The Essential Theatre [Paperback]

Oscar Gross Brockett (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0030553539 | ISBN-13: 978-0030553530 | Publication Date: October 1991 | Edition: 5th

This text is a welcome and helpful resource whether you are a major looking forward to a career in the theatre, or a nonmajor interested in an overview to help you better appreciate theatre as an audience member. Written by highly respected theatre historians, THE ESSENTIAL THEATRE has established a reputation as one of the most comprehensive, authoritative surveys of the theatre in colleges nationwide. Its vibrant treatment of theatre practice-past and present-range from the origins of theatre to postmodernism and performance art. Chapter after chapter, this book will encourage you and get you excited about becoming an active theatergoer, while providing the insight and understanding that will enrich your theatre experience throughout your life.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I consider [THE ESSENTIAL THEATRE] to be a very solid foundation book for a course that introduces students who are theatrical neophytes to the nature and history of this unique and fascinating performing art. It covers the material needed for an introduction to theatre thoroughly and clearly, and is well suited to the electronic age with Infortrac and the slides and mini-movies."

"THE ESSENTIAL THEATRE is the textbook of choice for teaching Theatre Appreciation. The textbook is informative, concise and clear for professors and students alike. In addition, the outside cover and inside photographs make for a textbook that is visually stunning. The complete package is a must have for all theatre people. The fifteen (15) members of my theatre company have a copy of The Essential Theatre."

"THE ESSENTIAL THEATRE is an important book. Combining the past with the present it sheds light on our future." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Oscar G. Brockett enjoys an international reputation as a theatre historian. A Distinguished Scholar honoree of the American Society of Theatre Research, he has received career achievement awards from: the Association for Theatre in Higher Education; the United States Institute for Theatre Technology; and is a recipient of the Robert Lewis Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Theatre Research. After receiving his Ph.D. from Stanford University, he taught at several major American universities and at the University of Bristol in England. He has also served as President of the American Theatre Association, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at University of Texas, Editor of Theatre Journal, and on the editorial board of the Asian Theatre Journal. He held the prestigious University of Texas Z.T. Scott Family Chair in Drama and was the Director of the Center for Dramatic and Performance Studies for several years. Dr. Brockett is the author of many articles in leading journals and has written several books, including History of the Theatre and The Essential Theatre. He is currently a Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and the Dean of the Fellows of the American Theatre. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 704 pages
• Publisher: Holt Rinehart & Winston; 5th edition (October 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0030553539
• ISBN-13: 978-0030553530
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,589,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What's to review?, May 14, 2003

By 

Sean O'Skea (Ashland, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Essential Theatre (Paperback)

If you have a Theater degree from any American college in the last decade, then you already own this book. This is the definitive text on Theater History. Brockett is the authority. No other comprehensive book on "general" theater history comes close. If you want the book that is on every theater historian's shelf, referenced in every Theater thesis or dissertation, and the text for every Theater History course in the nation, then order this.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The new edition is even better than previous one!, August 8, 2004

By 

Theatre Lover "Garza" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Essential Theatre (with InfoTrac) (Wadsworth Series in Theatre) (Paperback)

I bought the last edition of The Essential Theatre (7th) for a class. It was easy to read and covered just about everything one could hope for in an introductory text. Now I'm a graduate student studying theatre. I bought the new edition to review the material I had a few years ago and was surprised to find a number of exciting new features including greater use of the internet to expand on subjects covered in the text. This book was very good before but with so many new features and the same authoritative coverage it's a pure joy and "essential" reading for anyone who truly cares about the Theatre.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great savings over college book store, September 26, 2011

By 

A. Beauchene - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Essential Theatre (Paperback)

Great savings over college book store. The David Tennant Hamlet photo on the cover is truly perfect. This book is required for an introductory theatre class at the local community college.