This guide recommends research resources for the study of Theater,
including performance, production techniques, and playwriting,
as well as criticism and commentary on playwrights and dramatic
writings.
Also use this guide to learn how to find plays and audition pieces in the Library's collection and beyond.
| Finding Plays in the Library's Collection Using Play Indexes and the Library's Catalog: Skyline |
|
| Plays in the Library's collection can sometimes be found through a simple Author (playwright's name) or Title search in Skyline, the Library's catalog. If the play you're interested in doesn't appear through that method, find out what collection the play you want is included in using one of the indexes below. Once you've determined the name of the collection (example: Best American Plays) search for the collection in Skyline by the title of the collection. |
| |
| Play Index. This online index makes it possible to more easily identify plays for production, class performance, or study by a variety of criteria including: number of female/male characters; total cast size; genre; and topic, as well as title and playwright . Once the Index identifies a play, it shows full publication details so that you know if the play is just available as a single play or also part of a collection, either of which the Library may own. Identifying plays in collections is useful since it's not always easy to find, using a library catalog, what plays may be 'hidden' inside a collection of plays. See also the free site Dooley's.com. |
The print version of the Play Index, updated only through 2002, is in the Library's Reference stacks at REF Z 5781.P53. |
| Inter-Play: An Online Index to Plays in Collections, Anthologies and Periodicals |
|
| Other play indexes (in print format, located in the Library) |
These indexes, including, help identify and locate plays by subject, title, etc. |
| Ottemiller's Index to Plays in Collections: An Author and Title Index to Plays Appearing in Collections Published Between 1900 and 1985. READY REF PN1655.Z9 O87 1988. |
An index to play collections searchable by author and title. |
| Theatre in Video. Includes BBC Shakespeare plays. |
This is an online collection of full-length stage plays, plays re-shot for film, and documentaries. |
| Books |
|
| The catalogs
below will help you identify books and media items related
to your Theater/drama topic. |
| Skyline |
Skyline is the Library's catalog. It points
you to the Library's books, DVD and VHS recordings, sound
recordings, government publications, and more. There are
several ways to search including Keyword searching. Examples: stage
lighting; acting; stanislavsky;
children's plays; playwriting |
| Prospector |
Use Prospector to determine which
major Colorado library owns a particular book. Campus students
and faculty members can order the book at no charge through
Prospector if it's available at another library. |
| NetLibrary |
The Library subscribes to this
database of online, full text books. |
Books shelved on the second floor may be checked out of the Library. Within each collection area, library materials are arranged and located by Library of Congress call numbers . Most of the library materials in the areas of theater and related areas are assigned the call numbers as listed:
- Costume - GT 500-2370
- The Monologue - PN 1530
- The Dialogue - PN 1551
- The Performing Arts - PN 1560-1590
- Drama History in General; composition of Plays - PN 1600-1988
- Dramatic Representation: Acting, Stagecraft, etc. - PN 2000-3307
- Collections of General Dramatic Literature - PN 6110.5-6120
- Clothing and Dress - TX 340
Tip: Link to the guide 'Find
Books, Videos, and DVD's' to learn how to request books
and other materials not available at Auraria Library using either
the Interlibrary Loan Illiad service; in-Library requests at
the Interlibrary Loan service window; WorldCat; or Prospector.
| Criticism and Reviews |
|
| |
| American Drama Criticism:
Interpretations, 1890-1977. REF
PS332.Z9 A54 |
An index that leads you to criticism
on American plays that's been published in books and periodicals. |
| Books |
There are many books of criticism
on particular authors or particular plays. Do a keyword search
combining the name of an author (playwright) with the word
'criticism.' You can also try combining the title of a play
with the word 'criticism.' Examples: chekhov criticism or romeo
juliet criticism |
| Contemporary
Literary Criticisim |
Auraria Library subscribes to this
database of full text literary criticism. |
| Critical Survey of
Drama. 8 Volumes. Frank N. Magill, ed. REF
PN1625 .C68 2003 |
Provides biographical/critical
overviews of major authors. |
| European Drama Criticism, 1900-1975. PN1721
.P3 1977 |
An index that leads you to criticism
on European plays that's been published in books and periodicals. |
| Theater Review Archives from The New York Times. |
The NYTimes.com archive offers free access to most theater reviews published since 1996. Reviews of other selected shows dating back to 1905 are also available. Browse shows by show title or show year. |
| Lexis
Nexis |
Use to locate theater reviews from
the New York Times and other national and international
newspapers. Choose the News category 'Arts & Sports
News.' Then choose the news source 'book, movie, music and
play reviews.' |
| Literature
Databases |
Scholarly writings on dramatic
works in such databases as the MLA Bibiliography and the
Arts & Humanities Citation Index. |
| Literature:
English and American: Critical Sources |
Guide created by Auraria Library
literature specialist. |
| Masterplots II. Drama
Series, Frank N.Magill, ed.. REF
PN 6112.5 M37 1990 |
Covers more than 300 20th century
plays,mostly in English. Each listing supplies plot summary,
critical analysis, and further references. |
| News
and Newspapers |
Reviews and discussions of plays
often appear in newspapers. |
| The New York Times
Theatre Reviews, 1920-1970. REF
PN2266 .N48 |
Print reprints of New York Times theatre
reviews in the Library's reference collection, arranged chronologically. |
| Biography:
Playwrights, Actors, and Others |
|
| |
| Biographical
Databases |
Includes Biographies Plus; (Marquis) Who's Who, Biography
and Genealogy Master Index, and others. |
| Books |
Do a Keyword search in Skyline using a name
and the word 'biography.' For example: antonin artaud
biography; neil simon biography |
| Contemporary
Authors |
An online database of complete
biographical and bibliographical references for more than
90,000 authors, including playwrights, in the U.S. and around
the world. |
| The Oxford Companion
to American Theatre. Ref PN2220 .B6 2004. |
Includes biographical information. |
| Obituaries in the Performing Arts. |
Print collection in the Library's Reference stacks. |
| Who Was Who in the
Theatre: 1912-1976. 4 Volumes. Ref
PN2597 .W52. |
A biographical dictionary of actors,
actresses, directors, playwrights, and producers of the English-speaking
theatre. |
|
