Theatrical Genre & Style: A Guide for Designers, Directors, and Performers

A one-of-a-kind guide about style and genre for theatre artisans.

Theatrical Genre & Style will appeal to all theatre makers--those in performance as well as design--students, amateurs, and professionals. Traditionally, theatre practitioners receive information about style and genre from sources composed primarily for studio artisans and not theatre artisans. These books are helpful but ultimately fall short because they do not specifically apply the use of style to theatre art and practice. Theatrical Genre & Style gives theatre artists a guidebook to style and genre that is specific and tailored to their needs.

Theatrical Genre & Style defines genre and style (and the differences between them), gives relatable examples with helpful exercises, clearly explains the distinctions between artistic style, period style, and literary style, and helps readers understand how to identify, research, and utilize appropriate artistic styles for theatrical productions. Theatrical genres are listed, thoroughly explained, and examples and exercises given that are designed to elucidate. The ways theatrical scenery, costumes, lighting, sound, multi-media, acting, directing, and movement can work together to successfully utilize style is addressed in this text.

Theatrical Genre & Style serves as a companion to authors Karen Brewster and Melissa Shafer's Fundamentals of Theatrical Design: A Guide to the Basics of Scenic, Costume, and Lighting Design. The two books complement one another in content, size, scope, purpose, and target audience.

Author: Karen Brewster, Melissa Shafer
Publisher: Allworth
Published: 04/01/2025
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781621538264

About the Author
Karen Brewster is chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at East Tennessee State University. Karen also serves as theatrical producer for ETSU Theatre and Dance productions. She teaches courses in theatrical design, theatre history, and dramatic structure. She earned her MFA in Theatrical Design from Michigan State University.

Melissa Shafer is a professor of theatre in the Department of Theatre and Dance at East Tennessee State University. She is active in the department's production program as a director and designer and teaches courses in the Design/Production Concentration. Melissa received her MFA in Theatre Design from Southern Illinois University.