Upstage, Downstage, Cross


Book Description

A book about a struggling actor who mumbles, tumbles, and fumbles his way through acting school and reperatory and touring theatre in England in the early 20th century A Book for Theatre Lovers This novel takes place in England in the early 20th century. It features numerous on-and-off stage adventures of an acting aspirants youth and theatrical encounters with a magician, stowing away on a shipload of touring actors, attending acting school, serving as an apprentice with the Birmingham and Liverpool Repertory Companies, and touring with a fit-up. It is an extraordinary, evolutionary education in theatre from the very basic stage movements to the plots of scores of contemporary productions, the characterizations of stage performers, chores of backstage crew, and problems and issues faced by Thespians of the time. Books may be obtained through the publisher, AuthorHouse; Amazon and Barnes & Noble and as an ebook or from the author at [email protected]. A Sample of Reviews Upstage, Downstage, Cross is, just like the title, a delightful and sparkling account of an English boys love affair with the theatre and his wacky and wild, albeit imaginative attempts to become an actor in spite of family opposition and his own unexpected limitations in the art of actingIf you are an aficionado or love English theatre, youll be riveted by the stories of the theatre in the period before WWWI, through the war and its aftermath. This was a period of transition from the days when there were dozens of theatre companies touring Britain and it was the entertainment of masses, to the beginning and then rise of the moving pictures that drew away the usual theatre audiences to the moviesThe style of the book is sparkling with wit and adventure and vignettes of the theatre. Bill Thomas writes in the wonderful tradition of English authors, although he does avoid the Dickensonsian downers. His story is populated with good people, which is a breath of fresh air. Pick up this book and enjoy. Adriana Renescu, Author Your affection for the Bard and English theatre shines through in every way. I particularly dig stowing away on the Lusitania Great StuffOne thing I learned is that I definitely dont want to be a stage manager. Much too hard. Your attention to detail is ever impressive. John Hall, former feature writer, Orange County Register I found your book a very insightful look into life in middle class England during the early 20th century. I enjoyed the way you incorporated a wealth of historical information into a delightful story of a young boy coming of age while pursuing his dreams of becoming an actor. ..I also learned much about the development of English theatre and the way the medium transitioned from the classical and vaudevillian to real life dramasOverall; I was greatly impressed by the depth of research evidenced in the novel regarding English theatre and its influence on society during that period of tumultuous change. John DeNizio, member, San Clemente Book Club he writes of a theatre world that no longer exists, but he captures the excitement of that era through his main character, who has a love for the theatre and lets nothing stand in his way to be an actor. Reading Bills book I realized I was being led by a master writer. His descriptions and detail can only come from one who has seen and retained what he saw and heard. His writing reveals a wit that has been fine tuned with a long and fruitful life. Herman Sillas, Attorney and writer.




Langston Hughes's Little Ham


Book Description

Love and loyalty in the heyday of the 1930's Harlem renaissance, a tale set to a bubbling jazz score, won rave reviews Off Broadway. The downtown mob is threatening to take over the uptown numbers game. Only Hamlet Hitchcock Jones, known as Little Ham, stands in their way. A smooth operator with big dreams and fast feet, he rallies his neighbors and wins his lady love.




A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting


Book Description

The long awaited new edition of this celebrated bestseller.




Stagecraft


Book Description

STAGECRAFT: A Primer for Young Actors By: Tom Flagg Actor and author Tom Flagg was talking with a fellow actor, backstage in the greenroom. During their discussion about old movies, Mr. Flagg mentioned 1940s film star Tyrone Power. To Tom's dismay, this friend, and other cast members in their show, had never heard of Tyrone Power, or many of the other stage and film stars who created Show Business history. Then and there, Tom had the idea for this book: To provide young actors with a strong background in theatrical history, as well as training in some of the skills that will help actors get work. STAGECRAFT: A Primer for Young Actors is a valuable resource for anyone considering the acting profession, as well as those who are already in Show Business.




The Director's Vision


Book Description

The pursuit of excellence in theatre is well served by the latest edition of this eminently readable text by two directors with wide-ranging experience. In an engaging, conversational manner, the authors deftly combine a focus on artistic vision with a practical, organized methodology that allows beginning and established directors to bring a creative script interpretation to life for an audience.




The Art and Practice of Musical Theatre Choreography


Book Description

What does a musical theatre choreographer actually do? They just 'make up the steps', right? This book firstly debunks the misunderstandings around what musical theatre choreographers actually do, demonstrating their need to have an in-depth understanding of storytelling, music theory, performance practices and plot structure in order to create movement that enhances and enlivens the musical. Secondly, it equips the musical theatre choreographer with all the tools needed to create nuanced, informed and inspired movement for productions, through structured activities that build specific skills (such as 'notating the script' and 'scoring the score'). Traditionally, this training has been something of a series of secrets, passed from mentor to apprentice. The author demystifies the process to make the previously undisclosed “tricks of the trade” accessible to all choreographers, everywhere. Covering the entire process of choreographing a musical from the first script reading to the final curtain call, this book makes case for the absolute integrity of the choreographer to any musical theatre production and sets out the theoretical principles of choreography alongside the practical application during every step of the production process.




A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting


Book Description

Combining theory and application, A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting provides a comprehensive analysis of lighting systems along with examples and illustrations of the technical tools and methods used in the industry. An entertaining and educational read, author Steven Louis Shelley draws from his 35+ years of diverse experience to explain how to get the job done along with real-life examples of projects from start to finish. Learn why some techniques are successful while others fail with 'Shelley's Notes' and 'Shelley's Soapbox,' all with a humor that guides you through complex problems and concepts. Highlights include: -Over 100 new topics, including analysis and application of the three categories of collaboration; a detailed examination of production meetings and one-on-one meetings; and meeting checklists with management and the creative team. -Over 50 new illustrations, including Shelley's Periodic Table of Fundamental Lighting Systems; groundplans, sections, and front elevations that illustrate basic system wash configurations for each direction of light. -Analysis, calculation, and step-by-step technical construction of each lighting system in the Hokey light plot. -Explanation of a manufacturer's cut sheet, and how to apply basic formulas to determine the beam size, footcandles, and gel transmission for lighting instruments. -Updated process of pre-programming computer lighting consoles prior to the load-in. -Comprehensive overview of archiving paperwork and softcopy for a production. Students and professionals will benefit from experience-based tips and techniques to prepare and execute a lighting design, along with learning how to avoid common traps.




Unarmed Stage Combat


Book Description

Stage combat is a constantly evolving craft, responsive to the growing demands of an ever changing industry and an ever more perceptive audience. Experienced fight director, teacher and examiner Philip d'Orleans shows how to respond to this challenge through innovative techniques and original choreography. Unarmed Stage Combat explores the fundamental performance principles of violence on stage, before a dedicated series of chapters focus on over forty specific unarmed combat techniques, including non-contact slaps, punches, kicks and chokes as well as controlled contact and the illusion of falling. Each technique is beautifully illustrated with step-by-step photos and detailed practical guidance through the preparation, action and reaction to the movement, as well as the key safety principles, common pitfalls and staging variables. Supported by stunning fight photos from professional productions, this indispensable handbook is equally as valuable for beginners at the start of their career or preparing for their fight performance exam as it will be for seasoned professionals seeking to refresh their knowledge.




On Stage


Book Description

Lights, camera, play! With this second edition of On Stage: Theater Games and Activities for Kids, budding thespians will have fun under the footlights as they choose from more than 125 theater games that spark creativity, boost confidence, and encourage collaboration. They'll learn all about how to make a stage performance great with improvisational games such as Freeze, Party Quirks, the Yes Game, and Gibberish; they'll make puppets, discover makeup secrets, and design and build a set. This revised and expanded edition features 35 new improvisational games and ready-to-use monologues, scenes, and short plays. Whether playing alone or in a group, everyone can have theater fun with On Stage!




Stage Directing


Book Description

With Stage Directing: A Director's Itinerary, the student of theatrical directing now has a step-by-step guide to directing a production, from choosing a play to opening night. Unlike other directing textbooks, this practical guidebook provides instruction on how to organize the work of the director through the practical challenges of the directorial process (e.g., organizing a budget spreadsheet, writing casting notices, setting up an audition space, etc.). In Stage Directing, the process of directing a production takes the form of twenty-one chapters, which contain helpful examples and tried-and-true exercises, as well as information on how to organize the director’s documents into a director’s production notebook.