Julie Taymor, Playing With Fire: Theater Opera Film [Hardcover]

Eileen Blumenthal (Author), Julie Taymor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1995

One of the most imaginative and provocative directors and designers working today, Taymor draws on elements from the West, Indonesia, Japan, traditional theater, Asian dance-drama, puppetry, masked dance, contemporary cinema, and other performing arts to bring her extraordinary theatrical hybrids to life. Tracing her extensive career, this volume includes 195 illustrations, 110 in color, as well as Taymor's personal production notes.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

To a mainstream theater world startled by the design and staging brilliance of The Lion King, Julie Taymor seems to have landed like a meteor. But as this handsome coffee-table volume attests, she's been a master of masks and puppets for 20 years, spending most of that time creating idiosyncratic visions in fringe theaters. But all of the elements have been brewing: the mythic puppets in Way of Snow, grotesque masks in The King's Stag, and the human/animal connection in Juan Darien are all evidence of Taymor's talent. Consider Playing with Fire to be her playbook for future endeavors.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Harry N Abrams (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810938790
• ISBN-13: 978-0810938793
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 10.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #282,894 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uh Oh, I'm now a fan of Julie Taymor, March 19, 1998

By 

Rashna Elavia{[e-mail]} (Santa Monica, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Julie Taymor, Playing With Fire: Theater Opera Film (Hardcover)

I've just finished 'The Lion King, on Broadway' book. That's just whet my appetite to go out and 'put on a show'. This book was my next step and boy, I wasn't disappointed! 'Playing with Fire' is a truly splendid book, chronicalling the vocational, personal and thoroughly creative life of Ms.Taymor. The photos are dramatic as well as detailed and along with her conceptual costume sketches, the book is perfect for reference, inspiration and motivation for all you wannabe designers out there. I really admire this woman, what she has done with her life, the belief in herself and of how she surpasses herself with each new project. This book is a must for anyone who needs that extra motivational push once in a while when they are struggling as a designer, actor, or any vocation that involves loving what you do.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The AMAZING Taymor!, December 2, 1999

By 

seana harned (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Julie Taymor, Playing With Fire: Theater Opera Film (Hardcover)

I had always understood poetry to be an experience involving words, but even experiencing the frozen images of Julie Taybor's work was an indescribably moving experience. I could absolutely understand by the images how much more ALIVE her creations would be when manipulated on the stage. Being exposed to the work of Julie Taymor has been one of the most important experiences of my year.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lush and sensual introduction to a gifted artist, January 18, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Julie Taymor, Playing With Fire: Theater Opera Film (Hardcover)

A big book overflowing with big ideas as conceived and breathed life into by America's most unique theatre artist. This is a volume to read, to reread, to spark your imagination and to put on your coffee table to look at the cool pictures. The only thing more you could wish for is if Julie herself could make a home visit when you bought the book