5 comments about Developing A Successful Cheerleading Program (Developing a Successful Program).

1. This is an excellent bookby Headridge and Garr. It's really helpful for us coaches because it brings information and photos about procedures as well as documents for every purpose, such as parents' permission forms and others.
   I do reccomend this book. Purchase it without fear, either if you are a new coach or an experienced one.



2. This book is helpful for coaches that are working with young programs or are just starting a program.



3. I am a first time coach, and this book has been a true gift for me! Every idea is wonderful and the printable forms have been so helpful. I wish I could say more, but I have 19 girls waiting for me to begin practice right now. A practice that will be organized, consistent and well worth their time thanks to Pam's book.
   
   Sincerely,
   A Cheerleading Coach from Washington State



4. This book is a completely comprehensive look at coaching a cheersquad. It is not specific to the United States, so most of the suggestions, strategies and helpful hits can be used in countries outside of there (for me specifically Australia). Just starting a squad is must less daunting with the assistance of this text, as it clearly lays out an idiot-proof way to work through each step. Thanks heaps!!



5. These authors covered every detail of starting a cheer program or improving an already successful cheer program. The forms they provided were an excellent resource. Thanks for taking the time to compile your experience in coaching cheerleading.

5 comments about Industrial Light & Magic: Into the Digital Realm.

1. First there was ILM, covering the 1st decade of this fantastic Special Effects Company.
   This is the second book of the series, covering the main movies from the second decade of existence of this company.
   An execelent finishing, great value book (although it is a litle expensive, the book quality is exceptional).
   Essencial to all Special Effects lovers.



2. One of the greatest 'making of' writers Patricia Rose Duignan's Industrial Light & Magic: Into the Digital Realm is one of my all-time favorite books, charting the journey of ILM from fledgling company in George Lucas' garage to the No.1 Special Effects company in the world. Insightful and comprehensive, this is flawless reading and has some great accompanying images from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and surprisingly some of their lesser-known movies like Willow and Hook. An essential movie book, I just love every page, so carefully written, so rich in detail, it leaves the reader feeling that they have experienced something very special. Fantastic and brilliant. BUY IT NOW!



3. The book is huge and heavy. Every single page has at least several great color photographs and it is a big book. You will love to read about ILM's ventures into the digital realm. It is very technology orientated, but not too much and does talk about the film making process and ILM in general. This is well worth looking at especially for fans of ILM or those who want to see what goes on behind the scenes or for those looking for a career in this direction. This is a good place for inspiration.

   Although it does not cover the more recent movies you will still get the picture here. It starts by talking about go-motion and then moves onto the first ever digital sequence and how much people slaved over it before going into detail with the evolution of that process and of the special edition of Star Wars and Speilberg's "J. Park".

   The book looks fantastic. Keep it for your grandkids. I am sure they will love you for it. This is the kind of book that you will turn to time and time again just to see "how they did that".




4. For 25 years Industrial Light and Magic has woven magic into countless films, either subtle images through `invisible' effects such as matte paintings or through eye-popping visuals that stand out vividly against the film backdrop. ILM has made it's mark on history, for not only have they been and still are the premiere effects house in Hollywood, they have innovated and invented more technology than any other studio, additionally they have won awards for the processing and compositing technology they have created. ILM had to be the best at special effects, because their flagship title - STAR WARS - demanded the best, because that's what Lucas wanted.

   `Into the Digital Realm' isn't so much an abandonment of ILM of the traditional methods of special effects, rather a point of departure for the new technology and all of things that led up to it. Indeed, ILM's work on `The Hunt For Red October' submarine work involved flying the submerged vessels from wires in a smoky room - effects do not get any more traditional than that. Released in 96, the book doesn't mention that Phantom Menace or even that the film is in production. It does have some revised images from the Star Wars special edition. As with the previous tome, this one is packed with hundreds of color photos, plus the same beautiful gate fold images.

   If the center piece for the previous book was Star Wars, Digital Realms' focus is obviously Jurassic Park, because it was the first film to use CG on so large a scale, even more than Terminator 2, which ILM also did. Jurassic Park was also the test bed and showcase piece that convinced Lucas that computers had finally matured enough to bring what he had in mind to the screen for the new Star Wars films. More is the pity, because I came to loathe most of the aliens in the Phantom Menace. Digital Realm clearly explains in easy to understand terms how effects - both new and old - are accomplished, be it something as simple as making it appear as if buildings are actually much taller than they or having a velociraptor walk _behind_ a plant situated in the foreground. I have both of these wonderful books, and I strongly recommend them to anyone who is curious about ILM's history and the process of how effects are made.




5. An extraordinary book about an extraordinary company. You will know all you want to know about special effects wizardry. The book is well published, even watching its pictures is joyful.

5 comments about Machinal (Royal National Theatre).

1. I watched this play performed at a local college. The actors did a wonderful job bringing the story to life, however, as much as I enjoyed the presentation, the play itself was a failure in the message it attempted to convey.
   
   I sigh and shake my head at this being considered a feminist play. For a woman to consider the main character anything other than a weak little girl is depressing.
   
   The main woman agrees to marry a man she finds repulsive, never saying no to anything, not even saying no during their honeymoon, leaving us never knowing what would've happened if she had actually RESISTED this man she claims to hate. She has a baby, who she also hates and won't take care of. Then she sleeps with a guy that says from the beginning that he sleeps around a lot and that he's leaving to Mexico. Losing her lover to Mexico doesn't seem to faze her at all, instead, she giggles and asks if she can have his flower in the window.
   
   Instead of divorcing her husband or doing anything about anything the way an intelligent, STRONG, woman would do, she accepts everything that comes at her, and complains about it the whole time. She complains about submitting when it is she who CHOOSES to submit.
   
   Finally, she kills her husband, seeing this as the only solution? Honestly, are we really going to overglorify murder? Are we trying to justify a woman killing because she was too weak to ask for a divorce? It's insulting to the human being and insulting to our society to think that is commendable behavavior.
   
   If this dumb girl is supposed to be a woman's role model, I feel bad for women everywhere.



2. Sophie Treadwell's seminal play, whilst set in the late 1920s, continues to have relevance today. In following the plight of a girl who, through circumstances largely beyond her control, ends up in the electric chair, Treadwell reminds us of inequities that still exist in society: the differences between the Haves and the Have-Nots, the continuing struggle for women to be recognised in both an economic and social sense, and the constant battle of love versus convenience. Dramatically, her work offers a range of options for interpretation, and a multitude of challenges for daring actors. Grim, powerful and ultimately unforgettable.



3. Having worked in the theatre, though I think more than that, being a fan of theatre and a student of literature, my take on reading plays is kind of odd. I usually dislike it. I have always felt that plays are meant to be seen and experienced. More to the point, the beauty of plays is the marriage of the playwright's vision with that of the director's and then watching this new product -- hey, let's go with the metaphor - this "baby" come into its own through the actors. Of course, when I do read a good play, I get to direct in my head and it's a totally different, yet enjoyable, experience in and of itself. I think this was a good play and I very much enjoyed reading it. This play, in particular, I found easy to read and while depressing, entertaining. It features some incredible insight to the nature and status of not only women in the 1920's, but the whole of the human condition. The main character, Helen or YOUNG WOMAN, is such a little mouse that it's a stretch to imagine her becoming so crazy with desperation that she'd jump from quivering wreck into an affair and then into murder. Young Woman's inner monologues, however, are fantastic and bridge the divide between who this character really is and whom she is forced to be. As far as reading the play, I would recommend it to anyone interested in expressionism or feminism.



4. Less a 'feminist' play than a play about the human condition as a whole, Treadwell's 'Machinal' recalls the work of Ionesco, Strindberg and Pinter: the human being as pawn in a senseless and hellish society. The ending, in which Helen rebels against the abstract prayers of the jail's priest, recalls the conclusion of "The Stranger", although I would consider this a far superior work. By the conclusion we cannot help but feel for Helen, a shy but passionate woman rejected and imprisoned, essentially, by her dull husband, her needy mother, and her contemporaries. I can't say this is the most uplifting play I have ever read, but it is one of the most intense.



5. Having taught this play a number of times at the college level, I find it one of the most accessable examples of expressionism available in print. It's great to read while watching a film like Metropolis (Fritz Lang's expressionist masterpiece). In reference to an earlier review, the play may seem simple and mundane, but when read in its historical context (and when seen in a brave production) it's what theatre is all about... engaging, moving, and socially/politically active. The fact that it's by a woman and about a woman, in a period dominated by the male perspective, simply makes it more fascinating.

2 comments about The Real Thing.

1. This play is very funny in places, very moving in places, very absorbing in places -- all of it in an apparently seamless whole of the high Stoppardian quality. How does the man do it? How does one write a dissertation on the art of writing using a cricket bat as a teaching aid? To quote another recent Stoppard's work: "It's a mystery!..."



2. As what is considered a turning point in Stoppard's ability to write romance, The Real Thing includes the usual ingenius commentary on life and art this time woven through a love story. Thus, the play can be enjoyed for the usual Stoppardian elevated language and fascinating explanations of quality art as well as its touching yet clever romantic plot. Moreover, it is this plot that sets it apart from Stoppard's earlier work. The characters in The Real Thing make up complex relationships and display emotions that add another facet to Stoppard's masterful control of the language. Dialogue seemlessly drifts between discussions of language to discussions of life, all the while maintaining the level of quality for which Stoppard is famous. It is a wonderful play demonstrating wit, intelligence, cleverness, and overall entertainment in a variety of ways.

   As Ros. and Guil. used Hamlet and Travesties used the Importance of Being Ernest, The Real Thing contains certain references to 'Tis Pity She's a Whore that make that Jacobean tragedy a helpful piece of background reading.

5 comments about Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew: The Story of the World's Most Recorded Musician.

1. THE WRECKING CREW is by no means a definitive or even a half-way detailed book on the world's most recorded musician Hal Blaine. But it is a sentimental, no dirt, no secrets look at the life and career of this great drummer, co-written by the man himself. Now at age 78, he can look back at a wonderful life, if not after six divorces, a not very financially profitable one.
   
   Last night I attended Denny Tedesco's superb documentary tribute to his father Tommy and the musicians and music of THE WRECKING CREW itself. And the highlight was Hal and fellow crew member Don Randi playing live. I was also honored to meet Hal in person and found him to be a real gentleman and every bit the iconic statesman he has become in the musical industry.
   
   This book is a work of gentle memories, looking back on a legendary career that will never be again for anyone. A time in pop music when you not only heard the lyrics but remembered them as well. A time when the records had such great musical intro's and arrangements. THE WRECKING CREW were the sound of their time, the unsung few who made such a difference in our lives.



2. Looking at the wide variety of artists that Hal Blaine has backed, looking further at all different musical styles and listening to some of the prominent recordings featuring his drums the question pops up if music is more depending on the sidemen than on who is fronting. Then again the list of artists whose recordings have benefitted from his incredible abilities is so on par that the idea may not really jell. Anyway, this autobiography, well written, informative, and sometimes funny, reveals that sidemen should be paid as much attention as the name artist. Blaine sadly has been featured on too many recordings where the labels have paid little attention to listing sidemen. Hopefully this book will be read and the contents widespread.



3. A great read for musicians, and music lovers! Many things about music and show biz, you won't find anywhere else! Also many rare photographs from his personal collection. Hal tells it like it is, and was!



4. As a top session drummer since the late 1950's, Hal Baine has played on over 40 number one hit records. You would think he would have enough material from all that experience to write five books the size of this one.

   There are a few insights here. For example, Hal Blaine played on some of the Beach Boys' records, and he describes Brian Wilson's unusual piano style. Rather than play a bass line with his left hand and chords and melody with his right, like most piano players, Wilson played chords with both hands and the notes he played with his right hand were the harmony parts for the rest of the group to sing.

   More often the book disappoints. You would think that the studio band was called the "Wrecking Crew" because they were unbeatable musicians right? Well according to Blaine they were called the "Wrecking Crew" because they didn't wipe out the ash trays and left the recording studio untidy when they were finished for the day.

   The biggest problem with this book is what it leaves out. There just isn't as much new and interesting information here as there should be given the number of sessions Blaine played on. I suspect that the author is holding back. He seems like he doesn't want to disclose too much in his book because it might jeopardize future drumming gigs, so his loyalty is primarily to his past (and possible future) employers rather than to his readers.

   The book is pleasant and easy to read, but if you are interested in this subject I would suggest that you read Earl Palmer's book first. Palmer is also a drummer and a contemporary of Blaine's. While Blaine is bland and pleasant, Palmer is swaggering and arrogant, and decidedly more interesting.




5. As much as I enjoy a lot of the music Hal Blaine has contributed to, I found little to enjoy about this book. Blaine offers nothing interesting or insightful about himself or the music business, just superficial outlines of his life and some of the people he worked with. He's curiously vague about the details of his own life (he either got his own birthdate wrong or consistently misstated his age by a year in the early part of the book, and he talks about women he married without even mentioning their names), and he seems to have little real knowledge of the performers he worked with (he repeats the erroneous claim that Mama Cass died from choking on food, for example, and a whole chapter about working with the Monkees actually covers a Mike Nesmith project that had nothing to do with the Monkees). He also played with some of the most popular pop/rock groups of the 1960s and 1970s (the Byrds, the Carpenters, Simon & Garfunkel), but none of them merits even a single mention in the book.

   If Blaine had an interesting story he wanted to tell, he should have found a better collaborator.

5 comments about The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan.

1. Bradley's copious annotations provide a wealth of insight into the G&S operas--and they're fun, too. Included are Gilbert's alterations and substitutions, extracts from some first-night reviews, explanations of allusions, and much more. All together, the annotated G&S makes reading the librettos a much richer experience.
   
   I preferred this version to Asimov's annotations.



2. This is a fine presentation of Wiener Blut with fine singing & acting by all the prncipals. Unfortunately, this particular disc has flaws in the second act which may prevent proper playback on most equipment. If you are able to find unflawed discs, the performance is worth paying extra.Wiener Blut



3. 
   This reeinforces my original G&S Modern Library edition circa 1937 that I still use with my own notes made as I listened to D'Oyly Carte in those days.
   Refreshing to know what W.S. meant 50 years before I came along.



4. Though sung in English, it can be difficult to understand the words of G&S operas without libretti. I listen to the CDs while following along in this book, and it has greatly increased my pleasure in G&S, as well as my admiration for both Gilbert's witty and insightful lyrics and the way Sullivan carries the words along with his music.



5. $42.00?? C'mon now, this is a paperback for pity's sake! I would have no problems with the price if this book really had enough information contained to make it worthwhile. Basically it consists of the librettos of all the G & S (Thespis excluded. so how is it so darn complete?) operas on the right-hand page, with notes etc. on the left page. In all fairness the notes are on the exhaustive side, but without an index it become a chore to find anything revelant to which you may want to apply them. Coupled with some perfunctory introductions I can't in fairness give this more than 3 stars. Perhaps a bio of the respective librettist & composer would have come in handy, as well as a few illusrations showing productions of the operas over the years; would make me harp less about the price.

5 comments about The Complete Professional Audition: A Commonsense Guide To Auditioning For Musicals and Plays.

1. I don't know how I auditioned before this book. For any high school or college student going through program or emphasis auditions, this book is essential. And even better, for professional auditions, this book is a handbook on how to do everything you will need to know.
   I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to be enlightened.



2. As a student of Music Theatre, this book is a fantastic guide to the well rounded audition. This book even landed me the audition! This book is well worth a read for ANYONE who is autioning in Acting, Singing and Musical Theatre.



3. My son plans a career in musical theatre and this is the fourth book that I have read on the topic. The others included the book by Shurtleff and the one by Silver. They were all good but I liked this one best because it covered all of the practical aspects of performing songs and monologues for auditions. It guides one through all of the details. Since this is the most current of all the books the frames of reference are more appropriate.



4. Actors, whether seasoned or new, who regularly audition for musicals and plays should not omit taking at least a peek at the advice in The Complete Professional Audition: A Commonsense Guide To Auditioning For Musicals And Plays: it's a 'must' for would-be pros and provides an edge over the competition in both musical theater and regular play auditions, from locating the right music or monologue to demonstrating unique talents in a mere 2 minutes. An added bonus: chapters which discuss the realities of a working actor's life beyond the audition, from union regulations and the roles of agents to further reference tips, including web sites. Simply invaluable.



5. If you plan on a career in theatre, this book is a must. Not owning it, is like a hairstylist not owning scissors. It is a necessary item in really owning and excercising one's craft. I have had the pleasure to work with Darren Cohen personally, and can only describe it as an actor's dream. This book is the next best thing. Everything is simple and down to terms that agree with an actor's mind and allow us to understand the delicate creature that is "the audition." I only wish this was around when I was still in college. A Must!!!!

No comments about Theatre World Volume 63, 2006-2007: The Most Complete Record of the American Theatre (Theatre World).

No comments about Two-Faced Racism: Whites in the Backstage and Frontstage.

5 comments about Jump Into Jazz: The Basics and Beyond for Jazz Dance Students.

1. This is a very informative book! Tons of practical information and a detailed and interesting history of jazz dance.



2. It's easy to read and the structure is logical. Both picture and text describes the movement and how it should be executed. It's good for both the student and the teacher, and contains beside the descriptions of movements the basic of jazzhistory, music theory, stretch and a lot more. It's a good book.



3. I teach jazz dance in a college setting and recommend this book for my students. Jump into Jazz breaks the art of Jazz dance down beautifully. I have found this book to be extremely helpful and concise. The illustrations are easy to understand, and the worksheets at the back of the book are a wonderful way for my students to test their understanding of the ideas presented.



4. I bought Jump Into Jazz for my daughter who is a High School Dance Teacher, and she has found this book, recommended to her by another dance teacher, to be a thoroughly useful tool that she refers to daily...excellent.



5. I bought this for my neice and I have been the favorite Uncle ever since!