“The book is beautifully done. It is very appealing in appearance, which will make it appealing to students. I especially like the way the text is organized. The chapters and major divisions are carefully thought out for student usage. Overall, the text is an excellent choice for an introductory course.” — Ted Karber, El Paso Community College
“I love the images and the content—especially the Real World practical sidebars. A fun read with material relevant to today’s theatre scene.” — Wendy Wisely, Las Positas College
“I really appreciate the accessible tone of this text. The excellent use of anecdote and humor with extensive and enlightening illustrations keep readers engaged; yet the authors don’t stint on serious theory and history, including Aristotle. This thorough yet concise multidisciplinary, multiperspective text is a great resource.” — Marla Beth Elliott, The Evergreen State College
"This is a remarkable textbook. It is lively in every aspect—the writing, illustrations, and overall point of view are colorful, accessible, and richly informative. The authors bring a wealth of professional, practical stage experience to the task of introducing today’s student to the magic, power, and purpose of the theatre. I have used this text since the first edition was published; the latest edition has many improvements. New sections on Asian theatre and tips on internet use are most welcome but my favorite additions are the end of chapter 'Theatre War Stories,' where the authors provide fascinating firsthand accounts of actual production experiences." — Leslie Reidel, University of Delaware
"This is a perfect text for my course. I really like the fact that it discusses theatre from a point of view that both majors and nonmajors can grasp." — Rebekkah Meixner, Indiana University, Southeast
"I love this text! It is truly formatted for students that are not theatre majors. The writing is clear—even humorous at times—and easy for the students to understand." — John Dement, East Texas Baptist University
368 pages, $67.95 list
1-4786-3727-7
978-1-4786-3727-1
© 2019
paperback
Instructor's resource materials available here
To obtain a username and password to access these materials, contact comps@waveland.com.
To obtain a username and password to access these materials, contact comps@waveland.com.
eBook availability
Another Opening, Another Show
A Lively Introduction to the Theatre
Third Edition
Another Opening, Another Show derived from the authors asking students what they wanted in an introductory theatre textbook. They've given them exactly that:
• A book that doesn't cost a lot
• A book that is fun to read
• A book that helps them understand and enjoy theatre
• An insider's look at theatre, not a scholar's critique of it
• An opportunity to learn about plays on a stage rather than plays on a page
• Pictures that illustrate the ideas in the text instead of just decorating it
Instructors will appreciate the Third Edition's modularity. Each chapter stands on its own, allowing for maximum flexibility for individual course needs. The book's inclusive approach touches on cultural diversity and gender issues in American theatre, as well as adding an entirely new chapter on Asian theatre. Photos of contemporary productions enrich the text, and a variety of side material shows students how the concepts they read about are applied by theatre professionals.
• A book that doesn't cost a lot
• A book that is fun to read
• A book that helps them understand and enjoy theatre
• An insider's look at theatre, not a scholar's critique of it
• An opportunity to learn about plays on a stage rather than plays on a page
• Pictures that illustrate the ideas in the text instead of just decorating it
Instructors will appreciate the Third Edition's modularity. Each chapter stands on its own, allowing for maximum flexibility for individual course needs. The book's inclusive approach touches on cultural diversity and gender issues in American theatre, as well as adding an entirely new chapter on Asian theatre. Photos of contemporary productions enrich the text, and a variety of side material shows students how the concepts they read about are applied by theatre professionals.
Reactions
Act 1: UNDERSTANDING AND EVALUATING THEATRE
1. What Is Theatre?
Describing Theatre / Theatre Is Fun / Theatre Is Healing / Theatre Is a Learning Experience / Theatre Is a Forum for Public Discourse / Defining Theatre / Why We Value Theatre and Why We Study It
2. Aristotle's Guide to Pleasure
The Three Unities of Theatre / The Six Elements of Theatre
3. Dramatic Genres
Comedy / Farce / Drama / Tragedy / Melodrama / Tragicomedy / Reviewing the Six Genres
4. Theatrical Styles
Objective Reality / Subjective Reality / Idealized Reality / Identifying Theatrical Style
5. Writing about Theatre
Professionals / Amateurs / Another Set of Tools
Act 2: THE CREATIVE PROCESS
6. The Playwright's Story
Where Do Playwrights Get Ideas for Their Stories? / Writing the Play / The Playwright's Themes and Meaning / Finishing the Play
7. Actors and Characters
What Actors Work With / Text / Self / Where Actors Get Training / How Actors Get Work / What an Actor's Life Is Like
8. The Director's Impact
Evolution of the Director / Duties of the Director / Interpreter or Creator?
9. The Designers' Vision
How Do Designers Communicate? / What Do Designers Do?
10. Putting It Together
The Context / Shakespeare's Play / Getting Started / The Director's Research and Analysis / The Designers' Research and Analysis / Sometimes a Great Notion / Back to the Drawing Board of Research / Conceptualizing the Production / Between Conferences / The Second Conference / Final Preparations / Realizing the Production / Technical and Dress Rehearsals / Another Opening, Another Show
Act 3: THE AUDIENCE JOINS IN
11. Finding Theatre and Getting Tickets
What's Playing / How You Find Theatre / How Theatre Finds You / Ticket Tips
12. Take Your Seats, Please
When to Arrive / Deciding What to Wear / Before the Play Begins / During the Performance / Ten Commandments of Theatre Etiquette / Everybody Has a First Time
13. The Curtain Rises
Public Spaces / Kinds of Theatres / Setting the Stage
14. Backstage Revealed
What's It Look Like? / Who's Backstage? / A Labor-Intensive Industry
Act 4: THEATRE HISTORY
15. Theatre in Europe
The Beginnings of Theatre—Prehistory / Greek Theatre / Roman Theatre / Theatre in the Middle Ages / Elizabethan Theatre / Renaissance Theatre in Italy / Baroque Court Theatre / The 18th and 19th Centuries / The Modern Age / The Future
16. Theatre in Asia
Indian Theatre / Chinese Theatre / Japanese Theatre / Fusion Theatre
Act 5: THEATRE IN AMERICA TODAY
17. Show Biz Is Big Biz
Professional Theatre / Theatre as an Amateur Activity / Theatre as an Educational Experience / Sources of Income
18. Musical Theatre
How Did Musical Theatre Evolve? / What Is Musical Theatre? / Why Is Musical Theatre an American Art Form?
1. What Is Theatre?
Describing Theatre / Theatre Is Fun / Theatre Is Healing / Theatre Is a Learning Experience / Theatre Is a Forum for Public Discourse / Defining Theatre / Why We Value Theatre and Why We Study It
2. Aristotle's Guide to Pleasure
The Three Unities of Theatre / The Six Elements of Theatre
3. Dramatic Genres
Comedy / Farce / Drama / Tragedy / Melodrama / Tragicomedy / Reviewing the Six Genres
4. Theatrical Styles
Objective Reality / Subjective Reality / Idealized Reality / Identifying Theatrical Style
5. Writing about Theatre
Professionals / Amateurs / Another Set of Tools
Act 2: THE CREATIVE PROCESS
6. The Playwright's Story
Where Do Playwrights Get Ideas for Their Stories? / Writing the Play / The Playwright's Themes and Meaning / Finishing the Play
7. Actors and Characters
What Actors Work With / Text / Self / Where Actors Get Training / How Actors Get Work / What an Actor's Life Is Like
8. The Director's Impact
Evolution of the Director / Duties of the Director / Interpreter or Creator?
9. The Designers' Vision
How Do Designers Communicate? / What Do Designers Do?
10. Putting It Together
The Context / Shakespeare's Play / Getting Started / The Director's Research and Analysis / The Designers' Research and Analysis / Sometimes a Great Notion / Back to the Drawing Board of Research / Conceptualizing the Production / Between Conferences / The Second Conference / Final Preparations / Realizing the Production / Technical and Dress Rehearsals / Another Opening, Another Show
Act 3: THE AUDIENCE JOINS IN
11. Finding Theatre and Getting Tickets
What's Playing / How You Find Theatre / How Theatre Finds You / Ticket Tips
12. Take Your Seats, Please
When to Arrive / Deciding What to Wear / Before the Play Begins / During the Performance / Ten Commandments of Theatre Etiquette / Everybody Has a First Time
13. The Curtain Rises
Public Spaces / Kinds of Theatres / Setting the Stage
14. Backstage Revealed
What's It Look Like? / Who's Backstage? / A Labor-Intensive Industry
Act 4: THEATRE HISTORY
15. Theatre in Europe
The Beginnings of Theatre—Prehistory / Greek Theatre / Roman Theatre / Theatre in the Middle Ages / Elizabethan Theatre / Renaissance Theatre in Italy / Baroque Court Theatre / The 18th and 19th Centuries / The Modern Age / The Future
16. Theatre in Asia
Indian Theatre / Chinese Theatre / Japanese Theatre / Fusion Theatre
Act 5: THEATRE IN AMERICA TODAY
17. Show Biz Is Big Biz
Professional Theatre / Theatre as an Amateur Activity / Theatre as an Educational Experience / Sources of Income
18. Musical Theatre
How Did Musical Theatre Evolve? / What Is Musical Theatre? / Why Is Musical Theatre an American Art Form?