Discusses the author's experience as a playwright and teacher of public readings of early drafts of new plays. Explains the Five Step Model for these readings as follows: prepare the playwright before the reading; prepare the audience with a precurtain speech; after the reading, establish discussion ground rules; remember these guidelines during…

Questions how Western theatre's gender bias is extended and perpetuated by higher education institutions. Examines pedagogical alternatives to teaching beginning acting classes other than with monologue books. Suggests that by focusing on character rather than story, the culture of monologue books does not encourage students to look for aesthetic…