Theater Research Guide
Encyclopedias and Reference Works
| Find Books |
Find Articles |
CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc.
Web Sites |
Citing Sources |
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Encyclopedias and Reference Works
Subject Encyclopedias
These can be helpful for obtaining an overview of a subject and related topics.
An entry in an encyclopedia will often contain a bibliography which can lead you
to more sources on that topic.
Here are several we have:
Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre 3 vols. Reference
ML 102 .M88 2001
International Dictionary of Theatre 3 vols. Reference PN
2035 .I49 1992
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama 5 vols. Reference
PN 1625 .M3 1984
World
Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre 6 vols. PN 1861 .W67
1994
Subject Dictionaries
An Annotated Dictionary
of Technical, Historical and Stylistic Terms Relating to
Theatre and Drama Reference PN
2035 .W48 1995
Dictionary of Shakespeare Reference PR 2892 .M398
2000
The
Drama Dictionary Reference PN 1625 .H64 1988
Facts
on File Dictionary of Theatre Reference PN 2035 .F27 1988
Theatrical Directors: A Biographical Dictionary Reference
PN 2205 .T54 1994
Handbooks, Manuals and Guides
Cambridge
Guide to American Theatre Reference PN 2220 .C35
1993
Cambridge Guide to
Theatre Reference PN PN 2035 .C27 1992
(Previous editions published as:
Cambridge Guide to World Theatre)
Concise
Oxford Companion to the Theatre Reference PN 2035 .C63
1992
Contemporary
Theatre, Film & Television 53 vols. Reference PN
2208 .W52 1981-current
A Guide to Critical Reviews 6 vols. Reference PN 2037 .S35
Part 1: American Drama, 1909-1982
Part 2: The Musical, 1909-1989
Part 3: Foreign Drama,
1909-1977
Part 4: The Screenplay, from
the Jazz Singer to Dr. Strangelove
Part 4, supplement: The
Screenplay, 1963-1980
Oxford Companion to
Canadian Theatre Reference PN 2300 .O94 1989
Directories
Handel's
National Directory for the Performing Arts 2 vols. Reference PN 2289
.H35 1992
Summer Theatre
Directory Reference PN 2289 .S8 (annual
publication, latest ed. only)
Reviews
The
New York Times Theater Reviews 31 vols. Reference PN 2266 .N48
1870-2000
The following are shelved in the General Collection, third floor, and can be
checked out:
Contemporary American Theater Critics: A Directory and Anthology of Their
Works
PN 1707.9 .C6 1977
Shakespeare in the
Theatre: An Anthology of Criticism PR 3091.S365 1997
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Find Books
There are several types of searches you can do in the
library catalog
to locate books. Library catalogs contain subject headings
used by the Library of Congress and most library users are not
familiar with these official headings. Therefore it is always
best to begin with a keyword search rather that a subject
search when first going to the online catalog. Combine
several terms that describe your topic. Use and to
narrow your results,
use or to broaden your results:
1) british theat* AND history
2) (british theat* OR british drama) AND history
3) dictionary of theatre
A few tips on the keyword searches above:
1) The asterisk * truncates a term and will retrieve all forms
of the word that follow the
truncation symbol. For example,
theat* will retrieve theater, theatre, theaters, theatres,
theatrical.
2) The parentheses allows you to search for concepts similar in
meaning and then combine these with a different term(s).
Remember to always place your similar terms within parentheses when
using AND & OR in one search statement.
3) In the catalog, your terms are searched as a phrase.
The search, dictionary of theatre will retrieve only those
records in which those terms are found together with no other words
in between.
Results from your keyword searches will help you identify
appropriate Library of Congress subject headings that
cover your topic. Examining broader, narrower and related
subject headings often lead you to more relevant items for your
topic. Below are a few Library of Congress subject headings
relating to theater or drama:
american drama
english drama
american drama--18th century
english drama--restoration, 1660-1700
american drama--19th century
theater--political aspects
american drama--20th century
theater--production and direction
theater--united states
theater--england
theater--united states--history
theater--england--history
theater--africa
performance art
acting--study and teaching
stage lighting
monologues
If you cannot find a particular title or enough books on your topic
in Pickler, be sure to check the
MOBIUS online
catalog. When you find a book in MOBIUS, just click on the
"request" button and complete the online form. You will
receive an e-mail notice once the book is here, which usually takes
2-3 business days.
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Find Articles
Databases in this section are
restricted to use on the Truman network unless otherwise indicated.
Arts and Humanities Search (Arts & Humanities Citation
Index) 1980+
Provides citations to the world's leading arts and humanities
journals. Over 1,300 sources covered. Indexes articles,
bibliographies, editorials and reviews.
Humanities Abstracts 1984+
In print under various titles 1907-1996 : Reference AI 3
S6
Contains citations and abstracts from more than 325 periodicals
in archaeology and classical studies, area studies,
communication, folklore, history, language, literature,
performing and visual arts, philosophy, religion and theology.
Project MUSE--There are 12 full-text journals
covering theater, film and performing arts available online in
this collection. Dates vary for each journal, however the
coverage is usually from previous 5 years to current issue.
Listed below are journals of theater and film
available in Pickler Memorial Library. Click on title to
view location and coverage.
* denotes peer-reviewed journal
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Media Library
Our Media Library located on the second floor houses a large collection of
videos, DVDs, CDs and CD-ROMS that are of interest to students and faculty
in the Theater Department. Here are several formats and titles that
may be of particular interest:
CD-ROMs
The Ancient
Greek Theater Media Multimedia PA 3201 .B48 1996
The Comprehensive
Shakespeare Dictionary Media Multimedia PR 2892 .C587
1998
Shakespeare: His
Life, Times, Works and Sources Media Multimedia PR2900 .S52 1995
Shakespeare's
Theater Media Multimedia PR 2895 .S53 1996
Shakespeare,
William, 1564-1616. "As You Like It" Media Multimedia
PR 2801 .A2 G5 1997
Shakespeare,
William, 1564-1616. A Midsummer Night's Dream." Media
Multimedia
PR 2827 .M5 1997
Shakespeare,
William, 1564-1616. "Taming of the Shrew." Media Multimedia
PR 2832 .A2 G5 1997
Shakespeare,
William, 1564-1616. "Twelfth Night." Media Multimedia
PR 2837 .A2 G5 1997
CDs
The Media Library has the series "Arkangel complete Shakespeare" in compact
disc. This set is a companion to the Complete Pelican Shakespeare.
Videos and DVDs
The Media Library houses many films on the theater, its history, acting,
directing, costume design, set lighting and other aspects of theater
production. There are many different productions of the many
Shakespeare plays as well as many film adaptations of plays. Please
see the "Searching for Videos" page at
http://library.truman.edu/searching_for_videos.htm.
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Web Links A-Z
Brief Guide to Resources
in Theater & Performance Studies--Annotated links to allow fast access
for information on theater.
Costume Gallery-- Provides over links to costume designers, costume
history, and recreational sites.
Costume Manifesto--Links for
costumers including history and costume advice.
Dramatists Play Service, Inc.--Representing
the American Theatre by publishing and licensing the work of new and established
playwrights.
Drew's Scripts-O-Rama--Comprehensive
index of movie and TV scripts.
Folkstreams.net: The Best of American
Folklore Films. "Streaming video access to a significant and
growing collection of documentary films about folk culture in the US. . .This
excellent source will benefit students and scholars of folklore, anthropology,
American studies, and documentary filmmaking. . .Highly recommended.
G.J. Reece, American University. CHOICE Reviews, May 2008.
The Internet Broadway Database--Database
of shows produced on Broadway beginning in the 1700's. Includes title
pages of programs, information about theaters, statistics and various "fun
facts" about Broadway.
The Internet Movie Database--"Highly
comprehensive and easy to use movie reference tool. . .over 2,250,000
filmographies covering some 180,000 movie titles and over 560,000 people."
(CHOICE Reviews, June 2006)
New Dramatists--non-profit
organization that is dedicated to the development of new playwrights.
Performing Arts Encyclopedia--"The Library of Congress provides this
resource as a means of access to its vast collection in the performing arts. .
.allows browsing by name, subject, or specific collection.. . .links to online
digitized resources and databases. . .links to featured events and Webcasts of
performances. . .Anyone researching music, theatre, or dance will find it
invaluable. . .Highly recommended." M.W. Wildman, SUNY College at
Cortland. CHOICE Reviews, February 2007.
Playwrighting
Resources--Links for the theatre playwright
Playwrights Guild of Canada--Catalog
of plays and books as well as providing general information about this
organization.
Talkin' Broadway--Includes
Broadway & Off-Broadway theatre discussions, cast recording reviews, and
interviews with actors and actresses.
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Citing Sources
There are several style manuals available in the library:
Chicago/Turabian Style
A Manual
for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations
General Collection LB 2369 .T8 1996
Reference LB 2369 .T8 1996
APA Style
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
General Collection BF 76.7 .P83 2001
Reserve BF 76.7 .P83 2001
Reference BF 76.7 .P83 2001
MLA Style
MLA Handbook
for Writers of Research Papers
General Collection LB 2396 .G53 2003
Reserve LB 2369 .G53
Reference LB 2369 .G53 2003
For additional style guides and
information on citing Web sites and other electronic sources, click
here.
For further assistance, visit or
call the Reference Desk (660) 785-4051 or contact the Reference
Librarian for Theater:
Lisa M.
Glaubitz, Reference Librarian
(660) 785-7412
glaubitz@truman.edu
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