Play Production in America (Classic Reprint)

A practical and historical guide to making American theater.

This book blends the author’s hands-on notes with a clear look at how productions are built, run, and brought to audiences.

From a wide scope of topics to step-by-step insight, it explains who handles the business, who directs the stage, and how lighting, scenery, and costumes work together to tell a story. It also highlights the people who connect plays with managers, producers, and audiences, including the crucial role of agents and brokers in protecting authors’ interests.
What you’ll experience

• An overview of how American play production evolved and who drives its success.
• A behind-the-scenes look at roles like brokers, directors, stage managers, and lighting designers.
• Clear explanations of practical aspects such as contracts, stage arrangements, and the orchestration of scenes.
• A sense of the craft’s history, current practices, and the challenges of coordinating art and business.

Ideal for readers of theater history, stagecraft, and anyone curious about how a play becomes a live production.