Theatre for Children: A Guide to Writing, Adapting, Directing, and Acting

by Janet Grant and David Wood

Book Overview

One of the world's leading children's dramatists provides a practical handbook of the skills involved in entertaining and involving audiences of children. "A marvelous contribution to the world of Youth Theater...a must."-Robyn Flatt, Dallas Children's Theater. "He has often been called the National Playwright for Children and he deserves it."-Cameron Mackintosh.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566632331
• ISBN13: 9781566632331
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Ivan R. Dee Publisher
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

egotistical

Walter Piston is a composer, but in his music theory textbook, he can bring in samples from the work of other composers. Why, then, can't David Wood bring in samples from the work of other playwrights? Incidentally, don't buy this book if you are interested in theatre for children as actors. This book is about theatre for children as spectators.

Great for Children's Theare Playwrights

I love this book. I have written several children's shows for our local children's theatre, and reading over David Wood's text only helped me improve my scripts and fed my imagination. Yes, there are sections that I scimmed through, but most of it was very helpful. I highly recommend it.

Theatre for Children

Excellent book! Gives real specifics about playwriting for children, i.e., must have lots of action, lots of "suddenlies", clearly defined characters, etc. Also, how to incorporate audience participation. I was so inspired by Wood's book that I ordered his musicals from Samuel French and directed "Hijack Over Hygenia" for our elementary school production. He is far and away better than most of the stuff you find for children's productions. Since he has experience in writing, directing and acting these plays and musicals (he's written 40!), he brings tons of examples into his book. He's good, he's funny, and children respond to his material. Good section on writing a play snopysis before you write any dialogue. Here's a little dialogue: Rupert: Hello, Squirrel. How are you? Squirrel: Fed up. Rupert: Fed up? Squirrel: Me nose is froze, me teeth are chatter-chattering, me paws are freezing and I keep sneezing. Atishoo! Rupert: (handing her a hanky) Use my hanky. Squirrel: A hanky! Thankee! (She plows loudly into the hanky held by Rupert).

ABSOLUTELY WORTHWHILE

I found the book to be essential to anyone who wants to go into playwriting whether or not Children's Theatre would be your major. It is clearly written, easy (and enjoyable) to read and just a great tool and reference.

Terrific!

A must-read for anyone in children's theater. David Wood is a genius