Ex Libris
Shoot-from-the-hip book reviews with an emphasis on historiography.
Someday, all of theater history will be online. Until then, you’re gonna need some books. Here are some titles that we’re reading. In a few cases, we’ve linked to some already published reviews to give you a sense of what readers are saying (you may need institutional access to get to some of these reviews). But what we’re really interested in is your two cents (firewall-free): What are you using in your classes? What’s your go-to book for theory and methodology? If you’d like to share your quick take on these or other titles in the field, please submit your review.
Henry Bial. The Performance Studies Reader. 2nd ed. Routledge, 2007.
- Adam D. Frank. “The Performance Studies Reader (review).” Journal of American Folklore, Volume 124, Number 493 (Summer 2011), pp. 225-227. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
- Jonathan Hicks. “Linda Ben-Zvi and Tracy C. Davis, eds. Considering Calamity: Methods for Performance Research. The Yolanda and David Katz Faculty of the Arts, Tel Aviv University: Asaph Books, 2007; Henry Bial, ed. The Performance Studies Reader. 2nd edn. London and New York: Routledge, 2007; Tracy C. Davis, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Performance Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008,” Cambridge Opera Journal, Volume 21, Issue 1 (March 2009), pp. 89-99. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
Marvin Carlson. Theories of the Theatre: A Historical and Critical Survey, from the Greeks to the Present. Cornell University Press, 1993.
- Thomas Postlewait. “Theories of the Theatre, A Historical And Critical Survey, From The Greeks To The Present. By Marvin Carlson. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1984. Pp. 529. $45.00; $14.95,” Theatre Research International, Volume 12, Issue 03 (September 1987), pp. 261-263. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
- Ronald W. Vince. “Marvin Carlson, Theories of the Theatre: A Historical and Critical Survey, from the Greeks to the Present. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1984. 528 pp. $49.50 cloth, $14.95 paper.” Theatre Survey, Volume 27, Issue 1-2 (November 1986), pp. 167-168. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
Janelle Reinelt and Joseph Roach. Critical Theory and Performance. Revised and Enlarged Edition. University of Michigan Press, 2007.
- James M. Harding. “Critical Theory and Performance. Edited by Janelle Reinelt & Joseph Roach. University of Michigan Press, 1992. Pp. 455. $49.50; 18.50.” Theatre Research International, Volume 21, Issue 01 (March 1996), pp. 89-90. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
- Mick Wallis, Janelle G. Reinelt and Joseph R. Roach, eds. Critical Theory and Performance Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1992. 456 p. £18.95 (pbk). ISBN 0-472-06458-4, New Theatre Quarterly, Volume 10, Issue 38 (May 1994), pp. 202 – 203. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
Mark Fortier. Theory/Theatre: An Introduction. Routledge, 1997.
- Brian Singleton. “Theatre/Theory: An Introduction. By Mark Fortier. London & New York: Routledge, 1997. Pp. vii + 195. £35 Hb; £10.99 Pb.” Theatre Research International, Volume 23, Issue 2 (June 1998), pp. 191-192. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
- Christopher McCullough. “Theory/Theatre: An Introduction,” The Modern Language Review, Volume 96, Number 2 (April 2001), pp. 602-603. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
Leigh Clemons, Branding Texas: Performing Culture in the Lone Star State. University of Texas Press, 2008.
- Rollo Newsom. “Branding Texas: Performing Culture in the Lone Star State (review).” Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 113, Number 1 (July 2009), pp. 121-122. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
- Matthew McMahan. “Branding Texas: Performing Culture in the Lone Star State (review).” Theatre Journal, Volume 63, Number 4 (December 2011), pp. 668-669. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
Bonnie Marranca. Performance Histories. PAJ Publications, 2008.
- Paul Rae. “Performance Histories (review).” TDR: The Drama Review, Volume 54, Number 3 (Fall 2010), pp. 178-180. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
Joseph Roach. It. University of Michigan Press, 2009.
- Jennifer DeVere Brody. “It. By Joseph Roach. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2007; pp. x + 260. $60 cloth, $19.95 paper. Theatre Survey, Volume 50, Special Issue 1 (May 2009), pp. 174-176. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
- Jill Dolan. “It. By Joseph Roach. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2007. Pp. ix + 260. $19.95 Pb.” Theatre Research International, Volume 33, Issue 1 (March 2008), p. 111. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
Eli Rozik. Generating Theatre Meaning: A Theory and Methodology of Performance Analysis. Sussex Academic Press, 2010.
- Erika Fischer-Lichte. “Generating Theatre Meaning: A Theory and Methodology of Performance Analysis (review).” Comparative Drama, Volume 43, Number 1, Spring 2009, pp. 123-126. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
- Jerzy Limon. “Generating Theatre Meaning: A Theory and Methodology of Performance Analysis. By Eli Rozik. Brighton: Sussex Academic Press, 2008. Pp. x + 272 + illus. £55/$75 Hb.” Theatre Research International, Volume 34, Issue 2 (July 2009), pp. 213-214. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
Kim Solga: Violence Against Women in Early Modern Performance: Invisible Acts. Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.
- Karen Britland. “Violence against Women in Early Modern Performance: Invisible Acts. By Kim Solga. London and New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009; pp. 248. $85 cloth.” Theatre Survey, Volume 52, Issue 01 (May 2011), pp. 171-173. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
- Catharine Gray. “Violence Against Women in Early Modern Perfomance: Invisible Acts (review).” Theatre Journal, Volume 63, Number 3 (October 2011), pp. 478-479. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
- Diana E. Henderson. “Violence Against Women in Early Modern Performance: Invisible Acts (review)” Shakespeare Bulletin, Volume 29, Number 4 (Winter 2011), pp. 683-686. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
- Jenny Mann. Violence against Women in Early Modern Performance: Invisible Acts (review). Modern Drama, Volume 54, Number 4 (Winter 2011), pp. 577-580. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
Sue-Ellen Case. Feminist and Queer Performance: Critical Strategies. Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.
- Shane T. Moreman. “Feminist and Queer Performance: Critical Strategies (review).” Theatre Journal, Volume 62, Number 1 (March 2010), pp. 137-138. Available online. [may require subscriber login.]
