"A hallmark of Theatre: The Lively Art remains a comprehensive introductory text that incorporates a number of elements in one volume: An introduction to the audience's experience of theatre ; An investigation of the elements of theatre: the audience; the text; theatre artists, including actors and directors; theatrical space; and scenic, costume, lighting, and sound design ; A study of the important developments in the history of theatre".

Providing the most important information about theatre and performance from ancient Greece to the present day, this two volume encyclopedia has a thematic contents, a timeline, a general bibliography and an index of plays to complement the A-Z entries.

"Americans love musicals. Americans invented musicals. Americans perfected musicals. But what, exactly, is a musical? In [this book], Jack Viertel takes them apart, puts them back together, sings their praises, marvels at their unflagging inventiveness, and occasionally despairs over their more embarrassing shortcomings. In the process, he invites us to fall in love all over again by showing us how musicals happen, what makes them work, how they captivate...

Set in the exotic forest of Arden, a social comedy and love story based on the rivalry between brothers to inherit their fathers' fortunes.