The Enjoyment of Theatre

Book excerpt: "The Enjoyment of Theatre's" balanced coverage of performance and history provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to theatre for both majors and non-majors. This text covers the full span of theatre's 2,500-year history as well as performance/production topics such as playwriting, acting, directing, and the theatre industry. The 6th Edition features major revisions while continuing to bring students the expertise of a proven author team--one whose strong academic credentials combine with a wealth of theatre experience. Cameron and Gillespie make theatre come alive for all students by showing them how theatre is, and will continue to be, relevant to their everyday lives. New and Notable Features: " Offers a balance of history and performance to give students a context for understanding today's theatre and the social impact of the theatre since its inception. Features two 16-page color inserts with new color photographs of Broadway productions by New York's finest theatrical photographers bringing Broadway to life for students. New and unique "Explore Theatre: A Backstage Pass" is a peer-to-peer, interactive, DVD learning tool (available in a free package with the text) developed by students for students under the direction of an award winning teacher of theatre. Seventeen major content areas (director, actor, costume designer, etc.) are covered, with an eye towards introducing students to the people and processes that make theatre happen. Emphasizes theatre's cultural and economic context in extensively revised chapters throughout the book, to sugest how forces outside the theatre influence it. Integrates material on world theatre throughout the text rather than discussing it in a separate chapter. Includes new "Story of the Play"discussions that summarize some of the great plays that are used as examples in the book for students.