Theatre: Collaborative Acts

Theatre: Collaborative Acts stimulates creative thinking through its interwoven themes of theatre as culture, collaboration, spatial art, and a dynamic fusion of past and present. The central premise of the book is that theatre is entertainment and art. It allows us to escape, relax, and refocus. Theatre also stimulates creative thinking and provokes discussion of artistic, social and ethical questions.

Theatre: Collaborative Acts stimulates creative thinking through its interwoven themes of theatre as culture, collaboration, spatial art, and a dynamic fusion of past and present. The central premise of the text is that theatre is entertainment and art. It allows us to escape, relax, and refocus. Theatre also stimulates creative thinking and provokes discussion of artistic, social and ethical questions. Through their study of theatre, students develop lifelong tools to help them enjoy, analyze, understand, read, visualize, and get the most out of many different types of theatre experiences. Theatre: Collaborative Acts emphasizes the diversity of purpose and effect of theatre, and the collaborative nature of the theatrical process. It requires the efforts of many people with different skills to create theatre.

Features:

• Four major themes and principles guide the text and provide a consistent backdrop for students as they explore theatre:
  • Theatre is cultural study; looking at theatrical events and how they are created provides a window into the way a society views itself, drawing examples from multicultural theatre, not just the Western tradition.
  • Theatre is collaboration; theatre-making is a shared experience including both theatre practitioners and audience members.
  • Theatre is a spatial art; critical to theatrical collaboration is the way space is used, adapted, transformed, and the way theatrical artists interact in and with that space.
  • Theatre is a dynamic fusion of past and present; it represents a unique opportunity to see how the past and present are interrelated.
  • Boxed features illustrate the core themes of the text and high-interest topics:
    • “Exploring Collaboration” boxes include profiles of successful artistic teams and feature a variety of approaches to the creative process.
    • “Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives” boxes provide windows to specific theatrical events.
    • “Artists of the Theatre” boxes introduce colorful and influential theatrical figures in theatre and appear only in Act III.
  • Special features following each “Act” provide additional information on special topics:
    • The photo gallery “Interpreting Space and Design” demonstrates ways in which spaces have been redefined by directors and designers, and examines the human figure in space and the dynamics of three-dimensional performance.
  • Key Theatrical Events
    • Timeline of selective theatrical, social and artistic events allows students to place their explorations in a wider context.
    • The photo gallery “Diversity in the Theatre” demonstrates a range of cultural, racial, stylistic, gender, and topical diversity in type of theatre and theatrical experiences.
  • Student-friendly pedagogy helps students identify important information and aid in their exam preparation:
    • “For Further Exploration” provides a reference list of articles, books, videos, and web sites.
    • “Questions and Activities” provide springboards for class discussion or outside projects.
    • A list of “Key Terms and Concepts” (in boldface in the chapter) are arranged by topic and followed by page reference number.
    • History is integrated throughout the text, helping students make historical and cultural connections.
    • New and unique “Explore Theatre: A Backstage Pass” is a peer-to-peer, interactive, DVD learning tool (available on demand in a free package with the book) developed by students for students under the direction of an award winning teacher of theatre. Seventeen major content areas (director, actor, costume designer, etc.) are covered, with an eye towards introducing students to the people and processes that make theatre happen.