TEXTBOOKS for
Theatre Courses

Stagecraft Fundamentals: A Guide and Reference for Theatrical Production, 2nd Edition
Rita Kogler Carver
ISBN: 978-0-240-82051-4

Stagecraft Fundamentals burst into the technical theatre textbook scene back in 2009, tackling every aspect of theatre production with Rita Kogler Carver's signature witty and engaging voice. The history of stagecraft, safety precautions, lighting, costumes, scenery, career planning tips, and more are discussed, illustrated by beautiful color examples that both display step-by-step procedures and break with the traditionally boring black and white introductory theatre textbook. This second edition improves upon the last, including more in-demand information on stage management, props, drawing and drafting (both by hand and CAD), lighting fixtures, and special effects. Also new to this edition are current articles from Lighting and Sound America, brand new diagrams that illustrate hard-to-grasp concepts, and plethora of information on European conversions, standards, and practices, making this the must have introductory theatre book even across the ocean... [more]

Scenic Art for the Theatre, 3rd Edition
Susan Crabtree
Peter Beudert
ISBN: 978-0-240-81290-8

Now in its third edition, Scenic Art for the Theatre continues to be the most trusted source for both student and professional scenic artists. With new information on scenic design using Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro and other digital imaging softwares this test expands to offer the developing artist more step-by-step instuction and more practical techniques for work in the field. It goes beyond detailing job functions and discussing techniques to serve as a trouble-shooting guide for the scenic artist, providing practical advice for everyday solutions... [more]

Show Case: Developing, Maintaining, and Presenting a Design-Tech Portfolio for Theatre and Allied Fields, 2nd Edition
Rafael Jaen
ISBN: 978-0-240-81926-6

A design tech portfolio showcases a theatre designer/technician's most prized accomplishments in stage design, lighting, costuming, or makeup. The ability to make a winning portfolio is essential to getting into choice colleges, obtaining scholarships, and getting new jobs in the field. Unfortunately the process can become time consuming and challenging if you don't know where to start. Show Case offers students, teachers, and aspiring professionals the information they need to know to create, maintain, and show off their portfolio.

This fully revised second edition features new and expanded chapters that explore current and innovative approaches to creating a design-tech portfolio, including branding, social networking, and traditional and interactive e-portfolios. This comprehensive guide also covers planning and developing details such as page layout, content variety, aesthetic sequencing, marketing, personal presentation, and next steps. Each chapter features introductions, samples, and lists of "Do's and Don'ts" provided by experienced professionals in the different design/tech fields. Portfolios featured are from an incredible cast of contributors at different stages of their careers, including recent graduate students, officers of renowned organizations and international theater artists, and art directors representing narrative artists in the allied fields of film, TV, and other media. This book is designed as a reference guide, workbook, and an inspirational tool, assisting designers/technicians in the process of developing a showcase that can be used to apply for graduate school, to pursue new jobs in the field, and for career marketing purposes... [more]

Automated Lighting: The Art and Science of Moving Light in Theatre, Live Performance, and Entertainment, 2nd Edition
Richard Cadena
ISBN: 978-0-240-81222-9

Automated Lighting: The Art and Science of Moving Light in Theatre, Live Performance, and Entertainment continues to be the most trusted text for working and aspiring lighting professionals. Now in its second edition, it has been fully updated to include new advances in lamp sources such as LEDs and plasma lamps, automated and programmable displays, updates for managing color, and new methods for using electronics. Its clear, easy-to-understand language also includes enough detailed information for the most experienced technician and engineer.... [more]

Illustrated Theatre Production Guide, 2nd Edition
John Holloway
ISBN: 978-0-240-81204-5

This new and fully updated edition of the Illustrated Theatre Production Guide takes a step-by-step approach to the most common and popular theatre production practices, covering important issues related to the construction of wooden, fabric, plastic, and metal scenery used on the stage. This book examines theatres and their equipment, tools and materials, and scenery construction, as well as the principles of electricity and implementation of a lighting design.

Illustrated Theatre Production Guide, Second Edition offers techniques and best-practice methods from an experienced industry expert, creating a foundation on which to build a successful and resourceful career behind the scenes in theatre production.... [more]

Character Costume Figure Drawing: Step-by-Step Drawing Methods for Theatre Costume Designers, 2nd Edition
Tan Huaixiang
ISBN: 978-0-240-81184-0

Character Costume Figure Drawing will develop your drawing skills to improve your renderings. Not only is this book gorgeous and inspirational, but these comprehensive visual images carefully illustrate—step-by-step—how to successfully render dynamic characters with personality and life. This book presents drawing instruction with detailed breakdowns of various types of characters. Maternal? Elderly? Sassy? Sexy? It all startws with body proportion, bone structure, body masses, facial expressions, and the hands and feet. Hats, props, fabrics, and choice of medium are all thoroughly covered to ensure the ability to develop convincing lifelike characters.... [more]

A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, 2nd Edition
Steven Louis Shelley
ISBN: 978-0-240-81141-3

Combining theory and application, A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting provides a comprehensive analysis of lighting systems along with step-by-step examples and illustrations of the technical tools and methods. Readers will benefit from experience-based tips, techniques and traps to avoid in preparing and executing a lighting design. Anecdotes illustrate why some techniques succeed while others fail.... [more]

Sound and Music for the Theatre: The Art and Technique of Design, 3rd Edition
Deena Kaye
James LeBrecht
ISBN: 978-0-240-81011-9

Sound and Music for the Theatre has been a trusted text in the field of theatrical sound design since 1991. We bring to you this revised and revamped third edition from the incredible Kaye and LeBrecht author team with additions from David Budries, Chair of Sound Design at the renowned Yale School of Drama.

This is the only text available that focuses on the aesthetics, processes, and techniques involved in producing sound and music for the stage. This new edition also offers a brand new forum on sound reinforcement, information on computer-assisted playback systems, and new added technical information all-around... [more]

Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers: With New Material on Non-Realistic Plays, 4th Edition
James Thomas
ISBN: 978-0-240-81049-2

Script Analysis for Actors, Directors and Designers (4th Edition) continues to serve both the practical and creative experiences of theatrical production. Students will immediately be able to incorporate the concepts and processes they learn and benefit from clear examples, end-of-chapter questions and summaries created to stimulate ingenuity as they engage in production work.

Based on the premise that plays should be objects of study in and of themselves, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers teaches an established system of classifications that examines the written part of a play. This 4e includes in-depth analysis of unconventional plays, which are exploding on amateur and professional stages. These plays present unique analytical challenges that the author teaches the unusual ways in which the subject matter operates in unconventional plays... [more]

Special Makeup Effects for Stage and Screen: Making and Applying Prosthetics
Todd Debreceni
ISBN: 978-0-240-80996-0

In the world of film and theatre, character transformation takes a lot of work, skill, and creativity. Dedicated solely to special effects makeup, this book gives students tips and techniques from a seasoned artist with years of film, TV, and theatrical experience. Special Effects Makeup for Stage and Screen begins with a full discussion of how human anatomy relates to sculpture and continues to show students how various effects are achieved, and takes you through the many genres that need an SFX makeup artist... [more]

Management and the Arts, 4th Edition
William J. Byrnes
ISBN: 978-0-240-81004-1

Revised to reflect the latest thinking and trends in managing organizations and people, Management and the Arts, Fourth Edition provides the student with the practical tools necessary to learn about managing an arts organization. The class-tested questions in each chapter help the student integrate the material and develop ideas as to how the situations and problems could have been handled. Case studies focus on the challenges facing managers and organizations every day, and "In The News" quotes give real-world examples of principles and theories. Developing career skills and options, graduate and postgraduate training opportunities, and professional organizations and conferences are highlighted…[more]

The Makeup Artist Handbook: Techniques for Film, Television, Photography, and Theatre, 2nd Edition
Gretchen Davis
Mindy Hall
ISBN: 978-0-240-81894-8

Get professional techniques usually known only by Hollywood makeup artists in this full-color, comprehensive book from accomplished makeup pros Gretchen Davis and Mindy Hall. The two come to you with impressive backgrounds in film and television industries—their projects have included Pearl Harbor, Rent, Stuart Little, and The Nanny Diaries, and Mindy Hall is fresh off her Academy Award win for her work on 2009's Star Trek. This new edition of The Makeup Artist Handbook offers even more illustrations to demonstrate techniques visually; fundamentals on topics such as beauty, time periods, black and white film; and up-to-date information on cutting-edge techniques like air brushing makeup for computer-generated movies, makeup effects, mold-making, lighting, and lots of information on how to work effectively in HD... [more]

Mechanical Design for the Stage
Alan Hendrickson
ISBN: 978-0-240-80631-0

Mechanical Design for the Stage follows standard engineering design and construction practices, and develops machines that are functional, efficient to build, easily maintained, and safe to use.

Scenic effects involving rotating turntables, tracking stage wagons, and the vertical movement of curtains and painted drops have become common in both Broadway and Regional theatre productions. The machines that drive these effects range from small pneumatic cylinders pushing loads of a few pounds an inch or two, to 40 horse-power winches running multi-ton scenery at speeds 6 feet per second. Usually this machinery is designed by theatre technicians specifically for a particular show's effect. Compared to general industry, this design process is short, often only a few days long, it is done by one person, design teams are rare, and it is done in the absence of reference material specifically addressing the issues involved. The main goal of Mechanical Design for the Stage is to remedy this situation... [more]

Concert Sound and Lighting Systems, 3rd Edition
John Vasey
ISBN: 978-0-240-80364-7

Concert Sound and Lighting Systems provides comprehensive coverage of equipment and setup procedures for touring concert systems. The new edition will cover the new equipment now available and discuss other venues where the skills and technology are being used.

This new edition incorporates the continuing developments in concert sound and lighting systems maintaining the premise that the reader has had no previous experience. The practical how-to illustrations teach the reader about the equipment, and this thoroughly updated edition will include new equipment such as radio microphones, in-ear monitoring, digital audio products and digital lighting products... [more]

Control Systems for Live Entertainment, 3rd Edition
John Huntington
ISBN: 978-0-240-80937-3

If you are interested in how control systems and computer networks are used in all areas of live entertainment, Control Systems for Live Entertainment is the industry standard reference. With a unique combined focus on computers, networking, art, and practice, this book offers an in-depth examination of control for lighting, lasers, sound, stage machinery, animatronics, special effects, and pyrotechnics for concerts, theme parks, theatre, themed-retail, cruise ships, museums, special and other events.... [more]

Costume Craftwork on a Budget: Clothing, 3-D Makeup, Wigs, Millinery and Accessories
Tan Huaixiang
ISBN: 978-0-240-80853-6

Part of the costume designer’s job is to be creative and use what materials are available to execute the design elements in a production. This book will show the design student how to use inexpensive materials to create durable products in a short amount of time that are practical and technical. It is written in an easy-to-follow manner and each step is shown with a wide array of illustrations and photographs. From creating armour out of laundry baskets, to detailed tricks to create a prosthetic nose for a witch, this book will show the techniques needed to produce end results that are beautiful, economical, and fast to make.... [more]

Drawing and Rendering for Theatre: A Practical Course for Scenic, Costume, and Lighting Designers
Clare P. Rowe
ISBN: 978-0-240-80554-2

For a theatrical design student, it is vital to be able to develop drawing skills to create renderings that can effectively communicate visual ideas. Drawing and Rendering for Theatre starts with the fundamentals of drawing, moves to the types of media, and finishes with specific exercises in each section that will make the reader more proficient. By the end of this book, your students will be versatile enough to be able to create renderings in all areas of theatrical design!.... [more]

Scenic Design and Lighting Techniques: A Basic Guide for Theatre
Chuck Gloman
Rob Napoli
ISBN: 978-0-240-80806-2

Basic. This is the key word in Scenic Design and Lighting Tecniques: A Basic Guide for Theatre, written by two seasoned professionals with over twenty years of experience. This book is designed to show you how to turn a bare stage into a basic set design, without using heavy language that would bog you down. From materials and construction to basic props and lighting, this book explains all you will need to know to build your set and light it. This text is perfect for non-majors or beginners who need to know the basics and the basics only.... [more]

Scene Painting Projects for Theatre
Stephen Sherwin
ISBN: 978-0-240-80813-0

The art, practice, and technique of scene painting is an essential part of theatre design. A scenic artist is responsible for translating the vision of the scenic designer to the realized scenery.

Unlike all other scene painting books, this text takes the student step-by-step through actual individual scene painting projects. Each project is commonly used in theatrical productions and each project builds upon the skills learned in the previous lesson. From wood and marble, to foliage and drapery, this book will teach the student how to become a skilled scenic painter and it will make teaching the class a breeze for the professor... [more]

Computer Visualization for the Theatre: 3D Modelling for Designers
Gavin Carver
Christine White
ISBN: 978-0-240-51617-2

• Prepare your students to be technically savvy Theatre Designers
• Find both practical and inspirational advice for developing successful performance projects
• Provide a guide full of examples for designing theatre space with Autodesk Viz and 3D Studio Max

3D software is an important part of theatre design in today's world. This text is both a guide to the creative design process as well as an introduction to the use of computers in live performance. Covering the main software packages, Autodesk Viz and 3D Studio Max, the book provides techniques for 3D modeling alongside creative ideas and concepts for working in 3D space.... [more]

Technical Design Solutions for Theatre: The Technical Brief Collection, Volume 1
Bronislaw J. Sammler
Don Harvey
ISBN: 978-0-240-80490-3

The Technical Brief is a collection of single-focus articles on technical production solutions, published three times a year by the prestigious Yale School of Drama. The primary objective of the publication is to share creative solutions to technical problems so that fellow theatre technicians can avoid having to reinvent the wheel with each new challenge. The range of topics includes scenery, props, painting, electrics, sound, and costumes. The articles each describe an approach, device, or technique that has been tested on stage or in a shop by students and professionals... [more]

Technical Design Solutions for Theatre: The Technical Brief Collection, Volume 2
Bronislaw J. Sammler
Don Harvey
ISBN: 978-0-240-80492-7

The Technical Brief is a collection of single-focus articles on technical production solutions, published three times a year by the prestigious Yale School of Drama. The primary objective of the publication is to share creative solutions to technical problems so that fellow theatre technicians can avoid having to reinvent the wheel with each new challenge. The range of topics includes scenery, props, painting, electrics, sound and costumes. The articles each describe an approach, device, or technique that has been tested on stage or in a shop by students and professionals... [more]

Designer Drafting for the Entertainment World
Patricia Woodbridge
ISBN: 978-0-240-80424-8

Designer Drafting for the Entertainment World provides essential information for designers, covering traditional hand drafting techniques as well as computer-based drawing programs. This new text begins with the basic tools and comprehensive coverage of the principles of scenic drafting and goes on to cover professional applications for the stage, motion pictures, television, trade shows, and amusement park scenery. It also includes a chapter on virtual scenery and lighting... [more]

Stage Manager: The Professional Experience
Larry Fazio
ISBN: 978-0-240-80410-1

In every theatrical production, a single indispensable person is responsible for ensuring that scenery, lighting, actors, directors, sound artists are in sync. Stage Manager: the Professional Experience takes the reader through all aspects of the craft of stage management, from prompt books and laptops to relationships and people management. It offers an extensive discussion of what makes a good stage manager, and takes the reader through each phase of a production from getting hired, to auditions and rehearsals, to the run and closing of the show... [more]

Structural Design for the Stage
Alys E. Holden
Bronislaw J. Sammler
ISBN: 978-0-240-80354-8

This book provides the theater technician with a foundation in structural design allowing an intuitive understanding of why sets "stand up". It introduces the basics of statics and the study of the strength of materials as they apply to typical scenery, with a minimum of theory and many examples. The material is presented such that only a basic knowledge of algebra, geometry and trigonometry is required. This useful text is also invaluable to professionals as a permanent handbook complete with carefully selected reference tables, which are applicable to most theatrical situations... [more]