Performing Arts/Film
Explore a captivating collection of writings about the world of film and performing arts. Discover insightful works on the history, craft, and influence of cinema. This category offers both aficionados and newcomers a chance to learn about legendary filmmakers, iconic performances, and timeless film theories. Enjoy a variety of perspectives that deepen your understanding of this dynamic art form.
The Drama
Explore how the stage's evolution reflects society's changing views, championing actors' emotional power and theater's elevated place in culture.
By Henry Irving
The Jewel Merchants: A Comedy in One Act
In Renaissance Tuscany, a jewel merchant's daughter finds herself caught in a web of love, ambition, and betrayal orchestrated by a playful yet sinister Duke.
By James Branch Cabell
Answering the Phone: A Farce
A new maid's hilarious misinterpretations of telephone instructions lead to romantic mishaps and comedic chaos in a turn-of-the-century home.
By Elizabeth F. (Elizabeth Frances) Guptill
The Art of Ballet
Uncover the rich past of an elegant art form through centuries of change, in France and England, influenced by key figures and cultural shifts.
By Mark Edward Perugini
Josiah's Secret: A Play
In a humorous clash of expectations, a husband's traditional views are hilariously challenged when his wife playfully embodies outdated ideals, sparking a journey toward understanding the true value of women's work.
By Marietta Holley
Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde": An Essay on the Wagnerian Drama
Discover how a groundbreaking composer sought to revolutionize dramatic art and evoke profound emotions through his unique blend of music and theater.
By George Ainslie Hight
Libretto: La Bohème
** In 19th-century Paris, impoverished artists discover the exquisite beauty and heartbreaking fragility of love and life itself.
By Giuseppe Giacosa
April Fools: A farce in one act for three male characters
A father's plans go hilariously wrong when a horse buyer and an undertaker arrive, each misunderstanding the fate of his marriageable daughter because of a mischievous prank.
By W. F. Chapman
Twelfth Night
In a land of longing hearts, a woman disguised as a man finds herself caught in a hilarious love triangle, leading to mistaken identities and unexpected romance.
By William Shakespeare
The Phantom of the Opera
In the depths of the Paris Opera House, a masked figure's obsession with a young singer ignites a terrifying tale of love, jealousy, and shadowy secrets.
By Gaston Leroux
The Standard Operas: Their Plots, Their Music, and Their Composers (12th edition)
Step into a world of drama and song as this historical handbook unveils the captivating stories, enchanting music, and legendary figures behind the world's most celebrated operas.
By George P. (George Putnam) Upton
Becket and other plays
Loyalty to the crown and obedience to God clash as a once-trusted advisor is caught in the crossfire between a king's ambition and the church's unwavering authority.
By Alfred Tennyson Tennyson
A History of Pantomime
Silent gestures tell a story of human expression, from ancient times to the stage.
By R. J. Broadbent
Dear Brutus
When a group of guests seek a second chance in a magical wood, they will be forced to face the hidden truths of their past lives.
By J. M. (James Matthew) Barrie
Two plays for dancers
Spirits, love, and the weight of the past intertwine in the stories that push the boundaries of theater through dance and verse.
By W. B. (William Butler) Yeats
The Faith Healer: A Play in Three Acts
In a fog-shrouded farmhouse, a family confronts a captivating faith healer whose arrival stirs hope, skepticism, and the possibility of miraculous recovery.
By William Vaughn Moody
Ivanoff: A Play
Witness a man's unraveling as he struggles with love, duty, and the weight of his own despair amid the backdrop of 19th-century Russia.
By Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
The Dark Lady of the Sonnets
On a fateful summer night, a famous playwright finds himself caught between the woman who stirs his soul and a powerful queen, leading to a high-stakes game of love and loyalty.
By Bernard Shaw
Practical Cinematography and Its Applications
Discover how to turn a fascinating, cutting-edge hobby into a lucrative profession by capturing unique and thrilling footage.
By Frederick Arthur Ambrose Talbot
Plays
In a world of disregarded perspectives, women piece together the truth behind a shocking crime, revealing the power hidden within overlooked details and shared understanding.
By Susan Glaspell