If you're hoping to find that one simple high school text that "tells it all" for your beginning theatre class, then look no further Marsh Cassady has taught theatre at the high school and college level for many years and is currently a director, playwright, and award-winning author whose 20 books are used extensively in schools. Fifteen chapters grouped into five sections present a complete overview of the art of theatre (theatre styles, genres, and structures), directing (interpreting a script, casting, and rehearsing), design (scenery, lighting, costumes, and makeup), acting (imagination, improvisation, body, voice, character analysis), and the history of theatre. The chapters are a good length for student reading, and abundant photos, diagrams, and illustrations help explain key concepts. This classroom textbook also includes several plays and scenes to allow students to 'flesh out' characters and gain perspective of various types of dramatic works from great playwrights such as Shakespeare, Ibsen, and Wilde, as well as several contemporary writers.