Performing Arts

Mike McGranaghan's in-depth analysis of Chevy Chase's film career is a fascinating exploration of a Hollywood legend's diverse body of work.Over 12 months, the author watched and analyzed every movie...

Two Bicycles: The Work of Jean-Luc Godard and Anne-Marie Miéville A comprehensive exploration of the collaborative film work of two influential postwar filmmakers, this book examines their innovative...

Flying Solo by Nigel Pascoe A collection of monologues from his plays and specially written audition material, showcasing his expertise in writing for performance. Nigel Pascoe has been active in the...

Soho on Screen explores the depiction of London's iconic Soho neighbourhood in post-war British cinema. This book delves into twelve films and documentaries from over one hundred Soho-set...

Fire Under My Feet: A New Perspective on African Diaspora Dance This book offers a fresh and insightful look at the diverse history and development of dance in the African diaspora. By combining...

Explore the world of historical drama with this comprehensive guide to roles in theatre. From ancient Greece to modern styles, Robert Barton provides a clear map for actors to navigate the past and...

Transnational Film Remakes explores how films are remade in different national contexts and what this reveals about cultural dynamics. This collection brings together international scholars to...

Filming History from Below explores how microhistorical documentaries are redefining our understanding of history through cinema. Efrén Cuevas examines these tightly focused films, which often...

Altered Carbon: Essays on the Netflix SeriesThis collection of new essays explores the 2018 Netflix series Altered Carbon, a vital contribution to the cyberpunk renaissance. The contributors examine...

This guide covers all aspects of amateur theatre, from first night nerves to health and safety, funding, and taxation issues. It provides essential resources such as contacts for local groups,...

Dance in America: A History of Cultural Exchange and Change This book explores the history and context of dance in the United States, tracing its evolution as it broke traditional forms, crossed...

Playing Is the Thing by Anita Jesse is a practical guide to theatre games and exercises designed to foster natural interaction among actors. Through these engaging activities, actors can develop...

Step into the vibrant world of 1980s Britain, where fashion was bold and music was loud. Huw Collingbourne's Neon 80s brings back memories of a bygone era through exclusive interviews with some of...

Doctor Who: A History explores the origins and evolution of one of television's most enduring franchises. From its humble beginnings in 1963 to the present day, this comprehensive history delves into...

Ralph Lemon: A Search for Formlessness Ralph Lemon is a leading figure in contemporary dance and performance. His work combines elements of dance, theater, drawing, film, writing, and ethnography to...

The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Cultural Phenomenon First released in 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show initially received an indifferent response from audiences, but its popularity grew as it...

Art in the Cinema: The Mid-Century Art Documentary explores the lesser-known art documentaries produced in the 1940s and 1950s. These films, often highly personal and experimental, offer a unique...

Picturing Japaneseness explores the role of 1930s Japanese cinema in shaping national identity and its place within Japan's complex encounter with the West and modernity. Darrell William Davis offers...

Documentary Across Platforms explores the evolving nature of documentary as a complex ecology of technologies, practices, and relationships to communities, politics, and social struggles. This...

Godfry Gatewood's life was already complicated, but when his wealth management company is under investigation for fraud and he misplaces millions of other people's money, things take a turn for the...

A Social History of Iranian Cinema, Volume 1: The Artisanal Era, 1897-1941 by Hamid Naficy explores the early years of Iranian cinema, from its introduction in 1900 to the 1941 Westernization program...

Starring Tom Cruise examines how Tom Cruise's star image moves across genres and forms as a type of commercial product that offers viewers certain pleasures and expectations. This volume explores the...

To Be A Playwright by Janet Neipris is a comprehensive guide to the craft of playwriting. This insightful book combines memoir and how-to guide, offering practical tools and techniques for aspiring...

Sound experimentation by avant-garde theatre artists of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries is an important but overlooked aspect of theatre history. This book explores how artists...

The Satanic Panic may have faded in the US, but its impact was felt elsewhere. In parts of the Middle East and Northern Africa, metalheads were arrested and interrogated, while government forces made...

This comprehensive guide to literature-based films presents a theoretical basis for understanding the relationships between movies and their original texts. Written with a formalistic approach, it...

The Senate Investigation into Motion Picture War Propaganda was a pivotal moment in American history. In September 1941, a group of isolationist senators launched an investigation aimed at...

Randy Martin's Critical Moves explores the relationship between dance, politics, and cultural theory. Drawing on his own experiences as a dancer and cultural critic, Martin examines how dance can...

Keeping It Real: Irish Film and Television A collection of essays exploring the nature and direction of Irish film and television. Topics include the impact of national identity, ethnicity, and...

Fate in Film: A Deterministic Approach to Cinema explores how contemporary cinema reflects and engages with the idea that our lives are predetermined. Thomas M. Puhr examines films that express...

John Barrymore's influence on screen and stage in the early twentieth century is incalculable. His performances defined Shakespeare for a generation, and his transition to cinema brought his...

A practical guide to achieving success in Hollywood without relying on acting skills. Renowned working actor and industry expert Peter Skagen shares insider secrets on how to master the screen...

Modes of Play in Eighteenth-Century France explores how play was used to represent and reimagine the world during this period. Through diverse critical perspectives, contributors examine the role of...

Black Power TV by Devorah Heitner explores the emergence of Black public affairs television in 1968. Two local shows, Inside Bedford-Stuyvesant and Say Brother, and national programs Soul! and Black...

Film in Nigeria offers a unique perspective on the scholarship of film in Nigeria and the Nigerian film industry. This pioneering work explores the different contexts of film production in Nigeria,...

Twentieth Century-Fox: A Comprehensive History of the Zanuck-Skouras Era. From its humble beginnings in 1935, Twentieth Century Fox emerged as one of the most influential film studios of its time...

Discover the ultimate resource for true Star Wars fans. 100 Things Star Wars Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die is a comprehensive guide to the galaxy far, far away. From essential knowledge and...

Jean Gabin: The Actor Who Was France tells the story of this French icon. Born into a family of music hall performers, Jean Gabin's life was marked by his early days as a reluctant singer and dancer...

This collection of essays examines the representation of nationhood and history in Asian cinema, exploring film traditions from Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Sri...

Sexography: Sex Work in Documentary explores the diverse and transnational body of nonfiction films on sex work. This book confronts the ethical questions raised by ethnographic documentary and...

The Broadway musical in the 1920s was a transformative era that paved the way for the sophisticated shows of today. Composers such as Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers...

This comprehensive introduction to British and Irish cinema covers 75 years of filmmaking from 1928 to 2002. The volume features 24 essays, each focusing on a seminal film from the region.From...

Performing Nostalgia: Shifting Shakespeare and the Contemporary Past by Susan Bennett This book explores how our understanding of the past shapes our cultural experience, particularly in relation to...

Thelma Todd: A Hollywood Enigma. American film favorite Thelma Todd was much more than the beautiful blonde who captivated audiences in the 1930s, starring alongside Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy,...

George Orwell's work continues to captivate audiences with its portrayal of totalitarian regimes. This comprehensive study explores how his writing has been adapted for film and television, from...

Twin Peaks: Critical Essays on the Original Series by Eric Hoffman and Dominick Grace. The 1990-1991 television series Twin Peaks is widely regarded as one of the greatest dramas in TV history,...

The Bourne Ultimatum: A Serious Blockbuster? In 2007, The Bourne Ultimatum was hailed as a blockbuster that satisfied both critics and mass audiences. What made this third entry in the Hollywood...

South Korean cinema has long been a hub for transnational exchange, producing movies that put a unique spin on familiar genres. This timely new study reveals how South Korean filmmakers have adapted...

The 21st Century Superhero: Essays on Gender, Genre and Globalization in FilmThis collection of ten critical essays explores the enduring popularity of superhero films through various academic...

Anna Halprin: A Life's WorkThis biography explores the life and work of Anna Halprin, a pioneering dance-maker who has had a profound influence on contemporary performance practice. From her early...

Hard-core pornography and its representation on screen remain a challenging topic to discuss. This collection of essays by leading scholars offers a lively and thought-provoking exploration of screen...

This foundational study offers an accessible introduction to Native American and First Nations theatre by drawing on critical Indigenous and dramaturgical frameworks. It explores the cultural,...

New Playwriting Strategies: A Language-Based Approach to Playwriting by Paul C. CastagnoThis book explores playwriting from a unique language-based perspective, offering insights into dialogic...

Broadcasting on the Short Waves, 1945 to Today is a comprehensive history of shortwave radio broadcasting in the United States. From its origins in the 1920s to the present day, this book provides an...

A2 Drama and Theatre Studies: The Essential Introduction for Edexcel provides clear guidance to help students succeed in Units 3 and 4 of the specification. This textbook builds on skills developed...

Understanding the Mystery of the Embrace Part 2: Filling in the Blanks of Argentine Tango Book 3 by Oliver Kent Discover the secrets to mastering the Embrace, a crucial element of Argentine Tango...

Cinematic TV: A Comprehensive Analysis of Serial Dramas in Post-Network Television. For decades, television was often seen as inferior to cinema, but recent critical analysis has shifted this...

Undergraduate Research in Theatre: A Guide for Students provides essential tools and examples to help students develop their research skills in theatre and performance studies. The book begins by...

Big Screen Rome explores how cinema has reconstructed and reinterpreted the image of Roman antiquity over the past half century. This systematic survey delves into popular films such as Spartacus,...

Stage Directing: A Director's Itinerary provides a comprehensive guide to directing a production from start to finish. This step-by-step approach covers essential tasks, including budgeting, casting,...

Hollywood Movie Posters, 1914-1990 is a visually stunning collection of rare and collectible movie posters from the early silent days to the big blockbusters of recent years. The book showcases over...

Pictures of Girlhood: Modern Female Adolescence on Film explores the cultural significance of films targeting adolescent girls. This critical survey examines key themes in "coming of age" films,...

The Birth of the American Horror Film by Gary Don Rhodes explores the origins and development of the horror film genre in America. Drawing on thousands of primary sources and long-unseen...

Screen Dynamics Mapping the Borders of Cinema by Gertrud Koch, Volker Pantenburg, and Simon Rothöhler explores the evolution of cinema in the digital age. This collection of essays examines the...

Exotica by Atom Egoyan and Geoff Pevere is a collection of essays that explore the intersection of film and history. The authors examine the ways in which cinema reflects and shapes our understanding...

TV Technical Operations: An Introduction to Broadcast Industry Essentials This book provides an introduction for new entrants to the broadcast industry, covering essential techniques, technologies,...

Understanding Cinema: A Study of Aleksei Balabanov's Genre Films Aleksei Balabanov's crime movies are often difficult to categorise, but this book provides a clear framework for understanding his...

The British Board of Film Censors: A History of Film Censorship in Britain, 1896-1950 by James C. Robertson. This book fills a significant gap in British cinematic history, shedding light on the...

The Elements of Theatrical Expression by Brian Kulick explores the fundamental building blocks of theatre. By examining 14 essential elements, Kulick offers a comprehensive framework for...

Damon R. Young explores how cinema reflected and shaped our understanding of sex in the latter half of the 20th century. From the late 1950s to the present, films like And God Created Woman,...

The Great Movie Musicals: A Viewer's Guide to 168 Films That Really SingThis comprehensive critical history explores the greatest movie musicals of all time, from The Jazz Singer (1927) to Sweeney...

This comprehensive survey of feminist film criticism offers a diverse range of perspectives on film study over the past two decades. The volume brings together theoretical, critical and educational...

Beefy, gravel-voiced Broderick Crawford was a tough guy with a heart of gold. He came from a vaudeville family and initially shunned their profession, but eventually realised that show business was...

Business Plans for Filmmakers by John W. Cones provides practical guidance for independent movie-makers and students navigating the complex intersection of law, business, and art when creating a...

The Lines Between the Lines: How Stage Directions Affect Embodiment by Bess Rowen explores the often-overlooked world of stage directions in playwriting. These italicized lines, written between...

Overhearing Film Dialogue by Sarah Kozloff explores the often-neglected topic of film dialogue. This study examines how characters' words and delivery contribute to our understanding of films since...

Burt Lancaster: A Filmography and BiographyThis comprehensive filmography covers nearly fifty years of Burt Lancaster's career, featuring 85 films from his debut in The Killers to his final...

Towards Good Lighting for the Stage: Aesthetic Theory for Theatrical Lighting Design explores the theoretical foundations of effective lighting design, from concept to live performance. This book...

This comprehensive guide provides detailed instructions and illustrations on how to use Panaflex motion picture camera equipment. Developed in conjunction with Panavision, it offers up-to-date...

Explore the vibrant world of contemporary musical theatre through the conversations of its most creative minds. This groundbreaking book brings together exclusive interviews with visionaries from...

Troubled Everyday: A Study of Violence and the Everyday in European Art CinemaThis book offers a detailed examination of the relationship between violence and the everyday in European art cinema,...

Instead of a Critic brings together pieces written over twenty years in search of their common thread. These essays explore various topics, including Anglo-German cultural relations, myth, pictorial...

James Dean Transfigured: A Study of Rebel Iconography in International Popular Culture The image of the teen rebel has become an enduring part of global popular culture, with James Dean's iconic...

Exploring the world of teen television in the United States, this essay collection delves into the meanings and manifestations of "teen TV" from various perspectives. The book examines how networks...

The Comedy Studies Reader brings together a comprehensive collection of comedy studies, covering both foundational and cutting-edge work. Edited by Nick Marx and Matt Sienkiewicz, this anthology...

The L Word: A Groundbreaking Series in Focus This comprehensive guide explores the entire series of The L Word, covering its impact on queer television and the communities that follow it. Written by...

A 30-minute musical comedy takes a disastrous turn for students on a field trip to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. The tour group is led into the basement, where they are transported into...

Sesame Street: A Transnational History explores how an American television show became a global brand. Helle Strandgaard Jensen argues that the show's producers aggressively marketed it worldwide due...

The Traces of Jacques Derrida's Cinema by Timothy Holland is a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection of film and philosophy. This book delves into the work of influential philosopher...

For those looking to break into the world of film and television, this handbook offers a practical guide to getting started without breaking the bank. David Yuro shares his own experiences and...

Performance and Cultural Politics explores the historical and cultural contexts of performance through essays that examine various art forms, including theatre, music, dance, and performance art...

The 1947 film that has become synonymous with Christmas magic remains unchanged in its appeal. Despite numerous adaptations and remakes, the original black-and-white version continues to captivate...

Hitchcock Annual Volume 22 presents a diverse collection of essays and articles that explore the life and work of Alfred Hitchcock. This volume includes in-depth analyses of Muybridge and Vertigo, as...

The Idea of Nature in Disney Animation From Snow White to WALL-E by David WhitleyThis book examines the role of nature in Disney's feature animations, from 'Snow White' to more recent films. Whitley...

The Star Trek franchise has long used science fiction as a lens to reflect and comment on our own world. Since 1966, its creators have drawn parallels between the adventures of their characters and...

This edited collection explores methods for conducting critical empirical research examining the potential impacts of theatrical events on audience members.It delves into the ways in which theatre...

Rethinking the Hollywood Teen Movie explores the aesthetic and narrative potential of this popular film genre. Through in-depth analysis of key films like Rebel Without a Cause, Grease, Heathers, and...

LGBTQ Comedic Monologues That Are Actually Funny is a unique collection of comedic monologues specifically for actors auditioning for LGBTQ roles. Written by LGBT writers and comics, this book...

Diner by Barry Levinson is a film script that has become a cult favourite among fans of cinema. Published in 2000, this paperback edition features 110 pages and is bound for easy reading.As part of...

World War II, Film and History explores the relationship between moving images and the society and culture in which they were produced and received. This study examines how films from the 1930s to...