Technical Theater for Nontechnical People [Paperback]

Drew Campbell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1581150202 | ISBN-13: 978-1581150209 | Publication Date: May 1, 1999

This guide to technical theatre for non-technicians walks the reader through every aspect of the backstage environment, from scenery and lighting to sound and props, as well as stage management. Included are survival guides for essentials such as hanging lights, painting, and getting through dress rehearsals. Those in convention planning, fashion, real estate, sports, politics, and others preparing for public presentation will find tips and techniques for producing successful parties, conventions, press conferences, or new product roll-outs, including a special chapter on "How to Do a Show in a Hotel".

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Two under-appreciated theatrical specialties, technical production for the novice and audience development, take center stage in these two thorough works. With hundreds of production/design/technical credits behind him, Campbell has written what will certainly become a standard introductory text on technical theater. All facets of production are clearly explained in jargon-free prose, and unfamiliar terms are highlighted and defined in an appended glossary. In addition to separate chapters on the more traditional elements of technical theater (lights, sound, scenery, properties), Campbell gives equal weight to the venue, design, stage management, corporate theater, and checklists. As valuable as this comprehensive manual is for the neophyte, experienced techies will also benefit from its common sense. Everyone involved with theater should have acces to this most welcome text. Stage Directions, "the practical magazine of theater," is to the theater community what the U*N*A*B*A*S*H*E*D Librarian is to librarians. This guide to cultivating and retaining an audience, the most perplexing and financially significant problem facing every theater, is the latest entry in Heinemann's "Stage Directions" series, compiled mostly from previously published articles in the magazine. This practical compendium, arranged in three sections, addresses how to attract and retain a constituency and profiles several theaters that have been successful in both areas. A more focused and audience-specific work, this title will be of value to theater administrators and marketers as well as smaller theater groups seeking practical and empirically tested ideas and solutions.ABarry X. Miller, Austin P.L., TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Finally there is a resource for the uninitiated that is concise, entertaining, and eminently practical. For this I say bravo and thank you to Drew Campbell for a volume which is both long overdue and greatly needed. -- Richard M. Isackes, Chair, Department of Theater and Dance, University of Texas at Austin

The most down-to-earth, straightforward survey of technical theater practice I have ever read. This book rings absolutely true and is wonderfully witty to boot. Perfect for the backstage beginner as it covers all the essentials in a very understandable way, but also a joy for the old hand meeting old truths like old friends. -- John R. Lucas, Managing Director of Theater, Brown University

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581150202
• ISBN-13: 978-1581150209
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #322,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Every Theater Person Should Own, June 17, 2000

By 

Kenton Couch (Overland Park, Kansas) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Technical Theater for Nontechnical People (Paperback)

Simply put, this is the most helpful book on the technical side of theater I have ever read. Mr. Campbell is a rare individual. Although a technician, he has written a sympathetic and yet extremely informative book on lighting, sound, stage terminology, etc. The amount of really usefull information in the book is astounding. I am a high school drama teacher, and I think this book should be in the library of every theater teacher and theater student. No other book I've read so clearly explains the essentials one needs to know about the technical craft of theater. If you are a person who doesn't want a book where the author is trying to show what an expert he or she is and what an idiot you are, then Drew Campbell's book is just the one for you. He is an expert who understands his job is to help those of us who aren't. Bravo for this book. I hope Mr. Campbell keeps writing on theater. We can use his knowledge, wit, and empathy. Five stars for this book, and a few thrown in for the actor with glass in his butt telling jokes on the way to the hospital. Thanks for a great book.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource for Theatre Students, January 1, 2003

By 

"derbach" (Brevard, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Technical Theater for Nontechnical People (Paperback)

This is a very handy resource for high school age students of theatre arts. My 22 students found that the reading level, vocabulary and style combined to make a very accessible introduction to technical aspects of theatre. The anecdotes provided clear examples and advice, to which the students could relate readily, and the author's unique style manages to assume that the reader is ignorant of the subject without insulting the reader. My students were grateful to find the questions they would be afraid to ask (the "dumb questions"), answered clearly and comprehensively. The many and well-placed diagrams and illustrations add significantly to the value of the book as a whole. I highly recommend this book for any youth theatre program, or high school theatre arts class.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars at last...a dummies book for stage people, June 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Technical Theater for Nontechnical People (Paperback)

Very practical and straightforward. An essential tool for anyone starting in theater as it discusses the very basic materials for survival in the trade. Theater old timers will also like the book for the numerous sample situations (anecdotes) included.

The book went beyond academic and in fact, is more experiential in content. It's a balance blend of terminologies, systems and case studies.