An illustrated sourcebook for total theatre training, emphasizing the director's role in the three main building blocks for mounting a performance: preparation, production, and performance. Boland and Argentini provide a comprehensive, step-by-step theatre primer which will prove invaluable to musical directors, teachers, administrators, students, and actors.

Illustrations

xiii

(4)

Foreword

xvii

(2)

William Gibson

Preface

xix

(2)

Acknowledgments

xxi

(2)

Introduction

xxiii

PART I PREPARATION

3

(34)

Chapter 1 Is It Theatre?

3

(6)

The Seamless Flow

The Nature of Song?

Why the Song?

The Joy of Talent

Chapter 2 Get a Script!

9

(6)

List of Licensers

The Royalty Fee

The Rental Fee

Chapter 3 Making Choices

15

(4)

Musical Choices

Types of Musicals

Choosing a Show

Chapter 4 Planning the Production

19

(8)

Order Your Show

Timeline

Production Notes

Chapter 5 The Theatre--A Seeing Place

27

(10)

The Proscenium Stage

A Bird's-eye View

The Stage Plot

Blocking Defined

Blocking Exercises

PART II PRODUCTION

37

(120)

Chapter 6 The Prompt Book

37

(6)

Make One

The Floor Plan

Major Notations

Cues

Warnings

Chapter 7 Beat the Script!

43

(8)

Purpose of the Beat

Identifying the Beat

Study the Beats

Chapter 8 Blocking and Motivation

51

(20)

Indirect Actions

What is Blocking?

Pre-blocking

Blocking

Over-blocking

The Inner Meaning

Ten Fundamental Stage Actions

Weight of Stage Areas

Blocking Examples

Chapter 9 The Stage Picture

71

(6)

Visual Arrangements

Five Concepts

Weight and Balance

Variety

Unity and Variety

Application

Chapter 10 Auditions and Casting

77

(8)

Tryouts

Double-casting

Readings

Chapter 11 Beginning Rehearsals

85

(4)

First Rehearsal

The Sing-along

Ask Questions Now

Chapter 12 Learning Blocking

89

(2)

Summer Stock Blocking

Repertory Blocking

Traditional Blocking

Chapter 13 Conducting Rehearsals

91

(4)

Give the Blocking

Step-by-step

Rehearsing Song Sequences

Attention to Detail

Chapter 14 Rehearsal Techniques

95

(8)

Stay Fresh

The Musical Moment

Focus

The Vision of the Show

Seeing It Happen

The Difference

Chapter 15 The Musical Number

103

(12)

The Purpose of a Song

Technology and Innovation

Defining the Show Songs

The Atmosphere Song

The Character Song

The Plot Song

The Soliloquy

The Tempo Song

Chapter 16 Choreography

115

(6)

Dancing Adds Meaning

Looking Good!

Theme and Style

Relevant Dancing

Essential or Atmosphere?

Authenticity

Do It Well

Chapter 17 Setting the Stage

121

(18)

Inspiration

Overdoing

The Aesthetics

Basic Approaches

Suggestions for Using the Basic Approaches

Arena Staging

List of Suppliers

Using Color

General Principles

The Future

Chapter 18 The Costumes

139

(10)

The Process

Borrowing

Renting

Costuming Realities

Professional Hints

Makeup

Chapter 19 Lighting the Show

149

(8)

Characteristics of Light

Lighting Instruments

Techniques

Characteristics of Color

Gels

The Cue Sheet

PART III PERFORMANCE

157

(18)

Chapter 20 Small Things Count

157

(10)

What Constitutes a Performance?

Run-throughs

Notes

Costume Parade

Cue-to-Cue

Technical Rehearsal

Dress Rehearsals

The Stage Manager

Opening Cues

Little Oversights--Big Trouble

Superstitions

Curtain Calls

Chapter 21 Getting the Word Out

167

(4)

Possible Methods

The Box Office

Chapter 22 Mounting the Show

171

(4)

Dos and Don'ts

Safety

Strike!

Appendix: "Musicals! The Perfect Medicine!"

175

(2)

Selected Reading List

177

(4)

Glossary

181

(12)

Index

193

(8)

About the Authors

201

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