The American Repertory Theatre Reference Book: The Brustein Years

(Hardback)

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Description

Founded at Yale University by Robert Brustein, the American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) became one of America's most progressive and provocative regional theatres. During the Brustein era, the A.R.T was distinctive for being one of the few regional theaters to maintain a resident company, perform in rotating repertory, and tour internationally. The A.R.T. has always focused on new interpretations of the classics, the presentation of little-known work, and the development of new American plays. This, in addition to Brustein's modernist aesthetic, has attracted some of the world's most important artists to work with the program. This book is the first to organize, analyze, and present A.R.T. information in one authoritative source. The heart of the book is a chronology of every production done for the Loeb Stage and New Stages series during the Brustein years. Each entry includes a synopsis of the play, a list of the artistic personnel, a cast list, the opening date, commentary and critical responses to the production. Other sections include: a detailed history of the A.R.T. , historical highlights, biographies of key personnel, and 75 pages of appendixes organizing data from the program's entire work force.

Reviews

"Endorsement From Chris Walken: I have a long debt to Robert Brustein. Early on, he was good and generous to me. Most encouraging in person and in print. He gave me work as an actor in some of the best work I have done. He is a director/ theatre mgr./ actor/ author/ playwright and most excellent and graceful critic. Robert Brustein loves the theatre and the people who make it. Endorsement From David Mamet:...Theoretically, Bob and I agreed about absolutely nothing except our mutual desire to put on my plays--how wonderful. I owe him a great debt, and I am glad to have this book as a guide to those very interesting years of his in Cambridge and New Haven. Endorsement From Michael Wilson, Artistic Director Hartford Stage: Marilyn Plotkins' book is an impressive achievement, and will surely be a great resource to scholars studying the artists and plays it covers....Beyond its scholarly and documentary importance, it is, for anyone who knows (and loves) the ART, a walk down memory lane."

Author Bio

Marilyn J. Plotkins has been teaching, directing and producing theatre for nearly 30 years. She is Professor and Chair of the Theatre Department at Suffolk University. She is the founding artistic director of the Boston Music Theatre Project and has facilitated hundreds of professional performances at Suffolk's C. Walsh Theatre, including several by A.R.T.