Literature
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Stagecraft
The Backstage Handbook: An Illustrated Almanac of Technical Information, by Paul Carter
First published in 1988, Backstage Handbook is one of the most widely used stagecraft textbooks in the United States, with about 10,000 copies sold every year.
This handy reference book brings together under one cover an incredible variety of information useful to designers, technicians and students who work behind the scenes in theatre, film and television. Its sturdy leatherette binding will stand up to years of constant use.
The third edition updates this popular reference book with new terminology and materials, and adds dozens of new illustrations of grip hardware, film lighting equipment and painting tools. Backstage Handbook includes chapters on Tools, Hardware, Materials, Electrics, Shop Math, Architecture and Theatre. There are hundreds of illustrations, tables and charts which cover everything from the stock sizes and specs of wood screws, to safe working loads for several kinds of rope, to illustrations of twenty-two types of standard lamp bases.
The Perfect Stage Crew: The Complete Technical Guide for High School, College, and Community Theater by John Kaluta
Here is a must-have book for anyone producing a stage show without a Broadway-sized budget. Written by a technical theater veteran, The Perfect Stage Crew explains the pitfalls to avoid and provides solutions to the most common—and the most complex—stage performance problems, even for theaters with a lack of resources. An invaluable guide for middle and high school theaters, college theaters, and community theaters, The Perfect Stage Crew teaches readers how
Stock, organize, and store the essential backstage supplies
Conceptualize, design, and build sets
Manage a stage crew effectively
Paint scenery and backdrops
Test, design, and hang lighting
Operate and repair sound equipment
Set cues
Promote your show
This expanded second edition covers up-to-date technology, including for use with recording, sound, and lighting. Chapters also cover such crucial topics as running technical rehearsals, gathering props, and creating and selling tickets. Theater groups that need to learn the nuts and bolts of putting a show together will discover how to turn backstage workers into The Perfect Stage Crew.
Technical Theater for Nontechnical People, by Drew Campbell
Completely updated to reflect state-of-the-art standards in today's fast-changing theater technology, Technical Theater for Nontechnical People helps actors, dancers, playwrights, and directors to understand every aspect of a traditional and digitally supported backstage environment-from scenery, lighting, and sound to props, costumes, and stage management. All sides of production are clearly explained in jargon-free prose, and unfamiliar terms are highlighted and defined in an appended glossary. In addition to discussions on the more traditional elements of technical theater, this book gives equal weight to the new technologies that have become mainstream, including software (DMX, MIDI, and SMPTI) for show control systems, software to build audio cues, and PC-based audio play-back systems.
Prop Building for Beginners: Twenty Props for Stage and Screen, by Eric Hart
Prop Building for Beginners outlines the basic concepts of prop building by featuring step-by-step instructions to create twenty of the most commonly featured items in theatrical and filmed productions.
Stage Design
World Scenography 1975-1990 | World Scenography 1990-2005, by Peter McKinnon
World Scenography 1975-1990 is the first volume in a new series of books looking at significant stage design throughout the world since 1975. This volume, documenting 1975-1990, has been about four years in the making and has had contributions from hundreds of people in more than 70 countries. Despite this range of input, it is not possible for it to be encyclopædic, much as the editors would like. Neither is the series a collection of “greatest hits,” despite the presence of many of the greatest designs of the period being examined. Instead, the object is to present designs that made a difference, designs that mattered, designs of influence; to document for posterity a collection of the significant theatrical set, costume, and lighting designs from the period.
The second volume of the World Scenography book series covers 1990-2005 and presents designs for 409 productions from 55 countries representing the work of hundreds of designers as researched by a group of more than 100 dedicated volunteers from around the globe.
Stage Management
The Stage Manager's Toolkit: Templates and Communication Techniques to Guide Your Theatre Production from First Meeting to Final Performance, by Laurie Kincman
As a Stage Manager, you are responsible for organizing rehearsals, running performances, and keeping everyone and everything on track and in sync. To do the job well, you need to be a communication wizard―able to collect a wide range of details and share them as effectively as possible. The Stage Manger’s Toolkit is more than another overview book which generalizes how to be a Stage Manager. It presents the day-to-day duties in detail―discussing not only what to do but also why. Focusing on communication best practices, the book explores objectives, paperwork, and the questions that need to be asked in order to ensure a smooth production whether on Broadway, at a university, or somewhere in between.
The Back Stage Guide to Stage Management, 3rd Edition: Traditional and New Methods for Running a Show from First Rehearsal to Last Performance, by Thomas A. Kelly
First published in 1991, it is widely used and has been lauded as the most comprehensive, educational book on stage management available. From preproduction planning and first rehersals to opening night and final strike, all the essentials of the profession are presented here in a friendly, engaging style. Blending how-to information with anecdotes from his own career, author Thomas A. Kelly explains the entire theatrical process, - Organizing all rehearsals and performances- Maintaining the working script, cue sheets, and daily records- Supervising the technical aspects of the show- Running shows outdoors and at other non-theatrical venues- Dealing with performers and crew members on all levels This new edition reflects all the latest developments and innovations in the industry and adds a totally new chapter on opera stage management, complete with an in-depth breakdown of the challenges this style of production presents.
Rigging
The Arena Riggers' Handbook, Second Edition by Delbert L Hall, Brian Sickels
Whether you are a beginner and experienced rigger, The Arena Riggers' Handbook is a "must have" book for your library. This book begins with a completely re-written chapter (Arena Rigging Basics) that discusses the different types of arena riggers and the rigging tasks involved with the Load-in and the Load-out of a show. This chapter gives new riggers a good understanding of what is expected of them, as well as getting them familiar with many of the rigging terms they are likely here. Written by experienced and certified riggers, this book clearly describes all aspects of arena rigging, hardware, rigging techniques, electricity, rigging math, safety and more. It even includes an arena rigging quiz to help you access your preparedness for taking an arena rigging certification exam.
Stage Rigging Handbook, Third Edition Paperback – Illustrated, by Jay O. Glerum
Succinct and jargon free, Stage Rigging Handbook remains the only book in any language that covers the design, operation, and maintenance of stage-rigging equipment. It is written in an at-a-glance outline form, yet contains in-depth information available nowhere else. This fully indexed third edition includes three new parts: the first, an explanation of inspection procedures for rigging systems; the second, a discussion of training in the operation of rigging systems; and the third, essential information about the operation of fire curtains. The remaining six parts, as well as the glossary and bibliography, have been updated. This edition also contains a new preface, many new illustrations, and expanded information on Nicopress terminations.
Nobody Looks Up: The History of the Counterweight Rigging System: 1500 to 1925, by R.W. Boychuk
The counterweight rigging system has dominated the theatre fly tower for the last half of the 20th century. And yet, the history of its evolution has been lost, until now. In this first ever written history of the counterweight rigging system, author Rick Boychuk upends two core theatre myths. Stage rigging did not grow from a nautical tradition and counterweight rigging did not evolve from the hemp system. Boychuk neatly identifies the origins of the myth of the sailor-flyman and leaves no room for doubt. Counterweight rigging emerged from a European tradition of 17th century Torellian stage machinery. Hemp rigging was a side-show.
In documenting the evolution of the counterweight system, Boychuk dissects the machine that is the stage house along with its upper machinery – the rigging. He examines the development of the fly tower, gridiron, loft steel, head steel, grid wells, arbor, bricks, blocks, and loft lines; all of those mundane components necessary to make the system work. He deconstructs hemp, counterweight and Torellian rigging into system paths to gain a better understanding of the progression of development and the workings of each system. This is the surprising story of how the counterweight rigging system was developed for an Austro-Hungarian theatre in 1888, then quickly found its way to the American Midwest in Adler & Sullivan's Chicago Auditorium in 1889. But it was the Chicago scenic painting studio Sosman & Landis that capitalized on the system.
Entertainment Rigging for the 21st Century: Compilation of Work on Rigging Practices, Safety, and Related Topics, by Bill Sapsis
From the basics of physical forces and mathematical formulas to performer flying and stage automation, Entertainment Rigging for the 21st Century provides you with insider information into rigging systems and the skills you need to safely operate them. Over the past decade, the entertainment industry has witnessed major changes in rigging technology, as manually operated rigging has given way to motorized systems in both permanent and touring productions, and greater attention has been paid to standardizing safety practices. This book leads you through what is currently happening in the industry, why it’s happening, and how. Accessible for riggers and non-riggers alike, it contains details on the technology and methodology used to achieve the startling effects found in concerts and stage shows.
Lighting
Stage Lighting Design: The Art, the Craft, the Life Paperback, by Richard Pilbrow
The definitive text for today's and tomorrow's lighting designers, covering the complete history, theory and practice of lighting design.
With over four hundred illustrations and nearly sixty colour photographs, as well as interviews with many well-known professionals, Stage Lighting Design is a comprehensive, insightful and inspiring book that every designer and would-be designer should own.
It is arranged in four sections:
Design: the basic principles, illustrated with reference to specific productions
History: a brief survey of the historical development of stage lighting
The Life: interviews with 14 other lighting designers, plus notes on Pilbrow's own career
Mechanics: a comprehensive section dealing with all the technical data today's designer will need.
Historical & Biographies
A Sense of Theatre: The Untold Stories of the Creation of Britain’s National Theatre, by Richard Pilbrow
April 28, 2025 would have been Richard Pilbrow’s 92nd birthday. Richard died at the end of 2023 but was fortunate to leave a book of memories and lessons.
A Sense of Theatre, his final work, tells the story of the National Theatre's creation and his own role in it as the inaugural lighting designer. Richard also worked as the National's theatre consultant for its new home on the River Thames. In the book, he explores the challenges the architects faced and how the building was designed, as well as the impact of the shows that were performed there. The book is lavishly illustrated and more than 500 pages long, and it is parting gift to the world. If you are fascinated by the National or any theatre, you'll love A Sense of Theatre.