time. 

    Another fun book to have about is FISH! A Proven way to Boost Morale and Improve Results

    Best

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    Michael Johnson

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  • 6.  RE:Top Books for Theatre Classrooms

    Posted 03-24-2014 10:07
    Great question!  

    Shakespeare:
    Speak the Speech by Rhona Silverbush
    How to speak Shakespeare's verse and excellent guide to the monologues.  Technical but exceptional.
    Speaking Shakespeare by Patsy Rodenburg
    The best way into the language
    Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human by Harold Bloom
    Notes on every play, essential for the director.

    Acting/Directing:
    Notes on Directing by Frank Hauser
    Lovely little book that gets to the essence of directing.
    Audition by Michael Shurtleff
    Respect For Acting by Uta Hagen
    Our basic acting texts.
    Training of the American Actor by Arthur Bartow
    Exercises and techniques on how to teach acting from the faculty at Tisch.  Excellent resource.  
    Acting: On Stage and Off by Robert Barton
    Nice introductory book.
    Improvisation For The Theatre by Viola Spolin
    Directing For The Stage: A Workshop Guide by Terry Converse
    Wonderful Directing Course, builds scene exercises based on different skills.



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    Jeremy Goldson

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  • 7.  RE:Top Books for Theatre Classrooms

    Posted 03-25-2014 12:33
    Lots of great resources listed here.  I'd like to throw two favorites on the pile:

    The Power of the Actor by Ivana Chubbuck

    Book On Acting: Improvisation Technique   by Stephen Book  
    I use this one with my Advanced groups.  I would also highly recommend the videos on Stephen Book's website.  Very insightful!


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    Amy Learn

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  • 8.  RE:Top Books for Theatre Classrooms

    Posted 04-15-2014 16:31
    Some wonderful suggestions, many of which I will be checking out for my own growth and learning!

    A couple that I have picked up this year and have found essential:

    Jessica Swale: Drama Games for Classrooms and Workshops
    A wonderful collection of easy to implement warm-ups, character exercises, focus, energy and the like. Really quick to implement!

    J Allen Suddeth: ​Fight Directing for the Theatre
    The most useful stage fighting resource out of three I surveyed. 

    Will Weigler: Strategies for Play-Building
    A very practical guide to building issue-based but not generic, tired 'preachy message' theater that the students build themselves. Very, very utilitarian and accessible.

    Giles Block: Speaking the Speech
    Ken Ludwig: How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare
    Two more Shakespeare texts to consider

    Dan Diggles: Improv for Actors
    Another good resource, could be utilized as a base text for an Improv class

    Please keep reading and adding good theatre books! 



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    Phillip Goodchild
    Valrico FL
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