Global Theater History

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."

In our library collection, theater-related resources are dispersed across different sections due to the academic nature of the Library of Congress classification system. This Theater Call Number guide aims to simplify the process of finding materials related to theater, covering theater history, dance, and literature. By following the descriptions below, you can easily locate resources aligned with your interests and begin your research journey. Feel free to visit the section that interests you and explore the corresponding bookshelves.

The 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).

THEATER CALL NUMBERS

Theater History (PN2101- PN2277) 

• By Era: Explore the evolution of theater from ancient origins to modern expressions, organized by era, offering insights into the development of dramatic forms over time. 
  • 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: Discover the unique theatrical landscapes of specific regions and countries, shedding light on the diverse cultural influences that have shaped theatrical expression around the world.  
  • PN2219.3-3030: Special regions or countries - 4th Floor

Dance (GV 1580-1799.4): Explore the diverse world of dance, categorized by geographical regions and cultural traditions.  

• GV 1660-1726: Dance by Regions and Cultures - 3rd Floor Compact Shelves 

Literature (PN1530- PN1861): Frameworks  Learn about thematic frameworks in theater and literature.  

• PN 1530-1588: Monologue, dialogue, performing art research, and ethics in performance - 4th Floor 
• PN 1590: Audience, audience engagement, gender, and migration - 4th Floor   
• PN 1601-1650: Themes, context, and radical dramas - 4th Floor 
• PN 1635-1650: Drama and special subjects - 4th Floor  
• PN 1720-1861: History of theater and drama - 4th Floor 
• PN 1865-1988: Special types (i.e. tragedy and comedy) - 4th Floor  

Literature by languages (PA~PT) - 4th Floor: Discover language-specific literature and theater books spanning a wide range of languages and cultures, from Greek and Latin to modern European and non-Western literatures

If we don't have the book you're looking for, expand your search beyond Mason Libraries.

The WRLC (Washington Research Library Consortium)

We have seven regional partner libraries in DC, and Mason patrons may borrow circulating music books (and scores) from any partner-- without physically visiting. Search our shared WRLC catalog; when you find the record for the book you want, click the red REQUEST button and it will be delivered to Fenwick for your pickup in three days. Here's the link: WRLC Catalog. (But in order to make this work, stop first at a Mason Libraries service desk with your Mason card and ask to be added to the WRLC user-base.)

WorldCat

WorldCat is a giant catalog of the holdings of thousands of libraries, mostly in the USA. Use this when looking for music books not held by local libraries- it will let you know if some other library in the country owns it. Here's the link: WorldCat Advanced Search 
You can't request a book directly from one of these libraries; instead, submit an interlibrary loan request via our "ILLiad" interface; here's the link: ILLiad. It could be up to two weeks (or more) before your book arrives, depending on location of the lender. You'll get an email when it is ready for pickup.