From Belasco to Brook Representative Directors of the English-Speaking Stage

Subjects:

• The Arts » Theater

Awards:

• Choice Outstanding Academic Book, 1991

Reviews:

• If the work of theater actors is evanescent, the work of theater directors is not only difficult to remember, it is notoriously difficult to identify even as one sees a production. But directors have been crucial in shaping 20th-century theater so it is a joyous occasion when the work of a number of leading directors of 20th-century, English-speaking theater is analyzed with such care, research, and insight into the vicissitudes of the theater process as is the case in Leiter's book. A companion volume by Leiter on European directors, From Stanislavsky to Barrault, has just been issued by the same publisher. Just as directors must adapt to the demands of particular productions, Leiter adapts each chapter to the requirements presented by its subject; but in all, attention is paid to work with actors, work with designers, work with scripts, rehearsal process, funding, and audiences. By the time one has finished the book, the reader has confronted not only the work of outstanding directors (Belasco, Granville-Barker, Abbott, Guthrie, Webster, Kazan, Littlewood, and Brook) but 20th-century theater itself. Excellent notes, chronologies, and index. Strongly recommended for all theater collections in both public and academic libraries.
  —Choice

Table of Contents:

• Preface
• Introduction
• David Belasco, 1853-1931
• Harley Granville-Barker, 1877-1946
• George Abbott, 1887-
• Sir Tyrone Guthrie, 1900-1971
• Margaret Webster, 1905-1971
• Elia Kazan, 1909-
• Joan Littlewood, 1915-
• Peter Brook, 1925-
• Select Bibliography
• Index