Drama Books

Theatre Arts I Students Handbook : An Introductory Course

by Penny Engelsman, Alan Englesman, Rebecca Wendling

Theatre Arts 2 Student Handbook
by Alan Engelsman, Penny Engelsman

Action Speaks Louder : A Handbook of Structured Group Techniques
by A. Jane Remocker, Elizabeth T. Sherwood

British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver. A collection of over 50 tested structured group techniques for use in helping people with communication difficulties. Includes exercises for children and adults. For occupational therapists. Halftone line drawings. Previous edition: c1992. Softcover.

Education and Dramatic Art
by David Hornbrook

On the Subject of Drama
by David Hornbrook (Editor)

The Creative Classroom provides teachers in grades PreK-6 with a number of creative drama strategies for use in the classroom, on a daily basis and across the curriculum. Designed for the teacher who may not have had any prior knowledge or experience with creative drama, the book presents activities that are uncomplicated and versatile with a step-by step procedural guide to help the teacher implement the activities successfully. The activities are ideal for the whole language classroom and their multi sensory approach makes them applicable to students of all learning styles. The techniques in the book can be used to reinforce and review subject matter as well as to promote language, comprehension, and thinking skills. Organized sequentially, from simple to the more complex, the instructional strategies allow teachers and students to risk in increments as they try something for the first time.

Focusing on materials and methods for teaching drama, rather than on theory or history, this text offers a collection of practical, progressive techniques for using informal drama in elementary classrooms. KEY TOPICS: It covers role drama that introduces key features of the British approach to drama teaching; literature for narrative pantomime; pantomime activities and stories; verbal activities and improvisation; planning drama lessons; and more. For creative drama instructors.

In the founding of the first drama department in a British university almost 50 years ago, questions arose regarding the nature of the discipline. THEATRE PRAXIS addresses the debate beyond those initial questions, seeking to define practice in terms of practical work that recognizes its potential for change.

The teaching of performing arts has often mystified teachers and daycare providers. This book is ideal to help them overcome their hesitations and begin teaching the performing arts in their K-3 classrooms. KEY TOPICS: Written by a teacher with over 25 years of experience, this book is chock-full of activities that will help readers incorporate theater arts and creative drama in their classrooms - from puppetry to play attendance. Includes over 20 sample lesson plans! K-3 teachers, daycare providers, and after-school program facilitators.

A practical book by a passionate teacher. An amazing array of resources, including a good selection of games and special focus on Drama in an ESL program.

Price information not available. You can still order this item, and we will request approval of the price via e-mail prior to shipment.
Paperback (March 2000) This item will be published in March 2000. You may order it now and we will ship it to you when it arrives.

Republished in 1999 this classic text has 30 new games and over 200 updated descriptions. For the first time it contains "The Lone Actor", an essay on solo theatre games.

This text is a remarkable teaching tool. In the hands of a good teacher these games can be modified and extended to introduce and explore a wide range of Drama principles.

"Provides a detailed overview of the ways in which theater techniques are used to enrich the lives of many sections of the population. . . . The book's core is excellent interviews with practitioners. . . . Students seeking information about nontraditional drama careers will find this an essential handbook; and students, teachers, and professionals in traditional theater may well find wider horizons for their own work here. Each chapter's bibliography includes films, tapes, and the names and addresses of appropriate organizations. Appendixes list specialists in the US and UK, and there is a directory of selected college programs in both countries. Highly recommended for libraries at all levels."

Kids Take the Stage is written for teachers, parents, camp counselors, drama students, grandparents, church leaders -- anyone who wants to start a dramatics group or simply do shows with children and teens. No theatre training or experience is required, but even professional theatre people will find the book very helpful as they learn how to convey their own expertise in easy terms that young people will readily understand.

A wonderfully practically and intensely theoretically sound text. Carefully articulated edition.

Jonothan Neelands is regarded by many as one of the best Drama educators in the world - this book explores that ever important aspect of teaching Drama - the structure of learning opportunities. This carefully categorises and nominates the structures implicit in Drama activities. As a teaching tool this book assists the teacher in carefully determining appropriate activities and the devising of original Drama activities to teach specific elements of Drama.

6 working actors describe their methods and philosophies of the theater. All have worked with playwright David Mamet at the Goodman Theater in Chicago.

The Enjoyment of the Theatre by Kenneth M. Cameron and Patti P. Gillespie
An impressive volume that seeks to enlighten the reader about the many aspects of theatre and its appreciation. Covers many aspects including roles of production team, how to read or view a play and some historical discussion.

This book is very substantial covering hundreds of topics in 1200 pages. It considers many aspects and periods of drama and theatre production - all the major periods are represented and some exciting questions are asked. A valuable addition to any drama-philes book collection.

Directing plays in schools requires knowledge and talents far different than directing for community or professional theatre. In ten comprehensive chapters the author explains the "real world" of producing effective theatricals in the school environment. He details the pitfalls and the problems while providing ideas for consistently successful shows. He covers budgeting, scheduling, faculty politics, motivating and disciplining students and many other school-life realities beyond a director or teacher's job description. Anyone faced with producing a play needs this book as a "Bible" for guidance and fulfillment of objectives. A drama director's survival guide.

Taking Time to Act proves just how effective drama can be in creating active and enjoyable environments for teaching and learning. The authors make the critical link between theory and practice, supporting wide-ranging examples of drama in action with clear explanations of philosophy and principles. Their ideas are straightforward, practical, and most of all manageable, always emphasizing that you can do it. Taking Time to Act provides invaluable assistance to any teacher with an interest in and enthusiasm for educational drama both in and out of the classroom.

About the Author
CHRIS BALL is drama advisor to the city of Liverpool and a honorary research fellow at Liverpool University.
JOHN AIRS is presently an educational consultant and honorary research fellow at Liverpool University.

Drama is not just play acting, it includes creative activities, conceptual learning, and whole body involvement. Drama helps all children gain confidence and a better sense of self. Adult and child alike are involved in both teaching and learning through the process of intuitive discovery. The activities included in Drama In The Classroom can be used as an adjunct or even an integral part of a regular curriculum. Parents at home, working and playing with their children, or adults seeking more creativity in their lives, will also enjoy and benefit from the exercises. Through dramatic activities, young people can find their true and unique selves; appreciate the talents and needs of others; feel the satisfaction of working successfully with a group; develop skills which will be useful for other endeavors; help add meaning to factual material; and provide a safe working atmosphere that is as free as possible from anxiety and competition. Drama In The Classroom features 76 original lessons including a variety of activities for grades K-8; a question and answer section; specific goals, readiness activities, step-by-step procedures, and evaluations for each lesson. Drama In The Classroom is as appropriate and effective for home schooling collaborations as it is for public school classes.

The forty-two exercises detailed in this comprehensive guide provide both the instructor and the student a "user-friendly" workshop structure. It may be used for both beginning and advanced courses of Directing for Theatre. The basic concepts of directing are learned progressively. The approach is totally experiential.

Ideal for beginning teachers, supervisors, and teachers assigned outside their expertise. This guide is chock-full of ideas, techniques, and resources from ordering play scripts to hosting a speech tournament, from running an auditorium to getting results from the front office. It also includes day-to-day activities. Written by a veteran high school teacher, this book is used as a supplement in college training programs. Reviews: "What a magnificent piece of advice book, a must for beginning speech and drama teachers. I am so pleased with this sharing of 30 years of successful experience. Stuff has a very wise, common sense attitude towards teaching, walking the line between the demands of students and administrators.

Students learn best by doing" is the essence of this lively textbook of creative activities. Ten chapters suitable for a full year's course in speech communication. Involvement is essential, but these learning experiences are such great fun that students will want to participate. Sample activities include rap, pantomime, charades, a game show, Readers Theatre, TV news, a mock trial, talk show improvisation, and dozens more, including a "grab bag" of extra activities. Assignment instructions and the sign-up sheet may be reproduced. Cartoon illustrations throughout.

Redesigned with a contemporary new cover, this is a comprehensive consideration of all aspects of the actor's art and craft, as told by the theater's greatest practitioners, from ancient Greece to the 20th century.

A well-regarded text that clearly guides the novice, r developing professional through the rigours of directing.

Some very clear and lucid discussion on acting as well as the the directorial process. A definite good buy for anyone looking to extend their understanding of the creation of theatre.

The first step forward in working with today's youth is to create a dialogue, and that is exactly what this exciting new book does. It helps you provide opportunities for young people to open up and explore their feelings through theatre, offering a safe place for them to air their views with dignity, respect, and freedom. The purpose of this manual is to provide a clear look at the process and specifics involved in the Hope Is Vital interactive theatre techniques. The organization is sequential, providing a blueprint for creating a workable plan. Beginning with warm-up exercises and bridging activities, the process moves forward to improvisational scenework, where students actually replace characters in the stories. It is at this point that young people engage in their own mini-theatre and look at choices, strategies, and communication.

An interesting book focussing on methods of teaching creative movement and music. Well described and useful activities.

"The actor will do, in public, what is considered impossible." When the renowned Polish director Jerzy Grotowski began his 1967 American workshop with these words, his students were stunned. But within four weeks they themselves had experienced the "impossible." In An Acrobat of the Heart, teacher-director-playwright Stephen Wangh reveals how Jerzy Grotowski's physical exercises can open a pathway to the actor's inner creativity. Drawing on Grotowski's insights and on the work of Stanislavski, Uta Hagen, and others, Wangh bridges the gap between rigorous physical training and practical scene and character technique. Wangh's students give candid descriptions of their struggles and breakthroughs, demonstrating how to transform these remarkable lessons into a personal journey of artistic growth. Courageous and compelling, An Acrobat of the Heart is an invaluable resource for actors, directors, and teachers alike.