PUTTING
ON A PLAY
From
BOOKLIST
"Grades 4-6. This brightly illustrated book introduces drama and
encourages young people to take an active part on stage or behind the
scenes. The discussion begins with descriptions of 11 types of plays and
furnishes suggestions or tips for each one. The rest of the book takes
children through the practical steps that lead to a good production: brainstorming,
writing the script, choosing the crew and cast, preparing the stage, rehearsing
the lines, and performing the play. Bentley and Guthrie’s descriptions
and directions are simple, practical, and generally clear. Small, colorful
illustrations appear throughout the book, giving it an appealing, lighthearted
look that may convince readers that putting on a play really CAN be fun.
A good starting place for young dramatists."
- Carolyn Phelan
From KIRKUS REVIEWS
"The collaborators behind The Young Producer’s Video Book (1995)
cast this book, subtitled “The Young Playwrite’s Guide to Scripting,
Directing, and Performing,” in the same format: an easy-to-read how-to-do-it
guide, with a welcome emphasis on the structure and content of the drama
rather than on the technicalities of acting and production. The authors
cover various types of plays (pantomime, improvisation, skits, etc.);
steps to writing plays (character, setting dialogue, action, conflict,
plot, and theme); and stages in production (responsibilities of the various
crew members, auditions and rehearsals, and the rudiments of acting and
directing). Excerpts from five sample scripts, each from a different type
of drama, bring the book to a close. An admirably lucid and concise presentation
of the essentials of stagecraft, with plenty of encouragement for aspiring
thespians."
From HORN BOOK
"An introduction to creating plays contains basic information on
various dramatic formats, including skits, adaptations, and musicals,
and contains some sample partial scripts. Although the book focuses on
script writing, there is also helpful information on rehearsal, acting,
and other aspects of production. The cartoon-like illustration and laid-back
style make the topic accessible and unintimidating."