Theatre Appreciation Quick Start Sources
| These sources are essential resources to begin theatre
appreciation research for a variety of time periods, geographic areas,
and aspects of theatre (theatre architecture, scene design, costumes, acting,
plays, dramatists, culture, and audiences). |
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enter a root word, word, or phrase in the
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click on Find Next to
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example, type theat to find theatre,
theatres, and theatrical.
Textbooks on Reserve
These textbooks have been placed on reserve by Theatre Appreciation faculty
because they directly relate to various aspects of the group projects for this
class.
A cultural history of theatre
NW Owens Reserve NWO Resv Theat B002 (4
HOUR LOAN)
This book compares favorably with Brockett’s History of the Theatre as
an introduction to most time periods and geographic regions for Theatre
Appreciation topics. It also covers some Asian theater traditions – Japan
and China. As the title indicates it is ideal for linking cultural influences
of art and society to prevalent theatrical conventions in a country and
time period. For every style of theater discussed, this books details the
circumstances of the performance – who performed it, where it was
performed, and who the audience for the performance was. In each chapter
there is a timeline with overlapping historical events, artistic events
(outside of theater), and theater history events. Each chapter contains
a section discussing art ideas and social ideas common to that country and
time period related to theater. Each chapter contains a section called Connections
that explains how the theater discussed in that chapter influenced later
styles of theater. There is also a Sources for Further Study list at the
end of each chapter that can be used to look up additional sources in the
Owens Library Catalog and MOBIUS Catalog.
Period style for the theatre / Douglas A. Russell.
NW Owens Reserve 792.02 R962p (2
HOUR LOAN)
This book is designed to answer the question, “How would I put on
a play set in a particular time period and using a specific performance
style in Western theater?” More work is required to match each chapter
with a Theatre Appreciation topic. For instance it has a chapter on Classic
Baroque style which would require you to know that baroque arts were produced
in 17th century (1600-1700) Western Europe primarily. Each chapter contains
sections on Art and Culture, Life and Cultural Ideals (daily life and customs),
Costume and Accessories (costume), Manners and Movement as well as Acting
the Plays (acting technique), The Theatre (stage design and scenery), and
The Plays (plays and dramatists) for that period. Good for linking social
and artistic concepts of the time to theater performance and for the overall
performance practice of the day (acting, costumes, stage design, scenery,
and acting).
Theatre past and present: an introduction
NW Owens Reserve NWO Resv Theat B014 (4
HOUR LOAN)
This book contains chapters that relate to many of the Theatre Appreciation
topics – Greek and Roman theatre, Medieval theatre, Elizabethan theatre,
Seventeenth Century French theatre, Restoration and Eighteenth Century English
theatre, Nineteenth Century European theatre, and Twentieth Century European
and American Theatre. Each chapter has a representative play for that time
period and geographic area, Condition of Performance (acting, stage design,
scenery, costumes, acting, playwriting, special effects, and the audience
attending the plays), and Dramatic Conventions pertaining to plot and characters
common to plays of that time period and geographic area.
Theatre: A history of the art
NW Owens Reserve NWO Resv Theat B006 (4
HOUR LOAN)
This text covers time periods starting with ancient Greece and Rome, medieval
theatre, the Italian renaissance, Spanish renaissance, English the
from the medieval period through the renaissance, French theatre 1552-1789,
restoration theatre (1660-1705), eighteenth century theatre, nineteenth
century theatre and twentieth century theatre. It includes a heavy concentration
on the theatre traditions of Great Britain and the United States. It also
examines theatrical traditions of Ireland, Italy, France, Germany, Northern
Europe (Sweden and the Netherlands), Russia, China, Japan, India, and Indonesia.
Most chapters include a section on history, stages, scenic design, acting,
costumes, and dramatists (and other theatrical personalities).
Western theatre: Revolution and revival
NW Owens Reserve NWO Resv Theat B005 (4
HOUR LOAN)
This text is arranged according to time period and paradigms that characterize
the stage of each time period – Greek theatre (534 b.c. – a.d.
476), Roman theatre (240 b.c. – a.d. 476), Latin music-drama (965-1250),
theatre of the middle ages (1250-1600), Italian renaissance (1350-1650),
neoclassical and baroque theatre (1650-1750), theatre of the enlightenment
(1750-1800), theatre of the romantic age (1800-1850), realistic theatre
(1850-present), theatres in reaction (1890-1960). This volume excels in
showing illustrations of theatre architecture, stage designs, costumes,
actors performing. It also provides timetables showing prominent dramatists,
actors, playhouses, and other aspects of theatre in a particular time period.
It focuses on European and American theatre primarily.
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Ebooks
Background Information: Dictionaries, Encyclopedias,
and Handbooks
Use these sources to define terms and concepts used in the
drama and theatre disciplines. Consult encyclopedias at the beginning
of a research project to obtain a concise overview of a concept, school
of thought, or a particular person's contribution to the dramatic and
theatre arts.
Arts & Humanities Through the Eras
1st Floor, Reference 700.9 A79a, 5 volumes
This reference set covers architecture, dance, fashion, literature, music, philosophy, religion, theater, and the visual arts from the era of ancient Egypt through the baroque period and the age of enlightenment in Europe. Western Europe is the main focus of much of this reference work. Each volume includes a chronology of events for each discipline, an overview of each discipline for the time period covered, topics that hightlight the most important aspects of each discipline, biographies of significant persons in each discipline, and documentary sources (primary sources) for each discipline. This set is illustrated with black and white photographs.
Cambridge Companions Online
Online Database
The Cambridge Companions to Literature and Classics collection offers over 1500 comprehensive and accessible essays on major authors, periods and genres, written by experts and designed for student readers. For the author Companions each writer is placed in literary and historical context; their major works are analysed, either in separate chapters or grouped according to theme, and their influence on later writers assessed. The generic and topical Companions cover periods of English literature such as Old English or the Victorian Novel, and literary genres such as Modernism or Greek Tragedy, giving the student vital contextual information about political, social, religious and artistic relationships. The Companions to Classical Civilisation examine key periods and aspects of the civilisations of ancient Greece and Rome.
Cambridge Guide to the Theatre
1st Floor, Reference 792.03 C17c
The intention of this guide is "offer a comprehensive view of the history
and present practice of the theatre in all parts of the world..." Their
second aim is to "celebrate the vitality and importance of popular
theatre and popular entertainment.." Includes articles on national
theatres which attempt to cover theatre traditions in that country or
region from the classical and medieval eras onward. Articles also present
aspects of theatre such as costume, stage lighting, actors, directors,
and play authors.
International Dictionary of Theatre Vol. 1: PLAYS
1st Floor, Reference 792.03 I611i
This work examines drama both as literature and performance and it is international
in scope. It includes entries for historical periods from Ancient Greece
to the present.
Daily Life Through History:
1st Floor, Reference 390 G81
This encyclopedia attempts to show how ordinary people in various
time periods and cultures went about the business and pleasure of their daily
lives. Each volume is arranged thematically, containing a section for historical
overview, domestic life, economic life, intellectual life, material life,
political life, recreational life (including theater), and religious life.
The time periods covered are as follows: 1. The ancient world -- 2. The medieval
world -- 3. 15th and 16th centuries -- 4. 17th and 18th centuries -- 5. 19th
century -- 6. The modern world. for a more in-depth look at specific cultures
and time periods, Greenwood Press also publishes a series of related book
under the series title - Greenwood Press "Daily Life Through History" Series.
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama
1st Floor, Reference 809.2 M14m (Two copies of the 1972 edition are
available on the 3rd Floor)
The emphasis in this reference set is on play authors themselves with consideration
of national and ethnic theatre traditions and theatre in specific countries
taking second priority. It is heavily illustrated.
Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre & Performance
1st Floor, Reference 792.03 O98o
The Oxford Encyclopedia "treats most aspects of theatre and
performance over time and on a worldwide scale". This encyclopedia
is particularly strong in covering performance related issues of theatre
and biographies of persons associated with theatre. Theatre traditions
of cities and regions are emphasized over generalized articles on national
theatres. This work is also particularly strong in covering international
theatre and concerns of non-Western concepts and issues.
World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre
1st Floor, Reference 792.03 W92w
The aim of this set is to sketch out the political and social context of
each nation and then to comparatively explore every country's theatrical
history since 1945. Countries from Africa, the Arab world, Asia and Oceania,
the Americas and Europe are covered in this exhaustive treatment of contemporary
international theatre.
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Theatre
History
Use these volumes to begin research on the development of theatrical performance
over time. The history of European theatre traditions is especially well covered.
Use the sources in the Background Information section to find
more information on the history of theatre traditions.
History of the Theatre
3rd Floor 792.09 B86h (One copy of the 1999 edition is
on Reserve)
This work is regarded as one of the best one-volume histories of world theatre.
Emphasis is given to the European theatre. Excellent coverage is given to
Greek, Roman, and renaissance theatres. Performance practice, architecture,
and theatrical conditions are considered for each time period and genre.
Oxford
Illustrated History of the Theatre
3rd Floor 792.09 O98o
This work focuses on the history of western theatre from the classical Greece
and Rome through 1970. Chapters on the theatre of Africa, South America,
and various regions of Asia are also included. As the title implies, copious
illustrations of performances, stage design, and theatre architecture are
provided.
Theatre: Three Thousand Years of Drama, Acting, and Stagecraft
3rd Floor 792.02 C51t
Sheldon Cheney has attempted to provide a sweeping overview of theatre performance
practice and theater construction and layout from antiquity to the modern
period just before World War II. As the title implies, the mechanics of
theatre are stressed as much as the conceptual aspects of play authors and
the influence of related arts.
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