Description:
As long as plays have been presented, choices have been made about the environment in which they occur, the garments the performers wear, and how to focus the audience's attention. Designers, then, have been instrumental in shaping the history of theater. But before designers were routinely listed in playbills, they could only be identified through other sources, including press releases, reviews, news articles, contracts, and personal papers. This reference provides alphabetically arranged entries for the more than 2,300 scenery, costume, and lighting designers who worked on Broadway in the 20th century. It begins with the 1899-1900 season and ends with the 2000-2001 season.
Each entry includes a brief biography and a list of the designer's credits. The emphasis is on individuals rather than companies, but some small businesses formed by designers have been retained as examples. Appendices list the winners of major design awards, and the volume includes a selected bibliography. The extensive index cites the more than 10,000 plays produced on Broadway in the 20th century. While not a narrative history, this reference is nonetheless a comprehensive chronicle of theatrical design on Broadway.Brief description:
BOBBI OWEN is Professor of Dramatic Art at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has published widely on drama and theater.
Review Quotes: "The book covers the 20th century beginning with the 1899-1900 season and ending with 2000-2001, and provides biographical information about nearly 2,400 designers....An excellent addition to the series. Highly recommended. Undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and professionals in the performing arts."-Choice