Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / AASLH
Pages: 216
•
Trim: 6½ x 9¼
978-0-7591-0412-9 • Hardback • October 2004 • $135.00 • (£104.00)
978-0-7591-0413-6 • Paperback • October 2004 • $50.00 • (£38.00)
978-0-7591-1527-9 • eBook • October 2004 • $47.00 • (£36.00)
Tessa Bridal is Director of Public Programs for the Science Museum of Minnesota, one of the pioneer institutions in the use of theatre as an interpretive technique.
Chapter 1 Preface or Dramatic Prologue
Chapter 2
Chapter I: What Is Museum Theatre?
Chapter 3
Chapter II: A Brief History
Chapter 4
Chapter III: The Interpretive Palette
Chapter 5
Chapter IV: Selecting, Writing, and Developing Your First Program
Chapter 6
Chapter V: General Costs and How to Fund Them
Chapter 7
Chapter VI: There's an Actor in our Collections!
Chapter 8
Chapter VII: Technical Requirements and Staff
Chapter 9
Chapter VIII: Evaluations and Visitor Perspective Findings
Chapter 10
Chapter IX: Selling the Idea
Chapter 11
Chapter X: Promoting and Marketing Your Theatre Program
Chapter 12
Chapter XI: How Theatre Has Been Used to Present Difficult Issues
Chapter 13
Chapter XII: Collaborations and Partnerships
Chapter 14
Chapter XIII: Historic Interpretation
Chapter 15 Epilogue: The Future of Museum Theatre
Chapter 16 Appendix A: Average Costs Incurred in Mountain Museum Theatre Productions and Sample Budgets for Small, Medium and Large Programs
Chapter 17 Appendix B: Elements of a Treatment and Sample Treatment
Chapter 18 Appendix C: Sample Contract - Playwright, Director, Actor, Designers
Chapter 19 Appendix D: Position Description - Actor/Presenter
Chapter 20 Appendix E: Audition Form
Chapter 21 Appendix F: Position Description - Theatre/Presentations Coordinator
Chapter 22 Appendix G: Glossary of Commonly Used Theatre Terms
Chapter 23 Bibliography
Chapter 24 About the Author
Tessa Bridal is considered by many museum administrators and theatre artists to be the country's leading authority regarding the use of theatre as an educational tool in museums. Ms. Bridal's professional reputation alone will be enough to convince thosepeople to purchase this book. Having read the work, however, I can also testify with a great deal of enthusiasm that her discussions are both comprehensive and scholarly....
— Larry Gard, Artistic Director
How I wish I had Tessa Bridal's Exploring Museum Theatre when I became museum theatre coordinator for the Kentucky Historical Society five years ago. Like many of my compatriots, I entered this field having never heard of or encountered live theatrical experiences in a museum setting. Compacted with information from a variety of institutions, Bridal's how-to-do-it manual serves as a sturdy guide for novices and old pros endeavoring to incorporate this interpretive tool into their institutions....
— Mike Thomas
Tessa Bridal doles out good advice in her book, Exploring Museum Theatre. She has written a sweeping how-to manual that covers the myriad elements required to create a successful museum theatre program.....
— Catherine Hughes
This is a great book, well written, well researched, and a pleasure to read. I'm sure it will become the 'must-read' book for all museum theatre practitioners, educators, and museum professionals.....
— Dale Jones