Staging Musical Theatre: A Complete Guide for Directors, Choreographers and Producers [Paperback]

Elaine Adams Novak (Author), Deborah Novak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1996

This all-in-one book is designed to help you become a superior producer, director or choreographer, or even a triple threat. You'll learn everything you need to know to put a show on the boards. It starts with selecting a musical, then addresses how to analyze and intepret your choice, coordinate the scenery and lights, costumes and props, and other technical elements. You'll be able to cast the top talent through efficient, well-organized auditions, and conduct productive rehearsals for music, choreography, blocking, and full production. You'll see breakdowns of the duties of all the key people, you'll learn about presenting revues and operas, you'll find practice scenes and an appendix listing terrific musicals and their licensors...you'll learn everything you need to bring down the house on opening night - and every night!

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

If you are interested in going into business for yourself, there are start-up manuals for almost any kind of small business. If you have just volunteered (or been volunteered) to direct, produce, or choreograph a school or community musical theater production, you, too, now have a start-up manual. After reading this book, you probably won't become the next Harold Prince, but you will be able to accept the challenge of bringing a musical play or revue to life. The myriad details that make up a musical production are covered in 15 practical chapters that walk you through the entire process. An appendix provides descriptions and licensing information for popular operas, comic operas, musicals, revues, and operettas, and a helpful glossary will let you talk shop with the best of Broadway. Recommended for public and performing arts libraries.?Carolyn M. Mulac, Chicago P.L.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: Betterway Books; First Edition edition (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558704078
• ISBN-13: 978-1558704077
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #287,706 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Novaks Stage Musical Theatre, August 26, 2000

By 

Ruby L. Agnir (Greenfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Staging Musical Theatre: A Complete Guide for Directors, Choreographers and Producers (Paperback)

I am the founder and artistic director of a community theater group, Green Room Players, that has been in existence since 1993 in Franklin County, Massachusetts, and have directed musicals each year, including Babes in Arms, Snoopy! , A Wonderful Life, Barnum, South Pacific, and Grease.

Of all the books I have read on musical theater production, Staging Musical Theatre by Dr. Elaine Novak (with contributions from her daughter, Deborah Novak, an actress of stage, TV and film) has been by far the most helpful to me. It is written in simple and easy-to-comprehend language, and covers practically every aspect of theater production.

In a very organized and straightforward manner, the Novaks have discussed selecting the musical; analyzing the book, lyrics and score; interpreting the musical; holding auditions; casting; rehearsals; blocking; and polishing. Included are specimen time tables that are very helpful to a beginning director. There are also suggestions for exercises, games and improvisations to get actors acquainted with each other and with the director. The book also addresses potential problems -- such as kissing, slapping, asides, the vocal solos, curtain calls, pit dress, and even duties of the offstage crew -- and rounds out its invaluable stock of information with scenes for practice, an appendix containing lists and descriptions of well-known musicals and various types of musicals, an extensive bibliography on any aspect of play production, and a 6-page glossary of theatrical terms.

I strongly recommend Staging Musical Theatre as a textbook for beginning and prerequisite courses in academic programs in theater. I also highly recommend it for all who are involved with play production -- especially amateur, community, and school theater directors, producers, choreographers, and actors.

Ruby L. Agnir, M.A. Founding and Artistic Director GREEN ROOM PLAYERS 55 Cleveland St. Greenfield, MA 01301 e-mail: [e-mail] webpage: www.agnir.net/greenroom

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than advertised, June 24, 2009

By 

Barb E. Rickard "A Wannabee Director of Musicals" (Lomita, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Staging Musical Theatre: A Complete Guide for Directors, Choreographers and Producers (Paperback)

This book was in better condition than advertised. It was shipped very promptly and arrived much quicker than I anticipated. Thanks!

5.0 out of 5 stars wine country gal, January 7, 2009

By 

D. J. O'brien (Sonoma, Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Staging Musical Theatre: A Complete Guide for Directors, Choreographers and Producers (Paperback)

Again, a gift for my grandaughter. This is the field she hopes to go into, after completing the educatiion necessary. She has been in our BROADWAY BOUND KIDS program here in Sonoma for many years now, and has decided she really wants to be "behind the scenes" in directing, staging, and whatever else that would include. GREAT GIFT for her!