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Resources for Dramaturgy

Newly Purchased Books

Digital Books

The Mason Search bar is a great place to look for digital theatrical resources, including ebooks. These ebooks include plays, criticism, theory, history, and practice. In order to find the books availible online, search for your terms and then filter your search on the left to "Available Online."

An Image of the Library Catalog, with "Native American Theater" typed into the search. To the left of the screen, the "Available online" button under the "Availability" tab is selected.

Read Printed Books and Reference Works

An empty audience, as viewed from upstageThe printed collection includes thousands of circulating books on theater history, performance, biography, genres, styles, and theory/analysis, as well as reference works such as encyclopedias, indexes, bibliographies, and reviews.

Search Mason Library's collection to find specific books by title, author, keyword, or subject heading.

Books about theater theory, performance, craft, and history are predominantly on the 4th floor in the PN section.

The scripts are mixed in with the general literature by country, era, and author (PA - PT).

A small number of non-circulating theatrical rarities (such as theatrical records, programs, posters, and scripts) are located in the Special Collections Research Center at Fenwick Library.

Don't forget to look in the Reference and Folio Sections on the first floor of the Fenwick Library. They house hidden theatrical treasures, including includes such gems as New York Times Reviews throughout history, Variety's obituaries, and large books of theatrical designs.

Quick Guide to Theater Call Numbers

The Library of Congress classification system is built for academic, rather than practical use, so books that are useful to theater artists are in various places throughout the collection.

Theatrical Design (PN 2085-PN 2091)

  • Costume Design
    • GT 500-GT 2289: Costumes (History) - 3rd Floor Compact Shelves
    • GT 2290-GT 2341: Hair, cosmetics (History) - 3rd Floor Compact Shelves
    • GT 1747: Masks (History) - 3rd Floor Compact Shelves
    • NK 8802-NK8998: Textile arts (History) - 4th Floor Compact Shelves
    • PN 2068: Make-up - 4th Floor Compact Shelves
    • TS 545-TT850: Costumes -- Construction - 5th Floor
  • Set Design
    • NA: Architecture - 4th Floor
    • ND 2885: Scene painting - 4th Floor
    • PN 2091.S8: Stage settings; scenery - 4th Floor
  • Lighting Design
    • PN 2091.E4: Electric devices; stage lighting - 4th Floor
  • Sound Design
    • PN 2091.S6: Sound Design - 4th Floor

Performance (PN2000-3307)

  • PN 2053: Production, Direction, and Dramaturgy - 4th Floor
  • PN 2061-PN 2071: Acting - 4th Floor
    • PN 2080: Scenes and Monologue Collections - 4th Floor
  • PN 2085: Stage Management - 4th Floor

Playwriting

  • PN1660-1693: Technique of dramatic composition -4th Floor

Theory and Education

  • PN2049: Theater and society. Applied drama - 4th Floor

Theater History (PN2101- PN2277)

  • By Era
    • PN 2131-PN 2145: Ancient Theatre History - 4th Floor
    • PN 2152-PN 2160: Medieval theatre history - 4th Floor
    • PN 2171-PN 2179: Renaissance theatre history - 4th Floor
    • PN 2181-PN 2193: Modern theatre history - 4th Floor
  • By Country
    • PN2219.3-3030: Special regions or countries - 4th Floor

Special Topics (PN3035-PN3299)

  • PN3035: The Jewish theater - 4th Floor
  • PN3151-3171: Amateur theater - 4th Floor
  • PN3175-3191: College and school theatricals - 4th Floor
  • PN3203-3299: Tableaux, pageants, "Happenings," etc. - 4th Floor

Scripts (see Scripts page)