Historical Guide to Children's Theatre in America

(Hardback)

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[A] long overdue retrospective of the major playwrights, theatre companies, and professional organizations which have sustained the children's theatre movement in this country. . . . Part One of McCaslin's book is a historical overview of the significant trends and changes which have characterized children's theatre and influenced the art and craft of playwriting. . . . Part Two, the bulk of McCaslin's guide, contains an alphabetical listing of over 350 educational, community, and commercial theatre companies as wella s national and regional organizations--some no longer operating--which have made children's theatre the main thrust of their work. . . . Several appendixes augment the usefulness of this altogether practical and meticulously researched reference book. Children's Literature Association Quarterly An authoritative reference for children's theater professionals, educators, and enthusiasts, McCaslin's historical guide will be frequently used in public, college, and university libraries. ARBA Those who are associated with children's theater in any way will want to study this book thoroughly and keep it as a handy reference guide. . . . Thanks to Nellie McCaslin, the history of children's theater can take its rightful place beside all other theater history. Applause Professor McCaslin, a leading authority in the field, examines the history of the companies and organizations that struggled to bring live theatrical entertainment to children from 1903, beginning with a theater founded by a settlement house on New York's Lower East Side, to the present day. She begins with an overview of children's theatre history. The main text consists of alphabetically arranged profiles of both early and current producing companies and associations that have made a significant contribution to the field. Appendixes to the volume supply a Personalities Roster, a Geographical Index, and a Chronology of Events significant in the history of the children's theatre movement.

Reviews

Beginning with a theater founded in 1903 by a settlement house on New York's Lower East Side, theater for children has been a part of the American scene. In this guide to children's theater in America, Nellie McCaslin takes a retrospective look at over eighty years of progress in the field, examining various companies and organizations that struggle to bring live theatrical entertainment to children. As children's theater authority Jed H. Davis notes in his foreword to the book, McCaslin has given much more than a single chronicle of the times through which children's drama has passed'; she has painstakingly assembled a definitive body of information on which to found the trends and premises of the future.' Part 1 presents an overview of children's theater history. Part 2 alphabetically lists producing companies and associations that have made significant contributions to the field. Appendices to the volume supply a chronology of events, a personalities roster, and a geographical directory, all significant in the history of the children's theater movement. An authoritative reference for children's theater professionals, educators, and enthusiasts, McCaslin's historical guide will be frequently used in public, college, and university libraries.-ARBA
McCaslin provides a valuable reference book that includes a historical survey of children's theater in the US from its origins to the present and a comprehensive directory of organizations and producing companies that foster theatrical programs for children. The first part of the book updates McCaslin's pioneer work Theatre for Children in the United States: A History, by focusing upon developments in the past 15 years. The author deplores the tendency by the public and professionals to relegate children's theater to a status secondary to adult theater, but she approves the trend toward higher production standards and acknowledges a growing commitment by community, educational, and professionals groups to young audiences. The second part of the book is an alphabetic roster of historic and contemporary production companies and associations. The profiles in this part contain such valuable and hard-to-find information as addresses, foundation dates, types and numbers of performances, funding sources, age level of performers and audiences, and availability of workshops and classes. The book is clearly written, with cross-references, appendixes, black-and-white photographs, and an extensive bibliography. Recommended for graduate and undergraduate libraries, and for general readers who may need to locate specific information about theatrical groups.-Choice
This interesting volume contains a plethora of information on the history of children's theatre in America. There are two parts, the first of which presents an Historical Overview of Children's Theatre' in four sections, beginning with the Early Years' (early twentieth century) and ending with New Directions: 1970-1985.' Profiles of children's theatres are presented in the second part. They include name, address, founding and closing dates, where appropriate, a description of the company--important personnel, places of performance, organization, types of educational programs and productions, and any grants support. Five appendices--Other Extant Children's Theatre Companies, A Chronology of Events, Personalities Roster, Associations Involved in Children's Theatre, and Geographical Directory. Bibliographies and index. Some photographs of performers. Recommended for all academic and large public library theatre reference collections.-Reference Book Review
Those who are associated with children's theater in any way will want to study this book thoroughly and keep it as a handy reference guide. . . . Thanks to Nellie McCaslin, the history of children's theater can take its rightful place beside all other theater history.-Applause
"Beginning with a theater founded in 1903 by a settlement house on New York's Lower East Side, theater for children has been a part of the American scene. In this guide to children's theater in America, Nellie McCaslin takes a retrospective look at over eighty years of progress in the field, examining various companies and organizations that struggle to bring live theatrical entertainment to children. As children's theater authority Jed H. Davis notes in his foreword to the book, McCaslin has given much more than a single chronicle of the times through which children's drama has passed'; she has painstakingly assembled a definitive body of information on which to found the trends and premises of the future.' Part 1 presents an overview of children's theater history. Part 2 alphabetically lists producing companies and associations that have made significant contributions to the field. Appendices to the volume supply a chronology of events, a personalities roster, and a geographical directory, all significant in the history of the children's theater movement. An authoritative reference for children's theater professionals, educators, and enthusiasts, McCaslin's historical guide will be frequently used in public, college, and university libraries."-ARBA
"This interesting volume contains a plethora of information on the history of children's theatre in America. There are two parts, the first of which presents an Historical Overview of Children's Theatre' in four sections, beginning with the Early Years' (early twentieth century) and ending with New Directions: 1970-1985.' Profiles of children's theatres are presented in the second part. They include name, address, founding and closing dates, where appropriate, a description of the company--important personnel, places of performance, organization, types of educational programs and productions, and any grants support. Five appendices--Other Extant Children's Theatre Companies, A Chronology of Events, Personalities Roster, Associations Involved in Children's Theatre, and Geographical Directory. Bibliographies and index. Some photographs of performers. Recommended for all academic and large public library theatre reference collections."-Reference Book Review
"Those who are associated with children's theater in any way will want to study this book thoroughly and keep it as a handy reference guide. . . . Thanks to Nellie McCaslin, the history of children's theater can take its rightful place beside all other theater history."-Applause
"McCaslin provides a valuable reference book that includes a historical survey of children's theater in the US from its origins to the present and a comprehensive directory of organizations and producing companies that foster theatrical programs for children. The first part of the book updates McCaslin's pioneer work Theatre for Children in the United States: A History, by focusing upon developments in the past 15 years. The author deplores the tendency by the public and professionals to relegate children's theater to a status secondary to adult theater, but she approves the trend toward higher production standards and acknowledges a growing commitment by community, educational, and professionals groups to young audiences. The second part of the book is an alphabetic roster of historic and contemporary production companies and associations. The profiles in this part contain such valuable and hard-to-find information as addresses, foundation dates, types and numbers of performances, funding sources, age level of performers and audiences, and availability of workshops and classes. The book is clearly written, with cross-references, appendixes, black-and-white photographs, and an extensive bibliography. Recommended for graduate and undergraduate libraries, and for general readers who may need to locate specific information about theatrical groups."-Choice