3 comments about Dance Imagery for Technique and Performance.

1. I LOVE this book!! Eric has written great books and this one is among them. Every piece of information opens the dancers' mind and body into a realm of excellence and joy that is LONG OVERDUE!!! It is a must have in every personal library of everyone in dance. A neccessary textbook in pedagogy, technique, and conditioning classes everywhere.



2. To make our bodies do all of the incredible things that we ask of them we use images, and since our bodies are always changing and feeling different sensations, we often need to find new images to keep pushing our performance further and further. This book is a collection of hundreds of interesting suggestions for images that all dancers should find useful. Some you may already be familiar with and some will be new to you. In dance class, images are constantly being taught to dancers, so this is also an excellent resource for teachers as well as students and seasoned professionals. Maybe you will find just the right image for that tricky pirouette or jump here! This book is recommended for dancers of all levels, from beginner to professional.



3. As a dancer and a beginner I was struggling with jazz technique for a long time. The imagery approach has helped me greatly to improve my plies and turns, posture and interaction with space. The essence of the imagery approach is to identify yourself with an image. As an example the one that inspired me was "a growing root". I keep coming to this book again and again, when I need to recupirate and find inspiration. It also developed my imagery and gave me another prospective on relationships, energy and dancing. The book has helpful illustrations and photos. A must!

5 comments about Improvise.: Scene from the Inside Out.

1. I read this book while I was taking an improv class, in order to help me with my scene work. If you can get past the author's rambling (it would probably have been a 10 page book but for the pages of stream-of-consciousness writing), it is clear that the author has a great deal of improv experience. Many of his suggestions come from a beginner's point of view, which is very helpful. It also is based on the concept "truth in improv" and shows the reader that it is not necessary to be funny, but merely to be something. I would suggest this book for anyone who is trying their hand at improv and needs help getting out of their head.



2. This is probably one of the better books out their for beginning improvisers and for improv teachers to use as a resource or textbook for college level or high school level improv classes. Having worked and done workshops with members of the Annoyance Theatre, I will say that they are the leaders in improvisational study and experimentation today. Highly recommend for pros as a reminder of the basics and for beginners to learn how to make their improvisation techniques in either long form or short form sharper.



3. I enjoyed this book very much. Rather than force you to learn what NOT to do in improv (The Rules) he explains why he thinks the rules came to be and why they are not necessarily important. He focuses more on what works and what doesn't. To do good improv you need to be out of your head, rather than in your head filtering through rules and determining what your correct response should be. Use your total brain power reacting and creating! He then presents concepts that can be used to advance scenes to a higher level. Best of all he has numerous things to practice at home, by yourself, to help you become a better improvisor. I read this and Truth in Comedy at the same time. They are both very good but I liked this one better for where I am in improv right now.



4. This book has a slightly different way of approaching improv than most other books. This "slightly" different way is, however, an enormous important insight. Napier turns things upside down: bad improv doesn't come from breaking the improv-rules, but people break the improv rules because they play in a scene that is not going well. Napier suggests we get rid of rules. Instead of telling us excactly what to do or what not to do (which gets us into our head), he gives us improv players ways of entering a scene which makes us do all the good stuff without second (or first) thoughts. The psychology of an improv player is very accurately analysed. Since reading this book, I discovered improved results with my improv classes. However, although I think Napiers book is a very important step in discovering how to play improvised theatre, I think this book is too one-sided to use as a sole source. It is very good "anti-dote" against where the classical improv methods go wrong. But the book is too one-sided to replace them.



5. The order process was fast and I received the book in a timely fashion. I would do business with this seller again.

4 comments about The Dramatic Imagination: Reflections and Speculations on the Art of the Theatre (Theatre Arts Book).

1. I enjoyed the passion expressed by Jones as wel as the detailed examples given in each chapter.



2. Received in record time and in great condition for a used book. In fact you couldn't tell that it was used at all.



3. OK, you can't rate this book on the level of literature, cuz it's not. From that point of view it's horrible. But you can rate it on what it might teach you if you let it "speak to you." This is a book that can easily be taken two ways. 1) An inspiring look at theater and at life, and 2) the cheesiest, corniest, campiest thing ever. I myself have wondered at times how I really feel about this book. I have had it read it throughout this past quarter for my Stagecraft class, and it can say a whole lot or it can say nothing, depending on how you read it. The author's absolute passion for all aspects of theater often comes across as wishy-washy, but if you set that aside, you might, if you love theater, find that you can relate to what he is saying. Or you might make fun of it incessantly! Which I have done a few times. But seriously, it's the kind of book that if you tell yourself you'll take a lot out of it, you will. And in several ways, I have.



4. my set design professor described this as the book to read when one is disillusioned with theater and need to restore faith, and I have to agree. It reminds us of the total art of theater, where poetry is expressed verbally, visually, and through the _presence_ of actors in a setting. It describes the curious not-reality that theater should create. It was written in 1941, so some of the references ring a little false and the language can wax florid, but the essence of what theater should be is described here.

5 comments about Kids Take the Stage: Helping Young People Discover the Creative Outlet of Theater.

1. Though I've been a middle school coach for the past 12 years, I still am interested in getting new ideas to get my young actors/ actresses more involved with the drama process. I also taught a 3 week long Creative Drama class this summer with 3rd-5th graders and the many sound ideas in this book gave me a wealth of activities to choose from.
   
   Whether you're a first time Drama Coach or a long in the tooth coach like me, this book is a MUST BUY! I particularly like how the authors used "famous actor" quotes to help back up the many acting activities in this book. I love the chapter entitled "Rehearsals with Heart" because this idea of treating young actors as people with talents to share comes shining through in EACH chapter! The "Leader's Guide" (near the end of the book) lays out a 10 session "suggested" guide for the novice or the veteran drama person to follow (wonderful idea!)
   
   In a nutshell, THIS BOOK ROCKS and I've now got even MORE ideas to use with my kids when the spring production rolls around this year!
   
   Well Done!
   
   Ralph :)



2. I read this book after receiving it at a conference that Lenka Peterson spoke at. In reading the book, I realized that she had put most of the information covered in an 8-hour session plus enough to fill another week of 8-hour sessions. The book truly takes actions and in-person teaching lessons and makes them readily available to anyone anywhere.



3. In this wonderful new book, Lenka Peterson and Dan O'Connor draw on more that 30 years of experience to reveal how to teach and direct plays with children. Their sophisticated yet accessible guide covers everything form the basics of acting to mounting and staging a production. It includes plenty of child-friendly sample scenes and relaxation techniques for kids. Perfect for established children's theater groups as well as churches, schools and camps, Kids Take the Stage shows how we can help kids realize their creative potential...and, in the process, create a new generation of theater lovers.

   - Stage and Screen, bookclub of the performing arts




4. In this wonderful new book, Lenka Peterson and Dan O'Connor draw on more that 30 years of experience to reveal how to teach and direct plays with children. Their sophisticated yet accessible guide covers everything form the basics of acting to mounting and staging a production. It includes plenty of child-friendly sample scenes and relaxation techniques for kids. Perfect for established children's theater groups as well as churches, schools and camps, Kids Take the Stage shows how we can help kids realize their creative potential...and, in the process, create a new generation of theater lovers.



5. This is a magical book, full of exercises and anecdotes that teach children to celebrate what they have to offer as potential artists, but mainly as human beings. I recommend it to anyone who wants to introduce children to acting and the theater. It is joyful, rewarding, wise and a lot of fun to read. Bravo/Brava!

5 comments about Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches (Angels in America).

1. This play is very accessible to the reader accustomed to reading prose. Contemporary situations are embellished to make this play a work of art.



2. This book was assigned to me as college reading and all I can say is that I am offended with the language and feel verbally abused by the content. The author is abusing the audience. I have friends whom are gay and they never talk like the trash that represnt them in this book, they hold themselves to a higher level and have class. The author creates gay hatred instead of encouraging people to embrace the gay culture. This book makes you think gays have no sense and that they are wierd instead of just average people. I believe the author has hurt the gay community more then he has helped.



3. This remarkable play writen by the best playwrite since Shakespeare has achived not only rocking your mind with it's beautiful prose, language, and story, but also has gained the title of the most wonderufl play in modern liturature (counting plays). Its star-stricken plot will not make you put it down! It is truly wonderful.



4. This remarkable play writen by the best playwrite since Shakespeare has achived not only rocking your mind with it's beautiful prose, language, and story, but also has gained the title of the most wonderufl play in modern liturature (counting plays). Its star-stricken plot will not make you put it down! It is truly wonderful.



5. I'm a college student majoring in Theater Design. I had to read this play for one of my classes my freshman year. So I sat down expecting to plod through a story that I'd never read again. Boy was I shocked! I loved it! I couldn't put it down until I'd read the last page, and then I got right online and ordered the sequel. Honestly, I'm not as big a fan of the second book. I haven't read it in a while, but from what I remember it's more offensive, and honestly, a little more like smut. There's an angel with 7 vaginas and it has sex with one of the characters...one of the gay characters..go figure. The second book also seems to take more pot shots at God, which I didn't appreciate as a Christian. Anyway. This is a review of the first book, not the second. (just reminding myself!) I have 7 big bookcases of books at my parents' house, plus my dad is a librarian, so I do a LOT of reading. This book is ALWAYS one of the few "Chosen" books that I take to college with me to keep in my dorm. And just as a side note, I'm not gay, so this book is NOT just for gay people like some of the people whom I've talked to seem to think. BUY IT! You'll be enlightened and inspired to think.

2 comments about Natural Speaker, The (5th Edition) (MySpeechKit Series).

1. I've read a lot of communication textbooks over the years since I'm a professor in the field. This is one of the best. Professor Fujishin exudes the passion he talks about in the final two chapters of this book. He is passionate about the topic, the audience (in this case his readers), and he has a healthy self-esteem. All three are necessary for connecting with an audience in a meaningful way, he explains.
   
   The author stresses ethics throughout the whole book. It is filled with inspiring quotes. His points are illustrated by anecdotes and personal insights from himself and people he's known.
   
   I get the impression that he is truly a nice guy.
   That comes across in his writing. It's like I know him after reading his book. He touched me to that extend.
   
   Now, having said all those positive things, I do have a couple of ideas for improvement. First his citations are weak. In the text he identifies such well known poeple as Abraham
   Maslow and Alan Monroe, but in most places he talks about "a study." Curious readers want to know "which study." How about a bibliography at the end of each chapter? Another odd thing I found was the fact that he seems to be a Christian who is afraid to mention the Name of Jesus. Why do I get that impression? He cites names of leaders of all kinds of other religions. He even quotes the Bible and talks several times about preachers and church, but there's never a mention of the Name. Just an interesting observation I picked up on.
   
   Overall this is a great book. It emphasizes the importance of relationships. Communication is about being "other centered" and the author is a master at following the advice he's advocating.



2. This book is my most favorite "textbook" since I returned to school to get my AA. This book is not like the traditional textbook-it doesn't put you to sleep after the first 3 pages. Each chapter starts off with a short story that applies to the concepts taught in the chapter. Very amusing stories. After the concept is introduced, the information is broken down into subtopics that are reasonably short. I think this helps the flow of the book. Models are included in the text so if your instructor wants an outline, for example, you have one in the text to refer to. The reading of this book is smooth and easy. I sold my original copy back to my school's bookstore and now I am regretting it. For someone who is working on an AA in speech communication, I'm looking to buy this book again to help me prepare future speeches.

3 comments about Angelina Jolie: The Biography.

1. I liked this because it enlightened me to her past and how she is different from everyone else. Right from the beginning.



2. Loved this!!! Great pictures and great insight into a wonderful person's world. Being a fan I had heard most of the stories from Angelina interviews in the past, but there were some things that surprised me. It also offered a lot of information on her marriages and why they didn't work out.



3. I bought this book as my Christmas present to myself and I was not disappointed. I couldn't put the book down. Very well written and well-rounded. I feel like I know Angelina now as if I'd grown up with her. I respect and love her even more after reading this book. She literally transformed herself and morphed into the amazing woman she is now. This book is a must for all Angelina Jolie fans everywhere.

5 comments about The Backstage Guide to Stage Management: Traditional and New Methods for Running a Show from First Rehearsal to Last Performance.

1. I found this book very, very helpful and informative. I purchased this book when I was stage managing my first musical (community theatre) and read through it again before the last show I did. I have only stage managed three shows so far, but thanks to what I learned in this book I received a great compliment - Thanks for your work, you were so professional, I look forward to working with you again. This is a must have for a stage manager. I feel that as I progress and do more (including hopefully professional jobs someday) I can continue to refer to this book and hone my skills.



2. As a recent graduate with a BFA in stage management, I have found Kelly's book to the the most in depth look at the craft. It addressed more complicated issues, and most interestingly, new developments, that the other books I've read(Stern, Ionazzi) don't touch on. I agree that it isn't a book for a beginner, but for someone with a little experience, looking to refine their skills, its the best book out there.



3. As a young budding director I found this guide helpful in some of things, I MYSELF was trying to achieve. At the same time this book reads like automotive directions in Spanish. Those unfamiliar with theatre lingo this is not a beginners guide!



4. This is the best book on theatrical stage management currently available, for the money. It is well written, well organized, and very comprehensive. Kelly's approach to stage management is outstanding and he communicates it in a clear and interesting manner in the book.

   Besides, being such a good book, it is priced very well. The only books that are comparable in content cost at least three times as much.

   A must have for everyone seriously interested in stage managing.




5. From the minute I picked this book up it has become my "bible". Chock full of helpful tips and funny stories of the author's experiences as a stage manager. Not overly technical - with lots of helpful forms to smooth the way for a production (and the stage manager's nerves)! Have it with you through every show - before, during, after. Bravo! Encore!

5 comments about Jazz Composition: Theory and Practice.

1. This book is an excellent guide for the beginning to intermediate jazz composer. This book assumes some basic knowledge of jazz style and notation. The resorces are are excellent for jazz harmonization and melodic composition both tonal and modal. This book does not, however, go into much depth in regards to part writing for an ensemble. I think this book is good preparation for Sammy Nestico's "The Complete Arranger" book.



2. This is a great book for those who know a respectable amount of jazz theory and want to understand the practice and art of jazz composition. Throughout the book, you are given exercises and opportunities to write your own pieces and comes with a CD. Although this book teaches you modal harmony, chromatic harmony, blues writing, ect., there is no substitute for a jazz composition professional teacher who would be valuable to check your work and offer criticism and suggestions.
   
   Writing pieces on your own is basically made easier in terms of form and structure.



3. It starts with melody, and what is cool has exercises throughout, so you can really learn on the way... if you are interesting with jazz theory, I suggest this book, and also "modern jazz voicings" compliments it very well.



4. This excellent book realy help me to teach modern jazz theory and composition on Jezek Conservatory Prague.I recommend this book to all my students.



5. This is a great book. My daughter found it very easy to read.

5 comments about The Reduced Shakespeare Co. presentsThe Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged).

1. I have seen productions of this play several times and each time it's hilarious! Now reading it I realize what geniuses the Reduced Shakespeare Company are - especially the writers Jess Borgenson, Daniel Singer and Adam Long! The book is worth it's price just for the footnotes. Their clever, witty, and yes - bawdy (Shakespeare would have been proud!) humor is priceless!



2. I am a high school drama teacher, and we bought copies of the Compleat Works of William Shakespeare Abridged for classroom use. They have been delightful to use, and perfectly correllating with the Reduced Shakespeare Company DVD that we have enjoyed in the past. The best part of all is how the kids retain the recognition of lines and scenes, even when we are viewing or reading other versions of his works. They love getting in front of the class and working up these zany parodies of the classics. I rate it 5 out of 5!!



3. Absolutely Hilarious! I would love to go see this play, however the book has annotations that are priceless, so you won't want to miss this either. You won't be able to put this down.



4. I bought this to decide whether or not to audition for a part in a local theater group performing the play. I didn't audition because I was on the opposite side of the atlantic ocean at the time, but five stars without question. The Reduced Shakespeare Company does a hilarious job of telling every single shakespeare play faster than ever before. Read this play!



5. Awesome. As fun as a show can be. Audiences will love it. Readers will laugh aloud heartily.