WICKED: THE GRIMMERIE, A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE HIT BROADWAY MUSICAL
by David Cote
from Hyperion
Wicked is not just a musical, it is a phenomenon. Every week 15,000 people pack New Yorks Gershwin Theatre to see the show. The most successful musical on Broadway in 2004, Wicked is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire. It tells the story of Elphaba, the headstrong Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the good witch, growing up in the Land of Oz. The show has cast a spell on fans, many of whom return for second and third viewings. In 2005, the show begins an extensive tour across the United States and Canada, hitting major cities such as Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and many more. This beautifully packaged, whimsical keepsake is designed to resemble the Grimmerie, an ancient book of spells that Elphaba uses in the show. Wicked: The Grimmerie offers fans a behind-the-curtains peek at the musical, profiles of the cast and creative team, and inside stories, with full-color photographs throughout. Some of the irresistible special features include an Ozian glossary, spells, the shows libretto, an illustrated family tree, and a step-by-step look at how Elphaba gets green before each showeverything fans need to relive the Broadway experience day after day.
Romeo & Juliet (Arkangel Complete Shakespeare)
by William Shakespeare
from Audio Partners
Because this production of Romeo and Juliet features a full-cast performance, original music, and sound effects, it could accurately be described as an audio play. This tragic tale of the world's most famous star-crossed couple was originally written to be seen, but the genius of Shakespeare's language is stunningly beautiful to the naked ear as well. When Romeo spies Juliet across a crowded dance floor, he speaks aloud what may be the perfect description of love at first sight: "If my heart e'r loved till now, forswear it sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." Although you can't see who has so smitten the dear boy, the Juliet you visualize in your mind's eye is far more sublime than any mere mortal could ever hope to be. If there is a disappointment to this production, it is, ironically, the sound itself. At times the actors' overlapping voices are difficult to distinguish, especially for those unfamiliar with Elizabethan vernacular. The music is generally quite good and adds a beneficial element that too few audiocassettes bother to include, but is at times perfunctory and a little too loud. The excellent cast is made up of established members of England's professional theater community, and their performances meet the expectations one would have for such a well-trained and respected group. (Running time: three hours, two cassettes) --George Laney
The noble Veronese houses of Montague and Capulet are locked in a bitter feud. When Romeo, a Montague, and Juliet, a Capulet, fall in love, they are swept up in a series of violent events and cruel twists of fortune. Their secret meetings propel them inexorably to a tragic fate. A true masterpiece, this unforgettable work contains some of the Bard's most beautiful poetry. Performed by Joseph Fiennes, Maria Miles, and the Arkangel cast.
The Makeup Artist Handbook: Techniques for Film, Television, Photography, and Theatre
by Gretchen Davis
from Focal Press
This full-color and amply illustrated book is written for film, television, and theatre makeup artists who need to know the basics on how to accomplish flawless makeup applications. It begins with fundamental practices and continues through more complex techniques usually known only by Hollywood makeup artists. Written by two expert authors who have experience doing makeup for television, commmercials, and blockbuster films, readers will learn about beauty, time periods, black and white film, as well as cutting edge techniques such as air brusshing makeup for computer-generated movies, and makeup effects.
High definition (HD) technology has revolutionized the techniques needed by makeup artists--you need to know more, have more talent, and be more detailed than ever before. Because HD emphasizes every detail on screen, it's essential for makeup artists to know how to achieve a desired "look" that fits the director's requirements. This book will help professional and aspiring makeup artists to hone their craft in both conventional and HD techniques.
Gorgeous full color book shows how makeup artists make Hollywood stars look as good as they do, even in HD!
Get the inside track about how to work with the pros and all about set etiquette
Contains tips and techniques from a number of professional Hollywood makeup artists
Includes a full reference section with useful websites, business listings, and contacts
Improvisation for the Theater 3E: A Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques (Drama and Performance Studies)
by Viola Spolin
from Northwestern University Press
Macbeth (Arkangel Shakespeare)
by William Shakespeare
from BBC Audiobooks America
Three witches predict not only that Macbeth will become king of Scotland, but also that his fellow general, Banquo, will father a succession of Scottish kings — though Banquo himself will never be crowned. When Lady Macbeth persuades her husband to slay King Duncan and seize the throne of Scotland, Macbeth achieves his ambition, but one murder leads to more. Guilt, retribution, and self-destiny are explored in one of Shakespeare's crowning achievements. Performed by Hugh Ross, Harriet Walter, and the Arkangel cast.
A Director Prepares: Seven Essays on Art in Theatre
by Anne Bogart
from Routledge
I am interested in the artistic process. In order to approach the theatre as artists, we should have a good look at our tools and how we make decisions. How do we approach one another in the arena of a rehearsal or on a stage? How do we begin, how do we proceed, and what are our allies?
--From the Introduction
A Director Prepares is a fascinating and thought-provoking examination of the challenges of making theatre. In it, Anne Bogart speaks candidly and with immense wisdom of the courage required to create "art with great presence."
Each chapter tackles one of the seven major areas Bogart has identified as both potential partner and potential obstacle to art-making. They are Violence; Memory; Terror; Eroticism; Stereotype; Embarrassment; and Resistance. Each one can be used to generate extraordinary creative energy, if we know how to use it.
A Director Prepares offers every practitioner an extraordinary insight into the creative process. It is a handbook, Bible and manifesto, all in one. No other book on the art of theatre comes even close to offering this much understanding, experience and inspiration.
Backwards & Forwards: A Technical Manual for Reading Plays
by David Ball
from Southern Illinois University Press
Ball developed his method during his work as Literary Director at the Guthrie Theater, building his guide on the crafts playwrights of every period and style use to make their plays stageworthy. The text is full of tools for students and practitioners to use as they investigate plot, character, theme, exposition, imagery, motivation/obstacle/conflict, theatricality, and the other crucial parts of the superstructure of a play. He includes guides for discovering what the playwright considers the play’s most important elements, thus permitting interpretation based on the foundation of the play rather than its details.
Using Hamlet as illustration, Ball assures a familiar base for illustrating script-reading techniques as well as examples of the kinds of misinterpretation readers can fall prey to by ignoring the craft of the playwright. Of immense utility to those who want to put plays on the stage (actors, directors, designers, production specialists) Backwards and Forwards is also a fine playwriting manual because the structures it describes are the primary tools of the playwright.
Technical Theater for Nontechnical People
by Drew Campbell
from Allworth Press
This innovative resource has been completely updated to reflect state-of-the-art standards in today's fast-changing theater technology. Designed exclusively for nontechnicians in the field, this pioneering book helps actors, dancers, playwrights, and directors to understand every aspect of a traditional and digitally supported backstage environment, from scenery, lighting, sound to props, and stage management to the use of integrated show control systems. The new edition covers new technology that has become mainstream, such as computer-controlled lightning instruments and audio (including various new formats), software to build audio cues, and PC-based audio play-back systems. A new chapter discusses show control systems that allow theater directors to make informed choices on which software to choose (the book covers DMX, MIDI, and SMPTI) and how to communicate their needs to a programmer. A chapter on costumes has been added to improve the communication between theaters and the costume department or rental company, including a check-list with helpful questions. All facets of production are clearly explained in jargon-free prose, and unfamiliar terms are highlighted and defined in an appended glossary. Besides theater newcomers and professionals, the book has targeted advice for event planners working and show producers working in the convention business, fashion, real estate, sports, and politics, including a special chapter on "How to Do a Show in a Hotel." Written with clarity and humor, this is the definitive user's guide to developing the vocabulary and technical skills crucial to working with technicians and technical equipment in a timely, efficient manner.
Sense of Direction: Some Observations on the Art of Directing
by William Ball
from Drama Publishers
Hamlet (Arkangel Shakespeare)
by William Shakespeare
from BBC Audiobooks America
Distressed by his father's death and his mother's hasty remarriage, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is haunted by a ghostly courier bearing a grim message of murder and revenge. The young prince is driven to the edge of madness as he struggles to understand the situation he finds himself in and to do his duty. Many others, including Hamlet's beloved, the innocent Ophelia, are swept up in his tragedy. Shakespeare's most famous play remains one of the greatest stories in Western literature. Performed by Simon Russell Beale, Imogen Stubbs, Jane Lapotaire, and the Arkangel cast.
The Complete Arkangel Shakespeare marks the first time in audio publishing history that all of Shakespeare's plays have been produced by a single creative team. Based word-for-word on The Complete Pelican Shakespeare, each play is presented uncut.
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