On Stage, Off Stage A grab-bag of new books on technical & artistic subjects. By Stephen Peithman Issue: June/July 2001 This month’s new books focus on putting on a show, and the show itself—the two essential challenges of any theater company. Beginning at square one, Create Your Own Stage Production Company, by Gill Davies, provides practical, step-by-step instructions on how to set up and run a successful stage company. Starting with forming a company, Davies explains how to establish a budget; book a performance space; obtain necessary licenses and insurance; ensure that the work environment complies with health and safety laws; then cast, rehearse and stage the production. In addition, the book explains the duties of the house manager, stage manager, technical crew, box office staff, and other support staff, along with tips on publicizing and promoting shows. Originally published in Great Britain, the book’s excellent information, including charts and drawings, easily transcends any national boundaries. [ISBN 0-8230-7714-4, $24.95, Back Stage Books] What if someone kept a diary, chronicling everything that occurs in a community theater production from auditions to strike, in an effort to understand “what it is about amateur theater that makes people not just desire but need it?” That is the idea behind Leah Hager Cohen’s The Stuff Of Dreams: Behind The Scenes Of An American Community Theater. After two decades away from community theater, the author returns to the fold in the form of the Arlington [Virginia] Friends of the Drama, celebrating its 75th anniversary. Embroiled in disputes over organizational changes designed to help it continue into the 21st century, the company was about to hold auditions for M. Butterfly. Cohen’s unadorned prose is perfect for detailing both the mundane aspects of the production process, as well as the often highly emotional underpinnings inherent in any creative endeavor. She writes honestly and compassionately, sketching characters so vividly that the reader is sure to think—more than once—“I know someone exactly like that!” You’ll find this one hard to put down. [ISBN 0-670-89981-X, Viking] Moving from the general to the specific, we come to two excellent reference books. The Entertainment Sourcebook 2001: An Insider’s Guide On Where To Find Everything, 2001 Edition is an indispensable guide to finding just about anything needed for a production, from props to costumes, lighting equipment to special effects. Compiled by the Association of Theatrical Artists & Craftspeople, and published yearly, this remarkable A-Z directory should find a spot on the shelf of any theater company’s library, although it won’t sit there long. [ISBN 1-55783423-7, $45, Applause Books] The second reference is The Health & Safety Guide For Film, TV & Theater. Written by Monona Rossol, a nationally recognized expert on health and safety issues affecting the performing arts, the book covers virtually every one of these issues. The author outlines safeguards against hazardous materials such as theatrical paints, certain makeup, pigments and solvents. She also recommends protective measures for woodworking and welding, as well as the use of theatrical fog and other special effects. Safety checklists, agencies to contact for help, how to read labels and warnings, and other important tips are included. As a chemist, artist, and industrial hygienist specializing in visual and performing arts hazards, Rossol brings a unique blend of expertise to this valuable reference. [ISBN 1-58115-071-7, $19.95, Allworth Press] As we note in every issue, the play is indeed the thing. And for over 400 years, William Shakespeare’s plays have entertained audiences around the world. However, many people are puzzled on their first encounter with the Bard, because of his language and allusions to the Elizabethan era. To solve this problem, Robert Thomas Fallon has written A Theatergoer’s Guide To Shakespeare for the general reader “in plain though not inelegant English.” Fallon examines the most frequently staged plays scene by scene, and those less frequently performed act by act. These chapters offer much more than plot summaries; they provide intelligent readers with incisive and engaging commentary on character, theme, setting, poetry, and stage history, in a way that will help them follow the action with ease and understanding. Dedicated theatergoers, as well as actors or directors unfamiliar with a play will find the book a rich source of both pleasure and insight. [ISBN 1-56663-342-7, $29.95, Ivan R. Dee] SD