{"id":4196,"date":"2021-10-11T20:36:58","date_gmt":"2021-10-11T20:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/?p=4196"},"modified":"2022-03-21T14:05:50","modified_gmt":"2022-03-21T14:05:50","slug":"10-helpful-books-that-will-make-you-a-better-theatre-teacher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/10-helpful-books-that-will-make-you-a-better-theatre-teacher\/","title":{"rendered":"10 of the Most Helpful Books That Will Make You a Better Theatre Teacher"},"content":{"rendered":"

10 of the Most Helpful Books That Will Make You a Better Theatre Teacher<\/h3>\n \"\"<\/a><\/span>

Written by Tiffany Wilkie<\/p>\n

October 11, 2021<\/p>\n<\/font>

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Looking for books for your theatre classroom that are guaranteed to make a positive impact on your instruction skills? Look no further than this list of amazing theatre teacher textbooks suitable for middle school and high school theatre classes.<\/p>\n

The Monologue Audition Teacher\u2019s Manual; A Practical Guide for Actors<\/em> by Karen Kohlhaas<\/h4>\n
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Why it\u2019s helpful:<\/strong> According to Karen Kohlhass, it is the only book on monologue preparation that shows you not only how to ACT monologues specifically and truthfully without a partner, but also how to DIRECT and AUDITION with monologues, so you can build a complete and enjoyable audition.<\/p>\n

\u201cI read The Monologue Audition: A Practical Guide for Actors<\/em> and it was a revelation to me. It helped me enormously in coaching my students for college auditions, not to mention how it inspired me as a teacher. Thank you for your insight and generosity.\u201d
\n\u2014Robert Laconi, Director, Theatre Arts Center, New York<\/p>\n

Get the book here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Raising the Curtain<\/em> by Gai Jones<\/h4>\n
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Why it\u2019s helpful:<\/strong> Written for the theatre arts instructor,\u00a0Raising the Curtain<\/i>\u00a0features hundreds of hands-on, on-your-feet activities for the novice to advanced theatre student.<\/p>\n

Get the book here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Introduction to Theatre Arts; A 36- Week Action Handbook<\/em>\u00a0by Suzi Zimmerman<\/h4>\n
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Why it\u2019s helpful:<\/strong> A student-friendly, teacher-friendly workbook with study units for a full year of classroom drama activities. The entire spectrum of theatre is covered in ten sections. All units are complete with detailed instructions, examples, working forms, and photo illustrations. Students will learn all the basics of theatre history, play production, performing, and finding a career in theatre. This instructional program is classroom-tested and designed to fit the budgetary considerations of schools.<\/p>\n

Get the book here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Meisner For Teens; A Life of True Acting<\/em> by Larry Silverberg<\/h4>\n
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Why it\u2019s helpful:<\/strong> In this workbook and acting journal wrapped in one, students keep a journal in which they define their desires and refine their skills of observation: learning to listen carefully to other people and pay keener attention to their own responses. Through dialogue work in pairs, young actors learn to engage immediately and directly with their partners. True acting develops through this increased sensitivity and fearless response to others.<\/p>\n

Get the book here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Technical Theater for Nontechnical People<\/em> by Drew Campbell<\/h4>\n
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Why it\u2019s helpful:<\/strong> Completely updated to reflect state-of-the-art standards in today’s fast-changing theatre 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.<\/p>\n

Get the book here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Drama High<\/em>\u00a0by Michael Sokolove<\/h4>\n
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Why it\u2019s helpful:<\/strong> Soon to be a television series titled “Rise<\/i>,” starring Josh Radnor, Auli’i Cravalho, and Rosie Perez \u2014the incredible and true story of an extraordinary drama teacher who has changed the lives of thousands of students and inspired a town. Why would the multimillionaire producer of\u00a0Cats<\/i>,\u00a0The Phantom of the Opera<\/i>, and\u00a0Miss Saigon\u00a0<\/i>take his limo from Manhattan to the struggling former steel town of Levittown, Pennsylvania, to see a high school production of\u00a0Les Mis\u00e9rables<\/i>?<\/p>\n

Get the book here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The iTheatrics Method: The Quintessential Guide to Creating Quality Musical Theater Programs<\/em> by\u00a0Timothy Allen McDonald, Cynthia A. Ripley, and Marty Johnson<\/h4>\n
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Why it’s helpful:\u00a0<\/strong>The iTheatrics Method is the world’s first musical theatre education textbook specifically devoted to building high-quality, sustainable musical theatre programs in schools and community settings. Written in an entertaining, conversational style, and featuring hundreds of images from successful musical theatre programs all over the world, this book also includes the advice of more than 100 instructors currently working in the field. Whether you re a teacher just starting out or a seasoned professional, The iTheatrics Method is indeed your quintessential guide to creating quality musical theatre programs for students.<\/p>\n

Get the book here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Directing in Musical Theatre: An Essential Guide<\/em>\u00a0by Joe Deer<\/h4>\n
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Why it\u2019s helpful:<\/strong> This comprehensive guide, from the author of\u00a0Acting in Musical Theatre<\/i>, will equip aspiring directors with all of the skills that they will need in order to guide a production from beginning to end. From the very first conception and collaborations with crew and cast, through rehearsals and technical production all the way to the final performance, Joe Deer covers the full range.<\/p>\n

Get the book here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Notes on Directing: 130 Lessons in Leadership from the Director’s Chair<\/em> by Frank Hauser and Russel Reich<\/h4>\n
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Why it\u2019s helpful:<\/strong> Gathered over Hauser’s long career, and polished to a sharp edge by Reich, the 130 “Notes” address a wide range of topics, from “understanding the script” and “defining the director’s role” to casting, how to handle a first read-through of a script, rules for rehearsal, how to talk to actors, how to get a laugh, and the key elements of staging.<\/p>\n

Get the book here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Young Playwrights 101<\/em> by Jonathan Dorf<\/h4>\n
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Why it\u2019s helpful:<\/strong> A complete handbook for young playwrights and those who teach them, and for anyone who wants practical advice about the craft and business of playwriting. This title has now been replaced by Young Playwrights 101: Revised Edition.<\/em><\/p>\n

Get the book here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n
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Need some advice? We\u2019ve got you covered.<\/h3>\n