Divided into two parts, the Director's Handbook and the Actor's Handbook, On With the Show! enables directors and actors to get the most out of rehearsal time at home and on the stage. Providing essential time-saving techniques, worksheets, and samples, this guide allows performers and directors to work more effectively and efficiently toward the…

A survey of approximately 450 novice Shakespearean actors was undertaken to determine what could be learned from a careful study of the initiation of new performers acting Shakespeare that might be helpful to others. The findings revealed that the typical initiate perceives acting Shakespeare as different from other acting, indicates a definite…

An organic approach to style in acting can lend credibility and power to performances and can enhance the clarity and extent of what is communicated to audiences about other social worlds. The organic approach is based on the following principles: mental experience and expressive behavior are inseparable and reciprocal; experience in either mode…

The policies, purposes, and guidelines of "Stage 40," an educational repertory company for students, are presented in this paper, which also explains how the company functions. The paper discusses the company's history, the relationship between the company and academics, and the responsibilities of a company member. Letters by the board…

For four years Colorado Caravan has brought plays and workshops to an average of 60,000 people a year in all parts of the state, focusing on performing in schools but also reaching out to mental institutions, community centers, prisons, hospitals, and homes for the elderly. This document contains four training manuals which provide practical…

This booklet presents a variety of materials concerning Neil Simon's play "Laughter on the 23rd Floor." After a brief introduction to the play, the booklet presents a profile of the playwright, several lists of his accomplishments, information on his work for television, a quiz about plays, biographical information on the producer,…

This booklet presents a variety of materials concerning the current revival of the 1961 play "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." After a brief introduction to the play, the booklet discusses the plot of the play, how it went from best seller to prize-winning musical, biographical information on the lead actor (Matthew…

This booklet presents a variety of materials concerning the musical play "Crazy for You," a recasting of the 1930 hit, "Girl Crazy." After a brief historical introduction to the musical play, the booklet presents biographical information on composers George and Ira Gershwin, the book writer, the director, the star…

This booklet provides instruction, for junior high and senior high school actors and their teachers, in the basic concepts and vocabulary of theatrical communication. Suggested exercises include practice in combining dialogue and movement, mastering knowledge of stage areas and body positions, and working with scripts on stage. Criteria for…

This booklet presents a variety of materials concerning The Who's rock opera "Tommy." The booklet discusses the plot, the character of Tommy, highlights of "Tommy"'s 25-year history, the evolution of "Tommy," biographical information on the producer, director, actors and designers, awards won by the rock opera,…

These guidelines represent an initial publication of curriculum guidelines for a total program in drama education for K-12. Five areas are discussed: reasons for education in the theatre arts; space and equipment requirements for teaching drama; drama education in the elementary schools; drama for the junior and senior high schools; and…

The purpose of these lessons is to provide learning experiences which facilitate junior high and senior high school actors' mastery of stage movements when working with scripts. Suggested exercises include practice in finding motivation for actors' stage movements, acting a scene (from "West Side Story"), and interpreting and acting scenes of…

Once an actor or actress has gained experience with basic stage movement and speech, convincing character portrayal may be the next skill to be developed. This package is designed to provide a deeper understanding of character development through careful reading, research, thought, and experimentation. The two related lessons--from research to…

This annotated library guide to theater materials is divided into several separate sections. The first part, dealing with the subject as a whole, includes bibliographies; periodicals; indexes and abstracts; encyclopedias and dictionaries; yearbooks; directories; histories, biographies, and reviews; and dramatic literature. The second part lists…

The material in this publication outlines ways in which drama/theatre may be used to help students develop their imagination and their communication skills. This framework presents a process-concept organization which spans the grade levels fron kindergarten through twelfth grade and which provides guidelines for determining expectancies for…