Playwrights in Rehearsal: The Seduction of Company

by Susan Letzler Cole

Overview

Playwrights in Rehearsal is an inside look at the writer's role in the creative process of bringing his or her words to life on stage. Susan Letzler Cole, granted rare access to some of the major playwrights of our time, recounts her participation in rehearsal with Arthur Miller, Sam Shepard, Tony Kushner and Suzan-Lori Parks, and others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415919708
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/28/2001
Series:	Theatre Arts Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	278
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.59(d)

About the Author

Susan Letzler Cole is Professor of English and Director of the Drama Concentration at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven. She is the author of Directors in Rehearsal: A Hidden World (Routledge) and The Absent One: Mourning Ritual, Tragedy, and the Performance of Ambivalence.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements List of Illustrations Introduction 1 Sam Shepard in Rehearsal: Curse of the Starving Class 2 David Rabe in Rehearsal: A Question of Mercy 3 Elizabeth Egloff in Rehearsal: The Devils 4 Suzan-Lori Parks in Rehearsal: In The Blood and Topdog/Underdog 5 Tony Kushner in Rehearsal: It's an Undoing World and Terminating. 6 Arthur Miller in Rehearsal: The American Clock, The Last Yankee, and I Can't Remember Anything 7 Maria Irene Fornes in Rehearsal: The Summer in Gossensass 8 Jean-Claude van Itallie in Rehearsal: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Notes Index

Editorial Reviews

"...fresh approach... ...both engaging and invigorating, has something to say to anyone interested in the process of how modern drama is made." — Manchesteronstage.co.uk
"...this is a rare chance to experience some of the creative energy that goes into her work, which is so rarely performed outside the States." — Manchesteronstage.co.uk
"The book's appeal to playwrights, directors, actors, and designers is abundantly clear as it provides insight on the collaborative process. However this book also serves as a wonderful resource for those producing the same or other works by the authors in Cole's study. She delves into the creative worlds of these playwrights, exploring such issues as Shepard's fascination with the culture of the American West and Kushner's passion for the relationship between theory and action. For this reason, the book is particularly useful for production dramaturgs or those studying these playwrights."


." — M. Shane Grant, Florida State University, Theatre Topics
"The book's appeal to playwrights, directors, actors, and designers is abundantly clear as it provides insight on the collaborative process. However this book also serves as a wonderful resource for those producing the same or other works by the authors in Cole's study. She delves into the creative worlds of these playwrights, exploring such issues as Shepard's fascination with the culture of the American West and Kushner's passion for the relationship between theory and action. For this reason, the book is particularly useful for production dramaturgs or those studying these playwrights."


." — M. Shane Grant, Florida State University, Theatre Topics

From the Publisher

After the solitary act of creating characters, plot, and dialogue, the playwright has to work in concert with directors, designers, and actors to bring the words to life on stage. Cole interviews and observes eight American playwrights in rehearsal to document what a playwright gives and receives from the actors and directors, as well as the dangers that can accompany a playwright's sitting in on the rehearsal process, with its fits, starts, and explorations. Includes b&w photos of each of the playwrights: Sam Shepard, David Rabe, Elizabeth Egloff, Suzan-Lori Parks, Tony Kushner, Arthur Miller, Maria Irene Fornes, and Jean-Claude van Itallie. Cole is director of the drama concentration at Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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