Theater Research Guide

  Encyclopedias and Reference Works |  Find Books |  Find Articles | CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc.
Web Sites |  Citing Sources |  Help
 

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.

*  denotes peer-reviewed journal
 

	PN1561 P472	PAJ*
	PN1601 C66	Comparative drama*
	PN1601 J68	Journal of dramatic theory and criticism*
	PN1601 P6	Plays
	PN1861 M63	Modern drama*
	PN1991 J62	Journal of broadcasting & electronic media*
	PN1993 F4183	Film criticism*
	PN1993 F438	Film comment
	PN1993 G74	Griffithiana*
	PN1993 H4573	Film quarterly*
	PN1993 J723	Journal of film and video*
	PN1993 S62	Cinema journal*
	PN1993 W48	Wide angle
	PN2000	Theatre topics* (online only)
	PN2000 A52	American theatre
	PN2000 D6822	The Drama review
	PN2000 T483	Entertainment design
	PN2000 V3	Variety
	PN2001 T432	New theatre quarterly
	PN3171 E382	Theatre journal*
	PN3175 A1 H512	Dramatics

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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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