Primary sources, such as public documents and personal statements, as well as periodical accounts and books, form the basis for this historical and analytical study of the National Endowment for the Arts Theatre Program. In the first chapter, the condition of professional theatre during the mid-1960s is discussed. The organization and structure of…

This study examines educational theatre as a program and the implications that the program has on the accompanying facility. The study used the Delphi technique to arrive at physical standards indicated by the program definition, which was used in the consideration of the physical requisites for each of three staging types--proscenium, thrust, and…

This study examines T.S. Eliot's intentions for the staging of his plays, as revealed in the texts themselves and in related documents. His plays reflect his basically naturalistic conception of the stage environment and the acting; two of the plays, "Sweeney Agonistes," which was unfinished, and "The Family Reunion," demonstrate his inability to…

This paper sets forth step-by-step procedures which novice sign-language theatre directors can use as a guide for their first sign-language theatre experiences. Since the procedures were developed during the production of a play for a mixed adult and child audience, it is assumed that the general guidelines set forth are applicable to a production…

Improvisation, or creative dramatics, has come to be regarded as a learning tool in English instruction. This study provides a comparative history of informal drama as it developed in England and the United States from 1910 to 1975. Pivotal writers on improvisation were identified, compared, and contrasted, analyzing their goals and practices.…

Five actors were videotaped and audiotaped during 12 performances, in order to identify variables and to observe actors' behaviors and attitudes in positive, negative, and "unclaqued" audience response conditions. Audience response was effected by actors trained in nonverbal cues and placed in the audience as "claquers," to…

This dissertation examines the American Negro Theatre (ANT) which for nine years (1940-49) provided a cultural experience for Harlem. The ANT, founded by Abram Hill and Frederick O'Neal, sought to provide a place for black theatricians to perfect their craft, a place to train aspiring artists, and a place to entertain the Harlem residents. The ANT…

This investigation examines the historical influences on the New Theatre in terms of a figural tradition and suggests that the New English may also be analyzed in terms of a figural tradition. In part 1, a new theory of the "historical figura" is proposed. The first chapter describes the origins of the "human figura" in…

In the area of the arts, the Mexican American has discovered a rich cultural heritage which gives him a strong sense of pride and a deep feeling of satisfaction. A new interest in the literature of Mexico and the Southwestern states of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and California has started the Chicano people reading classic and modern…

The purpose of this study is to describe Readers Theatre as it existed from the 1967-68 school year to the 1971-72 school year. Studying the data drawn from the questionnaires sent to educational directors and concert managers led to the following conclusions, among others: educational directors have been influenced by materials originated and…