Theatre as Human Action

An Introduction to Theatre Arts, Third Edition

Thomas S. Hischak

Theatre as Human Action: An Introduction to Theatre Arts, Third Edition is designed for the college student who may be unacquainted with many plays and has seen a limited number of theatre productions. Focusing primarily on four plays, this textbook aims to inform the student about theatre arts, stimulate interest in the art form, lead to critical thinking about theatre, and prepare the student to be a more informed and critical theatregoer.

The four plays central to this book are the tragedy Macbeth, the landmark African American drama A Raisin in the Sun, the American comedy classic You Can’t Take It with You, and—new to this edition—the contemporary hip-hop musical Hamilton. At the beginning of the text, each play is described with plot synopses (and suggested video versions), and then these four representative works are referred to throughout the book. In addition to looking at both the theoretical and practical aspects of theatre arts—from the nature of theatre and drama to how it reflects society—the author also explains the processes that playwrights, actors, designers, directors, producers, and critics go through.

In addition to Hamilton, this edition includes full color images throughout, as well as revised chapters and expanded and updated material on the technical aspects of theatre, coverage of children’s theatre and British theatre, the role of drama as therapy, and the importance of diversity in theatre today. Structured into ten chapters, each looking at a major area or artist—and concluding with the audience and critics—the unique approach of Theatre as Human Action thoroughly addresses all of the major topics to be found in an introduction to theatre text.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 240 • Trim: 8 x 10

978-1-5381-2641-7 • Hardback • April 2019 • $116.00 • (£89.00)

978-1-5381-2642-4 • Paperback • April 2019 • $58.00 • (£45.00)

978-1-5381-2643-1 • eBook • April 2019 • $55.00 • (£42.00)

Subjects: Performing Arts / Theater / General, Performing Arts / Theater / Broadway & Musical Revue, Performing Arts / Theater / Stagecraft

Courses: Performing Arts; Theater

Theatre as Human Action

An Introduction to Theatre Arts, Third Edition

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

Theatre as Human Action: An Introduction to Theatre Arts, Third Edition is designed for the college student who may be unacquainted with many plays and has seen a limited number of theatre productions. Focusing primarily on four plays, this textbook aims to inform the student about theatre arts, stimulate interest in the art form, lead to critical thinking about theatre, and prepare the student to be a more informed and critical theatregoer.

The four plays central to this book are the tragedy Macbeth, the landmark African American drama A Raisin in the Sun, the American comedy classic You Can’t Take It with You, and—new to this edition—the contemporary hip-hop musical Hamilton. At the beginning of the text, each play is described with plot synopses (and suggested video versions), and then these four representative works are referred to throughout the book. In addition to looking at both the theoretical and practical aspects of theatre arts—from the nature of theatre and drama to how it reflects society—the author also explains the processes that playwrights, actors, designers, directors, producers, and critics go through.

In addition to Hamilton, this edition includes full color images throughout, as well as revised chapters and expanded and updated material on the technical aspects of theatre, coverage of children’s theatre and British theatre, the role of drama as therapy, and the importance of diversity in theatre today. Structured into ten chapters, each looking at a major area or artist—and concluding with the audience and critics—the unique approach of Theatre as Human Action thoroughly addresses all of the major topics to be found in an introduction to theatre text.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 240 • Trim: 8 x 10

978-1-5381-2641-7 • Hardback • April 2019 • $116.00 • (£89.00)

978-1-5381-2642-4 • Paperback • April 2019 • $58.00 • (£45.00)

978-1-5381-2643-1 • eBook • April 2019 • $55.00 • (£42.00)

Subjects: Performing Arts / Theater / General, Performing Arts / Theater / Broadway & Musical Revue, Performing Arts / Theater / Stagecraft

Courses: Performing Arts; Theater

Author

Thomas S. Hischak is an internationally recognized writer and teacher in the performing arts and the author of twenty-six non-fiction books about theatre, film, and popular music, including Theatre as Human Action: An Introduction to Theatre Arts, Second Edition (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016), The Disney Song Encyclopedia (with Mark A. Robinson, 2012), The Oxford Companion to the American Musical (2008), The Encyclopedia of Film Composers (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015), The 100 Greatest American Plays (Roman & Littlefield, 2017), 1939: Hollywood’s Greatest Year (Rowman & Littlefield, 2017), 100 Greatest American and British Animated Films (Rowman & Littlefield, 2018), and The Woody Allen Encyclopedia (Rowman & Littlefield, 2018).

Table of Contents

About the Author
Preface to the Third Edition
Introduction

Chapter 1 The Theatre
Theatre vs. Drama
What is Theatre?
The Theatre Experience
From Page to Stage
Theatre as Change
Theatre Conventions
Place
Time
Acting
The Mask
Unique Conventions
Theatre is Plural
Four Theatre Events
Topics for Group Discussion
Possible Research Projects
Further Reading

Chapter 2 The Play
The Script
About Four Scripts
Macbeth
You Can't Take It with You
A Raisin in the Sun
Hamilton
The Elements of Drama
Plot
Character
Theme
Diction
Music
Spectacle
Types of Drama
Fantasy
Dramatic Structure
Topics for Group Discussion
Possible Research Projects
Further Reading

Chapter 3 The Playwright
The Blueprint
Meet the Playwrights
The Germinal Idea
The Playwright's Process
Plot
Character
Revision and Rewriting
Evaluating the Playwright's Work
Plot
Character
Diction
Theme
The Business of Playwriting
Looking at Twenty-One American and British Playwrights
Topics for Group Discussion
Possible Research Projects
Further Reading

Chapter 4 The Play Performers: The Actors
Acting vs. Role-Playing
Acting as an Art and a Craft
A Brief History of Acting
Premodern Acting
Modern Acting
Theories of Acting
An Actor's Tool
The Actor's Process
Analysis
Rehearsal
Sustaining a Performance
The Business of Acting
Auditions
Professional Union
Evaluating the Actor
Topics for Group Discussion
Possible Research Projects
Further Reading

Chapter 5 The Play Makers I: The Director and the Choreographer
Behind the Scenes
The Art of Directing
Theatre Styles
Realism
Romanticism
Expressionism
Other Isms
A Brief History of Directing
The Directing Process
Play Selection
Analysis
Casting
Rehearsals
Performance
Musicals
The Business of Directing
Evaluating the Director and Choreographer
Topics for Group Discussion
Possible Research Projects
Further Reading

Chapter 6 The Play Makers II: The Producer
What is a Producer?
The Business of Producing
Topics for Group Discussion
Possible Research Projects
Further Reading

Chapter 7 The Play Builders I: Theatre Architecture and Scenic Designers
Theatre Architecture
Proscenium Stage
Thrust Stage
Arena Stage
Flexible Space
Scenic Design
Research
Graphic Designs
Implementation
Topics for Group Discussion
Possible Research Projects
Further Reading

Chapter 8 The Play Builders II: The Other Designers
Costume Design
Functions of Costume Design
The Costume Designer's Process
Lighting Design
A Brief History of Theatre Lighting
The Function and Elements of Theatre Lighting
Intensity
Distribution
Color
The Lighting Designer's Process
Sound Design
Acoustics
Amplification
Sound Effects
Theatre Properties
Makeup in the Theatre
New Technology
The Business of Theatre Design
Evaluating Theatre Design
Topics for Group Discussion
Possible Research Projects
Further Reading

Chapter 9 The Playgoers I: The Audience
Theatre Today
Where Theatre Happens
Broadway
The Road
Off Broadway
Off-Off-Broadway
Regional or Resident Theatre
Theatregoing in Great Britain
Summer Theatre
Theatre Festivals
Dinner Theatre
Community Theatre
Children's Theatre
Educational Theatre
Alternative Theatre
Experimental Theatre
Street and Guerrilla Theatre
Performance Art
Theatre of Diversity
African American Theatre
Latinex Theatre
Asian American Theatre
Native American Theatre
Feminist Theatre
Gay and Lesbian Theatre
Foreign Influences
Topics for Group Discussion
Possible Research Projects
Further Reading

Chapter 10 The Playgoers II: The Critic
Theatre Criticism
Critics and Reviews
The Student as Critic
Topics for Group Discussion
Possible Research Projects
Further Reading

Parting Thoughts
Glossary
Websites to Visit
Film and Video Versions of the Plays
Index

Reviews

Our faculty and students love this book.
— Justin Amellio, Indiana University–South Bend

Students . . . dive into four plays and use those plays to learn about theatre.
— Monica Cortes-Viharo, University of Washington

Hischak lays out very clearly the aims of the text in the introduction and meets them all by the end. The use of the four featured plays provides a nice framing devise for the text as a whole and provides the reader with continuity while reinforcing the details of those particular stories. This a well-organized, easy-to-follow, and engaging book. (Previous Edition Praise)
— Patricia Downey, University of South Dakota

I adore this book for its comprehensive nature and its demonstration of the reasons how and why theatre is collaborative. Theatre as Human Action has a logical progression of ideas, provides the reader with an abundance of photos, and is an easy read regardless of one’s familiarity with the subject matter. (Previous Edition Praise)
— Laurel Whitsett, The University of Texas at Arlington