Kids Take the Stage: Helping Young People Discover the Creative Outlet of Theater » (REV)

• Foreword by Paul Newman

• Completely revised and updated version of a beloved theater classic

• Replaces Kids Take the Stage, ISBN 0-8230-7742-X

• Clear, practical guide to helping kids ages 8 to 18 get a show up and running

The classic Kids Take the Stage is one of the best-selling Back Stage Books of all time. Now Back Stage is proud to present the completely revised and updated second edition of this indispensable guide to getting young people on stage and helping them create their own shows. For teachers, for parents, for budding actors, emerging crew, and incipient directors—this is the book that shows how to get a production up and running...and have fun in the process. Clear and accessible, Kids Take the Stage outlines a systematic approach to staging, complete with basic lessons in acting, relaxation and trust-building exercises, and improvisations. From first read-through to opening night, from butterflies to bravos, this is the perfect book to help young people realize their creative potential. www.sherrihaab.com .

Nina Edwards is a graphic designer and illustrator. She lives in New York City.

VOYA

Written by two authors with almost seventy-five years of experience between them, this well-done guide is a must-have for any professional looking to start a children's theater group. In a society dominated by extreme social pressures, Peterson and O'Connor posit that theater makes for a healthy outlet for children, an alternative to sports, and a way for youth to build trust and free their imaginations. The authors provide a step-by-step instruction of how to start a group, maintain order, and stage a production. Throughout the text are boxed anecdotes that complement their subject. In addition, the authors also outline many different theater activities for children, each with a clear purpose, goal, and procedure as well as techniques for working with older youth, whom they define as ages thirteen to twenty. New to this edition is a concise guide for teachers as to how to integrate acting in the classroom and a play that the readers may use. Peterson and O'Connor's guide is conversational and easygoing. The authors are passionate about advocating the benefits of theater and impress upon the reader the challenge and creativity that these activities can offer. A partially annotated bibliography is included, offering not only the authors' opinion on the texts but also a rating system of plays by cost. The authors' enthusiasm and knowledge are clearly evinced, making this selection a worthy choice for professionals interested in this specific subject area.