Stage Management 

by Lawrence Stern

This is regarded by many as THE book on stage management.

The true bible of the field for novices and experienced stage managers, this revised edition includes all the latest theatre advances. It can take an individual with no prior theatrical experience and give them all the know-how needed to function as a stage manager.

 

A Guidebook for Creating Three-Dimensional Theatre Art 
by Ann J. Carnaby

Whether you come from a technically experienced or inexperienced theatrical background, A Guidebook for Creating Three-Dimensional Theatre Art will help you  create the absolutely correct piece for any production. Carnaby's book does not deal with the design process, but is intended to be a guidebook for the actual creator of theatre art, serving as a general manual for any theatre craftsperson, whether they be milliner, puppeteer, wig maker, costumer, set constructor, properties master, or cobbler. This comprehensive guidebook offers a beautiful panorama of theatrical styles that would look great on any coffee table, let alone an artisan's workplace! 

The Stage Management Handbook
by Daniel A., Ionazzi

Many people are comparing this text to the legendary work by Lawrence Stern.

This text is very recent, and provides excellent information and advice about the often overlooked role of the Stage Manager.  If anyone is truly looking to engage in this area of production then this book is a must.  It is also less to purchase than the Lawrence Stern book.

 

An Annotated Dictionary of Technical, Historical, and Stylistic Terms Relating to Theatre and Drama: A Handbook of Dramaturgyby R. Kerry White
A very prestigious text for any serious student or practitioner of the theatre.

Elegantly Frugal Costumes! : The Poor Man's Do-It-Yourself Costume Maker's Guide

by Shirley Dearing

A very practical book focussing on the design and construction of low cost costumes, great for school plays and pageants.

Over 150 detailed illustrations work with the easy-to-follow text to walk you through every step of the  process. Just about every basic period is covered: Biblical to Medieval, Renaissance, Angels, the Fabulous Fifties, 1800s to World War I, The Roaring Twenties and more.

Handbook of Scenery, Properties, and Lighting  (1)

Handbook of Scenery, Properties, and Lighting  (2)

by Harvey Sweet

These two books are regarded by many Drama and Theatre Arts teachers as essential additions to the school or departmental library. (Pricey, but worth it!)

Technical Theater for Nontechnical People
by Drew Campbell, Kis Knekt (Illustrator)

This unparalleled resource walks readers through every aspect of the backstage environment, from scenery to lighting to sound to props, as well as the often-overlooked area of stage management. The book is filled with helpful illustrations, backstage survival guides, and a glossary of key terms.

Comprehensive and easy to understand, the coverage includes:

•  Working with designers to get the right look
•  Tricks and tools for set building and enhancing scene-change choreography
•  Setting a mood and creating focus with light
•  Sculpting sound with microphones, mixers, and other sources
•  Understanding floor plans
•  Assessing a performance space
•  Developing a prop list Managing a show both on and backstage

 

The Small Theatre Handbook : A Guide to Management and Production
by Joann Green

Here is a comprehensive, practical guide for anyone who is interested in the challenge of running a small, nonprofit theatre. Starting with the decision to form the theatre, the book describes how to set up an administrative structure and budget, raise money, and choose a space for the theatre. It moves on to the process of choosing plays and setting up a season; auditioning and rehearsing actors; and designing and constructing a set. Finally, all aspects of performance night are discussed in both artistic and practical terms. The book gives considerable attention, in addition, to techniques of promotion and publicity for the small theatre; attracting critics; and setting up bookings, groups, and tours for the company. An extensive appendix with an annotated bibliography lists dozens of selected resources for anyone who wants to pursue an interest in theatre.

Stage Lighting Step-By-Step : The Complete Guide on Setting the Stage With Light to Get Dramatic Results
by Graham Walters

Table of Contents includes
                     The empty space 
                     Theater shapes 
                     Making a lighting plan 
                     Stage sections and light 
                     Lighting angles 
                     Creating atmosphere 
                     Color theory 
                     Unusual lighting positions 

Staging Musical Theatre
by Deborah Novak (Contributor), Elaine Adams Novak

Producers, directors and choreographers in community theaters and other troupes will welcome this book that covers everything they need to know to put a show on the boards, including how to: select, analyze and interpret a musical; coordinate scenery, lights, costumes and props; cast top talent through well-organized auditions; and conduct productive  rehearsals for music, choreography, blocking and the full production. Includes duties of all key people, practice scenes, and an appendix listing many popular musicals and their licensors 

 

On Directing
by Harold Clurman

 

 

 

The Phaidon Theatre Manuals

This set of books combine to create a useful resource on most aspects of technical theatre production.
Costume and Make Up - Michael Holt  
Directing a Play - Michael McCaffery  
Lighting and Sound - Neil Fraser  
Stage Design and Properties - Michael Holt
Stage Management and Theatre Administration - Pauline Menear

 

Drafting for the Theatre
by Dennis Dorn, Mark Shanda

From Book News, Inc. , April 1, 1992
Containing 280 illustrations, this process-oriented text in workbook format is structured to function as the fundamental step in the education of theatre technicians and drafters, as well as a reference for experienced drafters. The authors emphasize the integration of drafting skills with stagecraft applications--through a series of projects and practical experiences that further help the student in the development of research skills. Plastic comb binding. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or. 

 

Designing With Light : An Introduction to Stage Lighting 
by J. Michael Gillette

 

 

 

 

The ABC of Stage Technology
                     by Francis Reid

This illustrated reference book is a comprehensive encyclopedia of over 500 terms and words used in stage technology. It embraces all aspects of the technical operation of the stage including the use of flying and other machinery for effective scene handling. Each term is defined and described concisely and the format is arranged to provide quick answers to specific questions. However, anyone seeking to penetrate the specialized language of stage design and technology will  find this glossary fascinating as well. 

 

Play Directing in the School : A Drama Director's Survival Guide
by David Grote, Arthur L. Zapel (Editor)

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. 

 

The Theater Management Handbook
by Richard E. Schneider, Mary Jo Ford

 

 

 

Scenic Art for the Theatre 
by Susan Crabtree, Peter Beudert

Scenic Art for the Theatre is a visual and written guide to the tools and techniques used in modern scene painting. The authors guide the reader through the complex role of the scenic artist, discussing his or her relationship with the scenic designer and production staff; the variety of tools used in scenic artistry including paints, materials, and surfaces; and the techniques, both traditional and non-traditional. The book also includes a history of scenic artistry beginning with the Renaissance and Baroque theatres through the Romantic theatre to the present day Modern theatre.

 

From Page to Stage : How Theatre Designers Make Connections Between Scripts and Images
by Rosemary Ingham,

How does a designer harness something as elusive as the human imagination to create a set that will complement and enhance a dramatic production? What steps are involved in making the jump from a script's text to an engaging imaginative stage? In From Page to Stage,  author Rosemary Ingham explores the relationships between text analysis, imagination, and creation. Heavily illustrated with striking examples, the book covers: the who, what, where, how, and (maybe) why of text analysis moving from dramatic text to theatrical event imagination and knowing: what imagination is and how it relates to memory what happens when the designer's imagination meets the script and much more. Also included are photo/interview essays, in which Ingham ultimately asks the designer "how will your interpretation affect an audience/individual/society intellectually,  emotionally, spiritually, and politically?" 

Play Director's Survival Kit : A Complete Step-By-Step Guide to Producing Theater in Any School or Community Setting
by James W. Rodgers, Wanda C. Rodgers

A complete step-by-step guide to producing theater in any school or community setting, organized into six sections Play Selection, Pre-Production, Rehearsals & Performances, Audience Development, and Directory. Includes proven strategies for working with students, over 55 reproducible checklists, forms, samples, and more.

 

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