Books and other resources for MT students

CollegeMom · 10-05-2005, 10:47 PM

CoachC mentioned on another thread that he had a list of helpful resources for MT (books, websites, etc.) that he hoped to share and so I am starting a thread for anyone (including him when he has time) who may want to post any resources that they have found over the years to be helpful or useful. I will keep this thread stuck at the top of the forum so that it can be referenced on an ongoing basis.

Thank you all for sharing ahead of time.
CollegeMom

doctorjohn · 10-06-2005, 08:33 AM

CollegeMom:

Thanks so much for starting this thread.

As I've suggested many times before, the best comprehensive source for information about college theatre departments is the Directory of Theatre Training Programs, 9th edition, published by the Dorset Theatre Festival. It is the primary source for the "Big List" which Shauna started some years ago and I revised into its current state-by-state format. Although some of the information is too densely presented to be immediately useful, the contact information alone is invaluable. It's a good place to start. Here's the link:

http://dorsettheatrefestival.com/htm...ning_book.html

Best wishes to all.

soozievt · 10-06-2005, 09:33 AM

DoctorJohn,
Thank you again for letting others know about this theater directory. I have seen past editions of it, but not the most recent publication. When I took my daughter to voice lessons every week, which was 50 miles from where I live, I used to sit and wait in her voice teacher's office which had his library in it. I would read the books on his shelf every week and this was one I have perused countless times (though he only had older editions). When my daughter was ready to apply to colleges, I went to order the newest edition through Amazon. I had it on order for a LONG time until eventually they said it was unavailable so I was never able to read or buy the more recent edition. So, I am delighted that you have given the link of how to buy it as I have just placed an order. I knew it was out of Dorset Theater Festival (after all, I'm a Vermonter) but have never seen it on their website, but hadn't gone there lately. So, thank you very much for this link. I agree that some of the information is dense and not THAT useful but the basic factual information is there and just a good comprehensive listing.

While that is the only directory I know of that is just theater programs, I have two directories that are for performing arts majors/colleges which include drama/theater.

These are:

The Performing Arts Major's College Guide, by Carole Everett, put out by ARCO

Peterson's Professional Degree Programs in the Visual and Performing Arts

Susan

CoachC · 10-08-2005, 06:50 PM

Some essential reading:

For evaluations of "the biz":
-Acting Professionally, by Robert Cohen
Start here! Straight talk that is required reading in the UM program for both freshmen AND seniors...

-Making It On Broadway, by David Wienir and Jodie Langel
True stories of well-known and less well-known actors moving to NYC, auditioning, subsistence jobs, making it "big" and then being a "nobody" again the next week, etc. etc.

-A Year With THE PRODUCERS, by Jeffry Denman
Funny and VERY informative account of auditioning for and rehearsing with a big musical in development - you will learn the ins-and-outs of many "behind the scenes" aspects of professional MT!

To help in KNOWING WHERE TO START LOOKING for audition song material:
-Broadway Musicals - Show by Show, by Stanley Green

-Show Tunes: The Songs, Shows, and Careers of Broadway's Major Composers, by Steven Suskin

And there are more, many more...I will post as I have time, and if these seem to be helpful...

SeaShells29 · 10-08-2005, 07:00 PM

I actually had posted this on another thread but it makes sense to put it here in this new thread too. I recommended the book, "Making it on Broadway," Actors' Tales of Climbing to the Top, by Wienir and Langel. As quoted from the back of the book, "Making it on Broadway" goes beyond the glitz and the glamour to show what really happens both on a Broadway stage and in the personal lives of Broadway actors..."

As I said in my previous post, if someone can read this book and still want to pursue a career on Broadway, then they definitely have the desire, drive and passion. I must warn people out there, however, that parts of it are extremely negative. In fact, I read the book last fall and actually hid it from my D! I didn't want this book to shake her confidence in any way before she went on all of her college auditions. However, now that she's in a theater program, I am planning to give it to her to help her discern if this is truly the path she wants to pursue upon graduation from college.

CoachC · 10-08-2005, 07:19 PM

Right, I meant to credit SeaShells for mentioning Making it On Broadway first - that mention is what inspired me to suggest this thread. Sorry - had that written and then the computer ate my original post. But I respectfully disagree with SeaShells about hiding the book from auditionees - as one of my former theatre students astutely said, he was GLAD he read the book before his college auditions - it doesn't get "easier" AFTER you get into schools, especially once you start auditioning for summer stock and other jobs (usually by 2/3 of the way through your freshman year). The competition only INCREASES after college auditions, because then you are up for JOBS against people with all levels of experience and training who are often much older than you but simply "read" younger! Rejection and related harsh realities are a big part of the business, and it's not only good but essential to know that up front - and reading about that idea is NOTHING compared to an experience like this particular student of mine had: going to an open call and actually being looked at for a great role, being called back multiple times, being flown to NYC for a final callback, auditioning side by side with Broadway vets, and then not getting the job and having to start again from square one for the next job...THAT is the reality of this business. And his experience (aside from being flown to NYC) is not uncommon. Professional MT is difficult, it's wonderful, it's subjective, it's heartbreaking, it's exhilarating, it's unstable, it's incredibly competitive - and anyone who chooses to pursue it should know ALL of that.

SeaShells29 · 10-08-2005, 08:33 PM

Hi! I think we were both on the same wavelength tonight and writing our posts at the same time. I had not seen your post before I wrote mine so I wasn't inferring in anyway that I wasn't given due credit for my recommendation of "Making it on Broadway."

You bring up some excellent points in your last post, however, and all too true. Maybe it's just my motherly instinct to protect my D, but I know she knows how tough it is to make it on Broadway without even reading that book, expecially after experiencing the rejections from the colleges.

BroadwayWannabe · 10-08-2005, 08:41 PM

Making it on Broadway is SUCH a good book! I was told that if you read it and decide you still want to pursue a career in theater, you must really love it!

i still do....and that book is a constant book i take out to look at because the stories are funny, scary, interesting, etc.

believersmom · 10-09-2005, 10:42 AM

This is great!!! Thanks everyone for the great resources.

alwaysamom · 10-09-2005, 12:14 PM

I think one of the most important things for kids who are interested in pursuing theatre to do is to learn as much as possible about plays and playwrights. This can be done by seeing as much theatre as is possible, and also by reading about it, on a regular basis. This involves reading any and all plays you can find, in addition to keeping up to date and informed by knowing what's currently running in the theatre world. A daily visit to playbill.com is an essential part of that 'education', in my opinion.

http://www.playbill.com/index.php

5pants · 10-09-2005, 12:43 PM

While we are on the topic of periodical internet websites...here are a few other links:

American Theatre Web:
http://www.americantheaterweb.com/

American Theatre Magazine:
http://www.tcg.org/frames/am_theatre/fs_am_theatre.htm

The Village Voice:
http://www.villagevoice.com/theater/

To research scripts:

Samuel French
http://samuelfrench.com/store/

Tams-Witmark:
http://www.tams-witmark.com/

Dramatists Play Service:
http://www.dramatists.com/

illinisue · 10-11-2005, 12:01 PM

A nice source for songs that are in the Rodgers and Hammerstein Library (which does include other composers/lyricists) is here.

http://www.rnh.com/concert_library/

You can search by vocal range, solo, duet, etc. If you click on the song it will tell you what show it is from and then you can check on age-appropriate'ness

5pants · 10-19-2005, 12:38 PM

Another website for locating scripts: http://www.playscripts.com/findaplay/

Ericsmom · 10-19-2005, 08:09 PM

5pants - thanks so much for your continued good information, which we continue to use!

ToTheStage · 10-20-2005, 02:03 AM

Craig Slaight's monologue books for young actors (see amazon) are great. He's at ACT, he works in the Young Conservatory and I believe with the MFA program sometimes as well. He makes type-specific books (muticultural, young women, young men...etc). I believe he's also coming out with a third volume soonish.
link:
http://actactortraining.org/index.cf...id=con_yco_bks