Plays

Set in a landscape stripped bare by civil war, two independents forge an alliance of convenience in order to buy their way into the land of the free, the one safe haven in an otherwise lawless landscape. Hiding from marauding armies, they travel the country, gathering great art treasures from crumbling museums. But with the border to freedom in sight, they're captured by forces from the new coalition government. They can still buy their freedom - if they agree to do one little job for the new government.

86 monologues for men from the contemporary stage, written by these and other major dramatists: David Mamet Paul Rudnick Brian Friel Steve Tesich Harold Pinter David Lodge Alan Ayckbourn Timberlake Wertenbaker Neil Simon John Patrick Shanley Herb Gardner Ariel Dorfman Craig Lucas.

Over 75 monologues for women from the contemporary stage, written by these and other major dramatists: David Mamet Brian Friel Steve Tesich Harold Pinter Alan Ayckbourn Timberlake Wertenbaker Neil Simon John Patrick Shanley Jane Anderson Elizabeth Swados Ariel Dorfman Craig Lucas.

These are the best of Molire's masterful one-acts, blending broad farce and pointed wit to express his never-ending delight in human foibles. But Molire is more than just the master of the laugh, for behind the comic gestures of these matchless rogues, tight-fisted masters, possessive lovers and elegant ladies lurk fears, insecurities and their consequences. Includes: The Jealous Husband, The Flying Doctor, Two Precious Maidens Ridiculed, The Imaginary Cuckold, The Rehearsal at Versailles, The Forced Marriage, The Seductive Mistress.

Here is the original story of a true original, the celebrated and internationally renowned director, playwright and screenwriter Arthur Laurents, whose creative genius continues to energize American stage and screen today. Say his name, and images of West Side Story, Gypsy, Anastasia, The Turning Point, and The Way We Were appear. Laurents' highly praised memoir is a dazzling portrait of his life - as he recounts the great moments, the trials and the joys of his incredible career. He takes us into his world, peopled with the creative artists, directors, actors and personalities who came of age in the theatre and in Hollywood after WWII. Later, back in New York, he writes about jump-starting Barbra Streisand's career by casting her in I Can Get It for You Wholesale. He writes about the creation of Gypsy with Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim. And he writes about coming together in a complex, fraught collaboration with his three old pals, Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein and Sondheim for West Side Story. Throughout, Laurents is funny, fierce, and frank - a life recounted as richly as it was lived. This is a historic work. A 'must' for show biz mavens. - LIZ SMITH, Newsday & Syndicated

These popular editions allow the reader and student to look beyond the scholarly reading text to the more sensuous, more collaborative, more malleable performance text which emerges in conjunction with the commentary and notes. Each note, each gloss, each commentary reflects the stage life of the play with constant reference to the challenge of the text in performance. Readers will not only discover an enlivened Shakespeare, they will be empowered to rehearse and direct their own productions of the imagination in the process.

There are many accounts of the Bingham family saga, but no other by someone who was there. For the first time, a gifted writer born into a family of inherited wealth and power takes us with her behind the doors of that patriarchal hothouse. Passion and Prejudice is a major step toward feminist change and democracy. By her courage and example, Sallie Bingham already has inspired women in powerful families to begin to revolt. What is wrongly seen now as a private war will be come the opening skirmish in a high-level revolution. - Gloria Steinem

Garry O'Connor, highly respected for his theatrical biographies, presents a richly drawn, fully dimensional portrait of the great actor Paul Scofield. He interviewed the intensely private Scofield himself, as well as many of the actors and directors he has worked with, including Simon Callow, Trevor Nunn, Richard Eyre and Peter Hall. The result is a masterly biography that paints a revealing portrait of a man who, for the serious film and theatre-goer, is more of an icon than any other living actor.

Noted writer Leon Katz, the champion of the present day commmedia dell'arte, has written a brand-new stage adaptation for children's theatre. Included are the costume sketches, the stage cues and even a few of the stage tricks used to bring not just Pinocchio but all of the play to real life in its acclaimed original American Children's Theatre production.

In this book divided into eight chapters, author James Nicola reveals how the technique of live acting springs directly from the unique relationship between the performer and the spectator. Playing the Audience includes advice on: creating a character from the stage - from external gestures to inner dialogue; scoring the text; subtext; emotional memory; substitution; conflict; objectives; through-line of action; improvisation; blocking a scene; language and speech; connecting to the world of the play; and much more.