Companion to 20th Century Theatre

The twentieth century was the great century of change in the theater and this Companion captures the modern dynamism and huge diversity of that vibrant period. Arranged alphabetically and written by 280 contributors from 20 countries, it contains over 2,500 entries, which are international in scope but with a particular emphasis on English-speaking theater. The extensive list of contributors features not only top-level experts but, uniquely, leading professionals from the world of theater. Coverage includes individuals--performers, playwrights, directors, designers, choreographers, composers--theater companies, countries, trends and genres. Entries range from practical topics such as directing, acting, design, lighting, sound and voice to historical surveys on a host of subjects from women in theater and black theater to gay and lesbian theater; from pantomime, photography, experimental theater and theater-in-the-round to architecture, funding, drag and circus; from surrealism and Dada to musical theater, performance art and theater on the Internet. Written authoritatively yet accessibly, the Companion is designed to be the pre-eminent reference work of its kind.Select Contributors and Subjects:Peter Barnes on Georges FeydeauNeil Bartlett on DragCicely Berry on VoicePeter Brook on DirectingJohn Calder on Arthur Adamov, Fernando Arrabal, Antonin Artaud, Samuel BeckettSimon Callow on Charles Laughton, Laurence Olivier, Orson WellesPeter Cheeseman on Theater in the RoundCyril Cusack on performing Sean O'CaseySir Richard Eyre on Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, Jonathan Pryce, Antony Sher, Harriet WalterSir Michael Gambon on performing Arthur MillerSteve Gooch on Community TheaterJohn Gunter on DesigningJohn Haynes on Theater PhotographyStuart Hopps on ChoreographyPamela Howard on DesignAnn Jellicoe on The Community PlayBen Kingsley on Preparing a PartJessica Lange on performing Tennessee WilliamsJohn A. Leonard on SoundFrank McGuiness on Brian Friel, Tom Kilroy, Tom MurphySir Ian McKellen on performing Shakespeare and ChekhovDaniel Massey on performing George Bernard ShawArthur Penn on the Actors' Studio Free Theatre at Raw SpaceEdward Petherbridge on Acting in the Twentieth CenturyLitz Pisk on Movement and DramaAlan Plater on Jazz in the TheaterHal Prince on Directing MusicalsJason Robards on performing Eugene O'NeillGeoffrey Robertson QC on CensorshipEkkehard Schall on performing BrechtNabil Shaban on Disability and the PerformerJanet Suzman on performing IbsenJennifer Tipton on LightingHarriet Walter on Women and the TheaterArnold Wesker on PlaywritingBillie Whitelaw on performing Samuel BeckettGuy Woolfenden on Composing