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The World of Theatre: Tradition and Innovation
Mira Felner, Hunter College of The City University of New York
Claudia Orenstein, Hunter College of The City University of New York

ISBN-10: 0205360637
ISBN-13: 9780205360635

Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
Copyright: 2006
Format: Paper; 480 pp
Published: 07/19/2005

Suggested retail price: $96.00
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The World of Theatre is the first introduction to theatre text to truly focus on diversity and globalism, integrating coverage of multicultural, international and experimental theatre throughout the text.  

 

Theatre is presented as a global and multicultural form that reflects both traditional and evolving world views.  While the American commercial theatre and European forms are central to the text, alternative theatres are placed side by side for comparison and contrast in each chapter, thus avoiding the sense of “otherness” created by devoting separate chapters to diversity and departures from the western tradition.  This text sets itself apart form the competition in asserting that theatre is a multifaceted and evolving form, which must be studied in all its variety in order to be fully understood. Reflecting the changing, increasingly diverse student population as no other text does, The World of Theatre will foster new interest in the course and help increase enrollments in the department.

  • Integrated global and diversity coverage places multicultural, international and alternative theatres side-by-side with more familiar material, emphasizing the importance and influence of these traditions and trends rather than marginalizing them. 
  • History coverage is interwoven throughout text and appears in context, where relevant, rather than being isolated in one or two separate chapters.
  • A rich boxed feature program gives students ways of thinking about particular issues in the theatre; which in turn helps them understand how theatre works and why it has the impact that it does.  Boxes include:
    • History in Perspective boxes focus on important historical events and trends relevant to the chapter topic. 
    • Artists in Perspective boxes present playwrights, actors, directors and designers talking about their craft, so students see real-life applications of the concepts they’re learning about.  “In Their Own Words” boxes contain interviews, while other boxes feature profiles of theatre practitioners.
    • Texts in Perspective boxes provide examples of the different forms theatre takes, illustrating the multifaceted nature of theatre. Examples include excerpts from play scripts, storyboards, and dance notations.
    • Performance in Perspective boxes highlight particular productions or theatre companies, focusing on what makes them unique. 
  • A unique chapter, "Technology and Theatrical Innovation," examines how theatre has always made use of available technology to heighten its expressive power, and how computers have and will continue to enhance and transform theatrical tradition (Ch. 14).
  • A unique final chapter, “Making Theatre Happen,” shows students how the intersection of artistic vision, talent, and passion intersect with social, political and economic reality to create theatre everywhere, in all its forms and variety.
  • Photo Essays in Chapters 1, 10, and 11 demonstrate global influences in all types of theatre and theatrical experiences. Chapter 1 focuses on multiculturalism; Chapter 10 on clowns, illusions of reality, and design; while Chapter 11 focuses on designing the character’s world.Strong Pedagogy includes:
    • Part Introductions provide students with an overview of the topics covered in each part, introducing students to core concepts.
    • "Challenges and Choices" questions are embedded where relevant in each chapter, prompting class discussion about controversial issues in today’s theatre. 
    • Key Ideas appear at the end of each chapter to summarize major chapter concepts.
    • Glossary of Terms (in boldface in the text) appears at the end of the text, listing key terms in alphabetical order.  Terms are followed by the page number on which they appear.
    • Bibliography at the end of the text includes articles and books that students can consult for further reference.

I. NAVIGATING THE WORLD OF THE THEATRE.

 

            1.   THEATRE: A GLOBAL EXPERIENCE.

 

            2.   THE AUDIENCE—PARTNERS IN PERFORMANCE.

  

II. ENCOUNTERING TRADITIONS.

 

            3. UNDERSTANDING PLAYS.

 

            4. THE EUROPEAN WRITTEN TRADITION AND ITS GENRES.

            

            5. PERFORMANCE TRADITIONS: LEGACY AND RENEWAL.

 

            6. ALTERNATIVE FORMS: OTHER AUTHORS, OTHER TEXTS.

 

III. SHAPING THE PERFORMANCE.

 

            7. THE ACTOR: THEATRE’S LIVING PRESENCE.

 

            8. THE DIRECTOR: THE INVISIBLE PRESENCE.

 

            9. THEATRE SPACES AND ENVIRONMENTS: THE SILENT CHARACTER.

 

IV. DESIGN FOR THE THEATRE: ART AND TECHNOLOGY.

 

            10. APPROACHES TO DESIGN.

 

            11. SET TING THE STAGE.

 

            12. DRESSING THE CHARACTER.

 

            13. LIGHTING AND SOUND DESIGN.

 

            14. TECHNOLOGY AND THEATRICAL INNOVATION.

 

V. UNDERSTANDING TODAY’S THEATRE.

 

            15. THE CRITICAL RESPONSE.

 

            16. MAKING THEATRE HAPPEN.    

The World of Theatre: Tradition and Innovation is the first introduction to theatre text to fully focus on diversity and globalism, integrating coverage of multicultural, international, and experimental theatre throughout. This text sets itself apart from the competition in asserting that theatre is a multifaceted and evolving form that must be studied in all of its variety in order to be fully understood. It reflects the changing and increasingly diverse student population as no other text does.

Exciting Features

  • Integrated global and diversity coverage places multicultural, international, and alternative theatres side-by-side with more familiar material, emphasizing the importance and influence of these traditions and trends rather than marginalizing them.
  • History coverage is interwoven throughout the text and appears in context, where relevant, rather than being isolated in one or two separate chapters.
  • A rich boxed-feature program gives students ways of thinking about particular issues in the theatre, which in turn helps them to understand how theatre works and why it has the impact that it does.
  • A unique chapter, “Technology and Theatrical Innovation,” examines how theatre has always made use of available technology to heighten its expressive power. This chapter also discusses how computers have enhanced and transformed theatrical tradition and will continue to do so.
  • A unique final chapter, “Making Theatre Happen,” shows students how artistic vision, talent, and passion intersect with social, political, and economic reality to create theatre everywhere, in all its forms and variety.
Praise for The World of Theatre

“The multifaceted, multicultural, international focus of the book is fantastic and a vast, ambitious undertaking. Placing theatre in a broader context, expanding the definition of theatre beyond a narrow western focus, is long overdue. The breadth of the book and wealth of examples from all over the world are astonishing.”
Susan Mason, California State University—Los Angeles

“This is a highly readable and engaging book. The individual chapter contents nicely cross-reference with each other, and the book never ‘bogs down’ in history. The very breadth of the subject matter remains outstanding, articulate, and engaging.”
Richard Hansen, Middle Tennessee State University

“The author’s approach is innovative and applaudable, and a welcome addition to the more traditional textbooks in this field that focus primarily on Western theatrical forms with a separate chapter or two on non-Western forms.”
Nina LeNoir, Minnesota State University—Mankato

“The textbook is worthwhile, and becomes more apparent as the chapters evolve. The author is careful to return to the focus of the text in each chapter, which leads to student awareness and understanding. . .and awakens the potential for creating and meeting the challenges of theatre in an ever changing world.”
Marilyn DeSimone, Florida Community College at Jacksonville—Kent Campus

View a Sample Chapter PDF: /samplechapter/0205360637.pdf

  • Exam Copy
    Felner & Orenstein
    © 2006 | Allyn & Bacon | Paper | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0205449018 | ISBN-13: 9780205449019


  • Companion Website
    Felner & Orenstein
    © 2006 | Allyn & Bacon | On-line Supplement | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0205477763 | ISBN-13: 9780205477760
    URL: http://www.ablongman.com/felner1e


  • Instructor's Manual and Test Bank
    Felner & Orenstein
    © 2006 | Allyn & Bacon | Paper; 208 pages | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0205477771 | ISBN-13: 9780205477777

    Instructor's Manual and Test Bank
    Felner & Orenstein
    © 2006 | Allyn & Bacon | Paper;208 pages | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0205477771 | ISBN-13: 9780205477777

    Downloadable files:

    Help downloading files

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  • PowerPoint Presentation
    Felner & Orenstein
    © 2006 | Allyn & Bacon | CD-ROM Only | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0205477747 | ISBN-13: 9780205477746

    PowerPoint Presentation
    Felner & Orenstein
    © 2006 | Allyn & Bacon | CD-ROM Only | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0205477747 | ISBN-13: 9780205477746

    Downloadable files:

    • Batch 1 of 2 (ZIP) (10.5 MB | ZIP file | Type: Presentations)
      Lecture presentations to accompany the textbook. Mac & Win compatible.


    • Batch 2 of 2 (zip) (12.1 MB | zip file | Type: Presentations)
      Lecture presentations to accompany the textbook. Mac & Win compatible.


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  • TestGen EQ: Computerized Test Bank (Download only)
    Felner & Orenstein
    © 2006 | Allyn & Bacon | On-line Supplement | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0205477755 | ISBN-13: 9780205477753

    TestGen EQ: Computerized Test Bank (Download only)
    Felner & Orenstein
    © 2006 | Allyn & Bacon | On-line Supplement | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0205477755 | ISBN-13: 9780205477753

    Please note: This testbank file must be used in conjunction with Pearson's TestGen application. Go to the TestGen website to download software, upgrade, and access "getting started" TestGen resources.

    Downloadable files:

    • Mac Version (sit) (.4 MB | sit file | Type: Assessment)
      Compressed file contains testbank files produced in TestGen version 5.5


    • Windows Version (zip) (.6 MB | zip file | Type: Assessment)
      Compressed file contains testbank files produced in TestGen version 5.5


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For Introduction to Theatre


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