4 comments about Process: An Improviser's Journey.

1. This is a valuable read for anyone interested in either long form improv or improvisation as more than just a tool for humor. Honest improv (the opposite of which is deliberately joking around or inventing scenarios to appear interesting) not only leads to truly funny situations but compelling drama as well. Gellman's mission in life is to create long works of literary quality through improvisation, and he does this by training actors in a series of workshops to develop basic skills - some of which are as simple as doing push-ups in training for the Superbowl, as I heard him once phrase it, and others that are somewhat more complex yet still, at first glance, quite basic. I mean this in the least derogatory way possible Gellman and Scruggs focus mainly on basics, but they do so in a step-by-step, elemental way that is stunningly complex and fulfilling, and after reading this I'd attest that for one to attempt detailing anything more than the basics in as vivid and valuable a fashion as this would be voluminous in length. The method employed to write this book is more a narrative than a guide, which I found refreshing, captivating and effective. It takes the point of view of Geoff, a student in one of Gellman's workshops designed to produce one-act plays from improvisation. Geoff and his classmates all have their own distinct backgrounds, strengths, weaknesses and assumptions about the work and themselves, and their experience is very true to life. They all make their own mistakes along the way, interpret the exercises in different ways and have their own individual praises and complaints - while one student might equate an exercise to a surprisingly spiritual experience, another might say it got them up in their heads. They all fall back on their old habits, they all have their own unique ways of approaching and mastering Gellman's techniques. You will learn how and why things work along with Geoff and his fellow improvisers and most likely be able to relate to at least one of the characters. My only complaint is that sometimes the story seems a bit unnecessary, especially when class ends and the characters talk and interact with one another - though these did provide some interesting analysis of the exercises. And though I felt a bit silly reading about Geoff's curiosity about another player's feelings for him, this is in no way unrealistic - thoughts like these are in no way out of place in this setting as the bond between an ensemble can be quite strong. In this way, the sometimes silly-seeming aspects of the story are quite realistic. Even with my mixed feelings about this small aspect, I feel that the book as a whole is incredibly valuable and unique, the closest thing to actually taking one such workshop yourself, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in improvisation as a serious art form, long-form improv and acting in general.



2. I heart Michael Gellman. Aside from giving me the single most effective side-coaching I think I've ever received in a workshop, he's genuinely giving as a teacher. (And an audience member. I remember very clearly hearing him "ooooooh" a game-move I made in a performance--and I thought, "BINGO, I've figured this scene out.") So I couldn't wait for his book, and it didn't disappoint.
   
   Because it's about a student going through his workshop, you get a real sense of the exercises, the notes and what goes on in your head when you succeed or fail. His teaching style is very organic--"process" is the perfect title.
   
   It's rare that a book can bring experiential learning to life. This one totally captured the feeling of studying with him. If you can't make it to one of his classes, this is the next best thing.



3. Being new to Chicago and Second City, I purchased this book to get a better understanding of improv and who better to learn from then author Michael Gellman. I found that the format of the book made it an easy read and it really got into the details of Second City improv and how to use these rules and other aspects to create improvised one act plays. The book follows a fictional Chicago actor as he figures out what to do to better himself as an actor, an improviser, and how to balance his job and acting. This book is ideal for both improvisers and directors, but I believe it would be even more beneficial to the beginning actors in Chicago. It not only educates you as if you are in a class with Mr. Gellman himself, but it also gives you some insight into how to better yourself as an actor and how the Second City system works. I highly recommend this book and it is a must read for anyone interested in acting or improvising.



4. Process: An Improviser's Journey is a great book. It is very well written and a pleasant surprise.
   
   This is an excellent resource for improvisers-especially students- because it is written from a student's perspective. There is such a long list of things that you shouldn't say or do in a scene but it goes a step further to explain why you shouldn't do these things and the resulting consequence on the scene if you do. It also spells out many guidelines that move a scene forward and make it a success. As a current student at Second City, it is also a relief to read that other students (even fictional ones) go through the same struggles in remembering all of these rules!
   
   I would definitely recommend this book for students because it makes you realize that you are not alone in having difficulty grasping seemingly simple improv concepts. This is also a must-read for teachers because you may always know why a scene is going wrong but it may help you reconnect with your students and better explain the process. If you have never taken an improv class but are interested in doing so, it may be a little difficult to visualize or understand some of the games and exercises mentioned in the book but don't let that prevent you from reading!

5 comments about Stage Makeup (9th Edition).

1. If you are a new makeup artist..or even if you've been doing it for awhile, please do yourself a favor and buy this book. It is extrememly informative and well worth having as a reference.
   
   I own it and you can't have mine!!



2. Well I bought this and it said it was the 9th edition but it was the 8th, and it upset me because I payed that much for a lower edition. but the shipment was in good time and everything but they lied about what edition it was..



3. Overall, this is a very strong text with a lot of detail. Most of the photographs in the book are in black and white. There are a few at the end of the book in color. I would have like for all of the photographs to be in color.



4. This book is filled with helpful information. I only wish there were more helpful coloured photos in it.



5. There is no doubt that this book covers all the foundation aspects of the make up needs of the stage performer as well as film basics. A tremendous amount can be garnered and there are some absolutely fabulous techniques discussed especially for character make up. However, I feel that the way the book is organized, as well as how it clumps what colour fotos it has in the back, prevent it from being a truly comprehensive step by step learning text. When showing how a particular artists is doing something, such as the ballerina, it is wise to talk about WHY they are doing something as well. There is a logical reason for it. For the money paid with this text, and its titling as the bible, I think that these few matters can be easily rectified.

5 comments about The Complete Phantom of the Opera (Owl Books).

1. Excellent book !
   All of a good Phantom of the opera's fan needs to know about this classic musical masterpiece. History, true facts, anecdotes, first editions, the future.. No more words. Don't miss it !!



2. I bought a copy of this book at a performance of The Phantom Of The Opera in 2000 and really love it. I tried to purchase a copy for a friend at the most recent performance we went to but it is no longer available and feel very lucky to have been able to find it here at Amazon. It tells of the Paris Opera House, Gaston Leroux, the original story and the movies. The reason I bought it is the last 100+ pages cover the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical and includes some incredible photographs. I was delighted when I got home and found it also includes the Libretto! I would encourage any fan of the musical to purchase a copy.



3. Loads of beautiful photos and lots of info. I love it. We do need and expanded edition to cover the movie. This is for Phantom Fans.



4. This a must have for any phans of the A.L.W. musical!!



5. This book... I have no words on how amazing it is.
   
   When I rekindled my love for musicals, and of course, Phantom of the Opera made that happened... I had to get everything and learn everything about Phantom. So I found this book at the library and I went insane over it.
   
   Firstly, it gives a clear background history on Gaston Leroux--the writer and the creator of Phantom of the Opera. Then, it goes into another section when talking about the films it inspired. You'll be surprised and amazed when you see it and read about it. Not only that, it tells you some small tidbit facts on the actors and actresses of these movies.
   
   And then, my favorite part, it goes into the Lloyd Webber musical. And when I say "goes into" I mean it!! There are so many pictures of the Original London Cast it's phenominal! There ares ome behind the scenes pictures as well. I never seen so many pictures about Phantom sure in a book, ever.
   
   And when you think that's enough, there is a libretto of the stage production--including scrafito'ed pictures of the OLC copied in there as it was when the CD/Cassette first made it's debut.
   
   All in all, it's not clearly updated as it is now, there is mention of the movie and who they want in it. But otherwise, if you are a London Cast or simply a Phantom obsessionist, you MUST have this book. If you find it at a house sale, a junk pile, book sale... whatever... BUY IT. You will not be dissapointed!!

1 comments about Postdramatic Theatre.

1. Hans-Thies Lehmann's thesis provides a thought-provoking, bold and provocative guide to the current and emerging theatrical landscape. Essential reading for every theatrical practitioner, student and scholar in the country.

3 comments about Plays From the Contemporary American Theater (Signet Classics).

1. I purchased this book for my son who is a Musical Theatre student. He needed a large collection of contemporary plays to read for his classes. He said that it was exactly what he was looking for as it contained many of the plays that were on his required reading list. Good to find so many all in one place, this book will remain a part of his theatre library.



2. This is a wonderful anthology. For its price, it is probably the best single volume anthology on the market for American theater of the last thirty-some years. These playwrights have dominated the New York Off-Broadway scene for as long as most of us can remember. If you came to New York in 1975 you would have heard the very same names. If you search the theater directory this season you will find their names, not with new works but with revivals of plays written two decades ago. This might be good for the playwrights, but is it good for the theater? Durang and Co. were first produced in edgy little theaters that were at the cutting edge of the theater. Since then these theaters have become institutions with new buildings, long lists of donors, gala openings, and corporate sponsors. Isn't it ironic that instead of producing new work, they do revivals of old-standards by Beth Henley? It is the equivalent of little theaters in the boonies doing revivals of Kauffman and Hart, Noel Coward, and Behrman. And the New York audiences are just like the little theater audiences in towns like Oklahoma city, Bakersfield and Memphis. They're all over 60, drive Cadillacs, and need hearing aids. People attending the revival of Tina Howe's play remember having seen the original production. They go, hoping to see the original cast, who are now all retired. How could this be and why? Virtually every play here anthologized has as its theme, primary or secondary, some form corruption or hypocrisy, yet none in the theater community seems to make the connection between the mega-buck donations they seek and their inability to find and produce new works as exciting as these.



3. The package got here in time, i didn't really have a bad experience with its shipment date and it is in excellent shape.

5 comments about Act One: An Autobiography.

1. A look back in time to understand the struggles in defining-and reaching your goals. A study in human nature. Things haven't changed. Great lessons still!!



2. This book is a down to earth, heart warming story of how Moss Hart became a premiere playwriter. Good book for those interested in working in the theater.



3. A great read; very inspiring and funny and well written. A tale of a writer in a city which he knew so well, at least Broadway, his own neigborhoods, and the subway. His spontaneous decisions are what great showbiz tales are made of and from! His book made me want an Act Two and Act Three....excellent investment. Book in GRAND shape. Quick delivery too.



4. Act One is one of my favorite books. I have rearead it often since the first time I picked it up in my late teens. I love the anecdotes about the Broadway greats ans near greats and how Mr. Hart became famous, but my favorite parts of the book concern his memorable Aunt Kate, a woman whose fate in life was other than she deserved. She is very humanely portrayed, and so is the rest of Mr. Hart's family. I also enjoyed learning more about George Kaufman and his wife. This book's great!



5. Moss Hart is arguably one of the finest and most successful authors of the 20th century theater in this or any other country. Like many successful men in the theater, he came from a background of serious poverty and the true drama of Act One is his perseverence and victory in extremely trying circumstances. There are fascinating glimpses into the theater world of NYC in the 40s and 50s, excellent sketches of George Kaufmann, Beatrice Kaufmann and Max Siegel, and poignant views into the people and places that forged Moss Hart into the extremely urbane, charming and successful man he became, against the hardest possible odds. Superb book!

5 comments about Let's Put on a Musical: How to Choose the Right Show for Your Theater, Revised & Expanded Edition.

1. Some of the shows from the first volume have been omitted (since many younger people aren't familiar with them) and what became of the advertising ideas? (eg. "Before Elvis there was another King" for "The
   King and I" or "Candide hams" and "Candide fruits) Yet there still are some obscure titles (Drat! The Cat) that the author challenges theaters that want to put on shows that flopped. However the "Worth a Look" section is omitted (no On the Town, Chess, George M!...) And do we really need to know all those things from Beauty and the Beast?



2. this is a fantastic resource for anyone who is considering putting on a musical. it includes EVERY musical ever written, for all practical purposes...and the reviews are honest, straight forward critiques of the pros and cons of why you should choose this show.



3. I direct musicals in a small college and find this a most helpful compilation of musicals and the information I need to make a selection. Highly recommended!



4. This book is definitely superior to its first edition which was full of errors. Not only that but it is up to date. It's hard to believe that a few years back, I was actually writing my own additions for this book in the same vein. Believe it or not, the show I wrote about are now in this book.
   
   POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD
   
   However, the one complaint I have is that there are two instances where Peter Filichia makes some very insensitive comments. Under the LIABILITIES section for Parade, he writes that the ending, in which Leo Frank, after finally being proven innocent, is hanged by a group of vigilantes does not scream "That's Entertainment". Mr. Filichia, would you prefer if history were altered? Leo Frank's hanging was a hate crime.
   
   Also, in the LIABILITIES section for Side Show, he writes, "Can we really blame Terry for not wanting to be with a conjoined twin?" Um, yes. Terry is in love with Daisy but can't be open about his love because she's a conjoined twin. Naturally, she'd be angry.
   
   While I certainly cannot look past these examples of Mr. Filichia's insensitivity, I certainly am glad to see this updated version of Let's Put On A Musical.



5. This really is a great reference to have. The only thing is that I have an earlier version of this book and it lists a little more information that I think is very helpful. For instance, it lists maximum and minimum players you can use for each show. It also omits musicals such as Pirates of Penzance, Quilters and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers to name a few. In the first addition the author might not have gone into great details on these musical but a little synopsis was written. Otherwise this is a great reference.

5 comments about Glamour Addiction: Inside the American Ballroom Dance Industry.

1. I disagreed with some of the author's ideas, but I'm giving the book five stars anyway, because I enjoyed how thought-provoking it was. The part that I disagreed with particularly was in how much dance is an addiction. It's true, we dancers spend a lot of money and a lot of time on our hobby. In my case, if I have spare time and spare money, it's going into dance lessons and costumes. But I have a friend who is a golfer, and his spare time and money goes into golfing. Same with my bridge-playing friend, who travels to tournaments all over the world. And how about my mathematician friend who loves numbers so much that he went deeply into debt to get a PhD in mathematics? Today he loves his numbers so much that if it were a question of a hot date or an evening with his equations, I think the hot date would win out, but I can't be sure. Are these people addicted? Or is it more simply that in a capitalist economy, people have more spare time and more spare money than ever before, and they're going to spend these resources in the ways that give them the most pleasure?
   
   Anyway, I loved the book. It was thought-provoking as well as full of new information.



2. This was a great very current book. It had in it current dancers from "Dancing with the Stars" that has everyone now interested in ballroom dancing. It was great to konw the history and the current goings on in ball room



3. After going to a few DanceSport competitions in Australia and watching West Coast Swing competition on DVD I came to similar conclusions as the author of this book. While dance schools in Australia are not in my experience anywhere near as cynical and manipulative as those in the USA, Dancesport itself suffers from many of the same failings. Dancesport takes itself way too seriously. From the overdone fake tans to the grotesque caricatures of emotion ("face acting") to the hugely expensive costuming to the greased back hair and the parents whose egos are invested in their child winning, it is all a bit much. WCS seems to have more of a sense of humour, the costuming is more accessible and there is greater emphasis on actual dance skills in terms of partnering and musicality. And WCS competitors actually seem to genuinely enjoy dancing. So few Dancesport competitors seem to enjoy social dancing that you have to wonder why they bother dancing at all! Having said that, Dancesport does deliver some benefits: teenager competitors have a poise, style and standard of grooming and behavior that will benefit them in other areas of their lives, for example. My one criticism of this book would be its references to cultural theory (e.g. the discussion of 'the grotesque')which to me seems to be a vacuous ideology disguising its lack of any conceptual depth with fancy words. Ironically culture theory is open to many of the same criticisms as Dancesport: all hat and no cattle, as they say in Texas!



4. I was exited to find a book that would give me some insight into the world of ballroom dancing. While this book does that, to some extent, it's written more in the format of a college thesis, rather than an informational and entertaining book for the masses. The text is dense with obscure vocabulary, and reads as redundant in many places. I found myself skimming, rather than reading. And that, for me, is a disappointment.



5. I would go so far as to say prejudiced. As a devoted ballroom student for 10 years, I was happy to see any more-or-less mainstream book that treated ballroom dancing as something other than a fad, but only the glamorous cover photo of Jonathan Roberts and Anna Trebunskaya has lasting value for me. ... Evidently the author was so disillusioned by her experience as a professional ballroom dancer that she was unable to approach the subject with any objectivity. Her reliance on anecdotal "evidence" presented through composite characters is sloppy research; no broad studies or even surveys are presented. ... Numerous minor errors of fact and occasionally careless editing throughout, but the book's great flaw is that it looks - as apparently did the author during her dancing career - to ballroom dancing to provide, for its practitioners, all that is good in life - and then blames the sport for failing to do so. Those who go into ballroom dancing looking for a little glamour are, in my view, to be applauded; there is precious little glamour available to most of us in our daily lives. That in addition to being a popular social activity it is also a viable worldwide sport shows that a lot of people are indeed getting what they want out of dancing. The author should have talked to some of them.

5 comments about Star Trek: Phase II : The Making of the Lost Series.

1. Rewind to 1977, when Star Trek was entering its seventh year of syndication, creator of the Original Series and the 22-episode Star Trek animated series, Gene Roddenberry, conceived of a new live Star Trek series. The show was called Star Trek Phase II, and Paramount decided to have the show on their new network. Sets and props and costumes were designed and tested. The writers also wrote a two-hour teleplay which is the pilot for Phase II. The cast almost reunited, but without Leonard Nimoy.

   When principal photography almost started, Paramount decided to cancel the network and the series. Instead of having Star Wars cancel them out, they decided to have a movie instead of a pilot... thus begins the story of the lost Star Trek series. They made the first episode of Phase II, which was "In Thy Image, Parts I and II" into the first movie, "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." Several Phase II stories are in this book and the design of the never-seen-before U.S.S. Enterprise are shown. The book is 360 pages of information on the almost-but-didn't happen Star Trek series.

   Hold on, Gene, there is some way to salvage the pieces of the Phase II sets. Now, fast forward to 2001-2004 where Star Trek movies are made more better on DVD. Watch the text commentary by Michael and Denise Okuda on the Original cast films, where they reveal stuff about Phase II, like what pieces were used in the six Trek films and "Nemesis." This great pair is more than you need for a Star Trek series.




2. "Star Trek: Phase II" was a planned series that would pick up where The Original Series left off. This project never materialized, but the ideas and concepts were later used in The Motion Picture and The Next Generation.

   This book is an interesting slice of the life of the Star Trek Saga, and you are given a peep-hole into the mind of Gene Rodenberry: what he wanted to do and where he was going.

   The illustrations are superb and well worth the pice.

   Personally, it is refreshing to see the gap between the Original Series and the later spin-offs filled. You sense that something severe has happened between "Turnabout Intruder" and "Encounter at Farpoint." The movies and the novels try to bridge the gap, but this book makes the link seamless.

   This book is Sci-Fi's "Lucy," the missing link!




3. This book contained information about the transformation from TOS to the making of "phase II", a TV series that eventually was scrapped and the pilot was morphed into ST:TMP. I found the information to be interesting, and would recommend it to any Star Trek fan, especially those of TOS.

   Most interesting to me was the analyses of how the scrapped Phase II produced characters and scripts that were eventually seen on ST:TNG. Xon "became" Data, Ilia "became" Troi, and Decker=Riker is fairly obvious. Additionally, scripts like "The Child" that were written for Phase II, were later filmed for ST:TNG.

   Also included is the full first draft script of the pilot for Phase II, which again morphed int ST:TMP. It's interesting to see how the drafts change and (mostly) become stronger. Furthermore,are 4-8 page descriptions of all each story that would have been in Phase IIs first season.

   I do recommend this book for any Trek fan. The background information is limited, as the majority of the book is the scripts, but it is still an interesting piece of ST history.




4. Books like these seldom hit the bookshelves here so I bought it the first time I saw it and was not disappointed. The content is interesting specially for Original Series fans. It gives you an insight into Roddenberry's vision after the first three seasons. It even includes sketches, scripts, plots, behind-the-scene info. The story-telling is a little dull. Then again, this is not a novel, so I believe an exception is in order. All-in-all, an exceptional piece of literature.



5. A fascinating look behind-the-scenes of the Trek that never was. Much of this information has been revealed before, but there is still plenty of information that will be new to even the seasoned Trek veteran. The scripts are a nice addition to the book as well. My only complaint is that the writing style tends to be a bit dry. This may have made a better documentary than a book.

1 comments about The Brady Bunch Book.

1. I bought this book years ago. I still enjoy it today. It is a fantastic book filled with trivia and tibdits about all the episodes, the cast and characters, and more.